Sevier County, TN (WOKI / WVLT) More than just a water gauge, Sevier County’s Flood Warning System has expanded to further ensure the safety of the entire region.

Housed in nine locations across the county, the Flood Warning System is made up of field sensors and a web-based software called Contrail. The system monitors streams, rivers and precipitation levels throughout Sevier County.

”It’s very important for us to be utilizing every resource that’s available,” said Joe Ayers, the director of the Sevier County Emergency Management Agency.

The nine locations range from high in the national park to some of the lowest-lying parts of the county.

The idea of the monitoring stations is to be placed along a river or stream and be set to a predetermined level to alert first responders and EMA officials if that level is reached.

“With this flood monitoring system it’ll allow us to receive notifications preemptively when it starts to reach those thresholds so we can go ahead and notify individuals in preparation in the event that we need to respond,” said Ayers.

While labeled a flood warning system, the software also keeps track of another potentially deadly threat; the sites also serve to inform Sevier County officials about the fire danger in the area.

“We’re able to tie into weather sensors that measure the fuel moisture or soil moisture of those fuels that would burn,” said Ayers.

In the summer of 2022, a flash flood descended upon the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and flooded a campground down stream, sending folks packing for higher ground in the middle of the night.

At the time, there was not a gauge in the Middle Prong of the Little Pigeon River.

”We now have two monitors that are now in the national park on the Middle Prong of the Pigeon River that will provide us some early warning,” said Ayers.