Automated Flood Warning Systems (AFWS)
Status: Discontinued on 4/5/2022 (Ref)
Project Description
Orion supported the development and modernization of the Automated Flood Warning System (AFWS), a mission-critical environmental monitoring platform that integrates hydrologic observations from nearly 1,900 field sensors across 12 states. The system collects and distributes real-time rainfall and water level information from a network of local flood warning systems, providing emergency managers and National Weather Service forecasters with timely data to support flood monitoring and warning operations.
AFWS traces its origins to the Integrated Flood Observing and Warning System (IFLOWS), a National Weather Service initiative established in partnership with Appalachian states to improve flash flood detection and warning capabilities. As the program expanded, the technology evolved into a multi-state communications network supporting local, state, and federal agencies responsible for protecting lives, property, and critical infrastructure.
Project Details
Client:
National Weather Service & NOAADate:
1998-01-01Category:
Web designProject URL:
Flood Inundation Mapping InterfaceOrion’s Contributions
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Developed and enhanced web-based applications supporting operational flood warning activities.
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Integrated real-time hydrologic and meteorological observations from a distributed network of approximately 1,900 environmental monitoring sensors.
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Supported data collection, processing, and dissemination services to support continuous operational availability.
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Developed scalable database and communications infrastructure supporting multi-state environmental monitoring.
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Improved access to real-time flood intelligence for National Weather Service forecasters, emergency management agencies, and local flood warning organizations.
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Provided modernization efforts that increased system reliability, accessibility, and long-term sustainability.
Project Impact
AFWS is a critical component of the nation’s flood warning infrastructure, providing reliable, real-time environmental observations that support early flood detection and informed operational decision-making. The platform enables local, state, and federal agencies to monitor rapidly changing hydrologic conditions, improving coordination during severe weather events and helping reduce flash-flood impacts.
By supporting the modernization and continued evolution of this long-standing National Weather Service capability, Orion contributed to a system that strengthens public safety, enhances emergency preparedness, and provides dependable environmental intelligence across a broad multi-state region.
