United Way of Southeast Louisiana and Verizon Announce Installation of Groundbreaking Hyfi Stormwater Detection Sensors

NEW ORLEANS, July 19, 2024 /3BL/ - United Way of Southeast Louisiana (UWSELA), Verizon, Hyfi, New Orleans City Council, community partners and residents gathered Thursday at the J. Wayne Leonard Prosperity City (2041 Canal Street) to celebrate the rollout of a new technology for stormwater detection in the greater New Orleans area. In a press conference to honor the event, representatives presented the sensor’s functionality, benefits to the community and plan for installation of the sensor devices and digital platform. Additionally, UWSELA facilitated a series of community information sessions on stormwater management, disaster preparedness and details of the program for residents to become educated on stormwater safety and the capabilities of the new program.

The high-tech, low-cost flood sensors are made possible by startup platform Hyfi, winner of Verizon’s Inaugural Climate Resilience Prize competition. The sensors pair with an associated digital platform designed to provide stormwater managers with an unprecedented level of information through a real-time map that infers flood conditions.

“Storms don’t discriminate, and with the rising frequency of natural disasters, it’s more important than ever that we work together to save lives and strengthen our systems. I’m proud to support this groundbreaking initiative which brings New Orleans state-of-the-art, cost-effective stormwater sensors, a testament to the power of strategic partnerships and cutting-edge technology. This will revolutionize how we predict and respond to flood conditions,” said Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (LA-02).

“There is an essential link between disaster preparedness and financial well-being, and in Orleans Parish, half of all families lack the means to rebuild and recover financially after a flood,” said President and CEO of UWSELA Michael Williamson, “This partnership has the power to stabilize our struggling neighbors, making them less vulnerable to flood damage and unexpected costs that can send them into financial ruin. Ultimately, the ability to combine our century of experience with Verizon and Hyfi’s technology has huge implications for the city as a whole.”

United Way’s ALICE in the Crosscurrents: An Update on Financial Hardship in Louisiana, released in May, identified 34,183 households living in poverty in 2022 in Orleans Parish, as well as 47,799 defined as  ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed), earning above the Federal Poverty Level but less than what’s needed to survive in the current economy. In the last 12 years, the number of ALICE households and those living in poverty in New Orleans has risen by 12%, demonstrating that the number of families financially impacted or unable to recover from a flooding event has continued to increase.

“Our top priorities during any flooding event are to keep our residents safe and respond efficiently to the issue at hand,” said Mayor LaToya Cantrell. “This new technology will help us both increase public awareness and enhance our ability to respond to flooding events more quickly and effectively. I commend the collaborative efforts of Hyfi and the City's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness' Hazard Mitigation Branch to design the sensor network, choosing sensor locations through the examination of the drainage network, traffic patterns and topography. As we approach the nineteenth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, the City is proud to be included in this initiative alongside United Way of Southeast Louisiana and Verizon. Our community is at its most resilient when we have the resources and the partnership to enact tangible, long-lasting solutions for the people of New Orleans.”

Hyfi technology consists of wireless, solar-powered water level sensors that inform a web-based app which is continuously updated with the latest water level readings. The cylindrical devices use a series of ultrasonic sound pulses to detect changes in the distance between the sensor and the closest waterline. In turn, this data is delivered to the Hyfi digital platform, or Hyfi app, where it renders a dynamic, real-time map that displays flood conditions in the surrounding area. Following a full-scale, citywide installation of the sensors, the platform will be available to emergency preparedness officials. Eventually, the goal is to extend this app to the public and help residents access real-time flood updates for their own neighborhoods.

“Flooding accounts for 75% of all presidential disaster declarations nationwide – there’s no doubt this is an issue that deserves more innovation and investment,” said Donna Epps, Chief Responsible Business Officer at Verizon. “New Orleans was an obvious candidate not only for the benefits to the community, but for the data and information on local flooding that can inform and influence the program’s effectiveness in other communities across the country.”

The initial sensor, installed in Algiers at the corner of General Degaulle Drive and Wall Boulevard, is the first of at least 20 sites throughout Orleans Parish, including the West Bank and New Orleans East. The sensor requires only a common hardware bracket for installation and pairs with the Hyfi app for full functionality. Use of the app also enables Hyfi analytics for continuous quality control, minimizing or eliminating the need for stormwater professionals or emergency responders to manually calibrate the sensor in the field or in the midst of a major weather event.

"Modern technologies significantly lower the barrier to providing timely flood information for stormwater managers and first responders while making storm data more accessible to the public," said Brandon Wong, CEO of Hyfi. "New Orleans embodies resilience especially and we believe that is thanks in large part to its local officials, its community leaders, and its residents. This partnership promises to equip the city with next-generation tools that we hope will be embraced and leave a sustainable positive impact for generations to come."

As the program enters the installation phase, UWSELA and Verizon are working together to provide communities with educational opportunities to help residents make informed decisions and stay safe in emergencies during hurricane season. The public is encouraged to register for upcoming disaster preparedness workshops on August 8 at noon at the J. Wayne Leonard Prosperity Center (2401 Canal Street) and at 5 p.m. at the Prosperity Center – New Orleans East (8324 Morrison Road) for an overview of the program, how to connect to the product and essential practices on disaster preparedness.

For more information on the UWSELA and Verizon partnership, the Hyfi program or to register for an upcoming community information session, visit UnitedWaySELA.org/Verizon.

Editor’s Note: High resolution photography and video are available via Dropbox here.

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About United Way of Southeast Louisiana 
For 100 years, United Way of Southeast Louisiana (UWSELA) has been a leader and trusted partner in improving lives and making a lasting difference. We fight to eradicate poverty by preparing people for quality jobs, growing incomes, and affording better health and education opportunities throughout Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, and Washington parishes. We have a bold vision of equitable communities where all individuals are healthy, educated, and financially stable – and we have a plan. United Way of Southeast Louisiana's Blueprint for Prosperity guides all strategic investments in programs, initiatives, collaborations, volunteerism, and advocacy aimed at tackling poverty. For more information, please visit UnitedWaySELA.org. Find us on social: @UnitedWaySELA. 

Join United Way. GIVE. ADVOCATE. VOLUNTEER. CONNECT. 

About Verizon 
Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ) powers and empowers how its millions of customers live, work and play, delivering on their demand for mobility, reliable network connectivity and security. Headquartered in New York City, serving countries worldwide and nearly all of the Fortune 500, Verizongenerated revenues of $134.0 billion in 2023. Verizon’s world-class team never stops innovating to meet customers where they are today and equip them for the needs of tomorrow. For more, visit verizon.com or find a retail location at verizon.com/stores. 

About Hyfi 
Headquartered in the Great Lakes region, our co-founders at Hyfi grew acutely aware of the importance of natural water resources to recreation, conservation, and community resilience. We launched Hyfi to make it easy to use technology for flood response, stormwater management and safe recreation. We are obsessed with providing a seamless user experience and believe technology should be second nature when managing watersheds and stormwater systems. To learn more, please visit hyfi.io.

UNITED WAY OF SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA CONTACT: Meagen Moreland-Taliancich, 803-429-2703, meagen@gambelpr.com