Flood Safety Information

Automated Flood Warning System

Prince William County has installed automated flood warning systems at roads and rivers known to be vulnerable to flooding. These systems constantly monitor real-time conditions such as rising water levels and other flood indicators.

When preset thresholds are met, the automated flood warning system will automatically alert whenever conditions are likely for a flood event to occur—enabling a faster response and improved public safety during flood events.

This technology helps the County:

Respond quickly to potential flood threats
Enhance safety by addressing risks as they emerge
Track flood trends in high-risk areas to better implement protective actions in the future

These systems are a key part of Prince William County’s broader flood preparedness and emergency response efforts.

In addition to flood sensors, the County has worked to install several stream and rain gauges over the last five years. These gauges provide real-time weather data that is:

Monitored by County officials
Automatically shared with the National Weather Service (NWS)—the only authority that can issue official Flood and Flash Flood Warnings

The best way to stay safe during life-threatening weather is to ensure you can receive alerts promptly.

Enable Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA)

Most smartphones are equipped to receive WEA messages during emergencies. These alerts are:

Location-based and automatically delivered
Sent for critical threats like floods, tornadoes, and AMBER alerts

Need help enabling them?
Search online for instructions based on your device:
“Enable WEA on iPhone / Android / Samsung”
More details are available at weather.gov/wrn/wea.

If your cell coverage is limited or unreliable, we recommend:

Registering your landline at pwcva.gov/alerts to receive automated emergency notifications
Purchasing a NOAA Weather Radio, which receives alerts directly from the National Weather Service—even during power or network outages