When seconds matter,
BayouWatch listens.
BayouWatch listens.
BayouWatch is a hyperlocal flood alert system for Houston. We use a network of solar-powered water-level sensors at bayous, ditches, and storm drains across the city — combined with real-time NOAA rainfall data and predictive modeling — to give residents 30 to 60 minutes of advance warning before flooding reaches their specific street.
Lightning Fast
Under 60 seconds from sensor reading to SMS delivery — faster than any existing system in Houston.
Street-Level Precision
Unlike FEMA or HCFCD county-wide alerts, we tell you about YOUR specific street — not just your county.
5+ Languages
English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, and Arabic — covering 95%+ of Houston households equitably.
Why We Built It
In August 2017, Hurricane Harvey dropped over 50 inches of rain on Houston in four days. Official flood warnings covered entire counties and watersheds — useful for emergency managers, but too coarse for a family deciding whether to move their car or leave their street before the water arrived. Four Carnegie Vanguard High School students started BayouWatch to close that gap: hyperlocal, street-level warning built from the same public sensor data the county already collects, delivered in the languages Houston actually speaks.
BayouWatch does not replace official emergency guidance — it is designed to sit alongside NWS and HCFCD alerts and buy residents extra minutes. Read more about the team, how the system works, or the partners that make the data possible.