FloodMapp, Green Stream, and The Warn Room Team Up to Strengthen Flood Resilience in Southwestern Virginia

BOTETOURT COUNTY, VIRGINIA —April 2, 2025 — In a continued commitment to safeguard communities from the increasing threats of flooding, FloodMapp, Green Stream Technologies, and The Warn Room have joined forces as part of the RISE Riverine Community Resilience Challenge, funded through the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development. This collaboration aims to provide communities in Botetourt County, VA with the tools and resources needed to improve flood preparedness, response, and recovery.

Flooding poses one of the greatest threats to Virginia's riverine communities, where flash floods can devastate neighborhoods, damage infrastructure, and disrupt lives.

Empowering Communities with Real-Time Flood Intelligence

This collaboration will deliver a comprehensive impact- based flood forecasting solution that brings together real-time flood monitoring, advanced flood modeling, and expert-informed alert warnings, tailored to the community. Together, these technologies provide critical support to local governments and emergency managers, helping them better protect their communities and build lasting resilience.

Key components of this effort include:

• Real-Time Flood Monitoring: FloodMapp’s data-driven flood intelligence integrates directly with existing software systems used by local governments. Emergency managers can now visualize where floodwaters will rise before, during, and after events, and what people, property and critical infrastructure will be impacted; enabling them to make informed decisions faster to support emergency preparedness and response, such as targeted alerting and evacuations.

• Stream Gauge Technology: Green Stream installs cost-effective, locally made stream gauges that provide real-time data on water levels. This data is vital for tracking rising water and issuing early warnings before floods reach dangerous levels.

• Tailored Alerts and Warnings: With the support of The Warn Room, Virginia communities are receiving customized, research-backed flood alerts and warnings that improve communication with residents before and during flood events, helping to save lives and reduce damage.

Creating Lasting Resilience in Virginia

“Hurricane Helene caused widespread and devastating flooding across Southwest Virginia, impacting critical infrastructure and thousands of homes,” said Juliette Murphy, CEO and Co-founder of FloodMapp. “FEMA announced public assistance for 36 counties and individual assistance for 16 counties. At FloodMapp we’re honored to support communities in Botetourt County, one of the counties impacted by Helene. We’re proud to be partnering with Green Stream and The Warn Room to deliver a state-of-the-art impact-based flood forecasting and warning system. This will support Botetourt County to enhance emergency preparedness and response, improve public safety, mitigate flood damage, and build a safer and more resilient future.”

Daniel Murray, Emergency Manager for Botetourt County, emphasized the importance of early warning in fast-moving events: “In Botetourt County, flooding happens fast. Our steep terrain means water rises quickly and without much warning, so we have to stay ready. This project gives us the tools to see what’s coming and act early—before things escalate into an emergency.”

“As we continue working to strengthen community safety and resilience across Virginia, this project marks a critical step forward,” said RISE Executive Director, Paul Robinson. “Hurricane Helene’s devastation underscored the urgent need for innovative solutions to protect Southwest Virginia’s riverine communities. By integrating FloodMapp’s proven technology with Green Stream and The Warn Room, we are equipping communities with the tools to anticipate, respond to, and recover from future floods. As a two-time Challenge winner, FloodMapp has repeatedly demonstrated its ability to develop impactful, adaptable solutions. By expanding its capabilities with other advanced systems, it is ensuring that communities have the tailored resources they need to stay ahead of evolving flood risks.”

This initiative, supported by the RISE Resilience Challenge, goes beyond just the installation of infrastructure. FloodMapp, Green Stream, and The Warn Room are working to create lasting solutions that will continue benefiting communities for years to come.

A Collaborative Effort to Support Public Safety

This project is part of a broader vision to bring cutting-edge flood resilience tools to communities that need them the most. Virginia’s riverine communities are gaining access to cutting-edge technology and insights that will help them better withstand future flooding events.

With continued support from the RISE Resilience Challenge and local governments, the work being done today is ensuring that Virginia communities are more resilient tomorrow. FloodMapp and Green Stream are eager to partner with communities in Virginia to take the next steps toward building flood resilience. This project is made possible through funding from the RISE Resilience Challenge, with full funding provided for the first year. Learn more at https://www.riseresilience.org/.