In a bold step toward improving flood preparedness and community resilience, the City of Orange has partnered with Lamar University’s Center for Resiliency to launch Texas’s first flood monitoring program using QR-coded water gauges. This innovative initiative is the first of its kind in the state and draws inspiration from a successful model in Folly Beach, South Carolina.
The project will install 20 “staff gages”—marked rulers equipped with QR codes—at strategic flood-prone locations throughout Orange. During heavy rain or flooding events, residents will be encouraged to take photos of the water levels and upload them via the QR code. These time-stamped images will feed into a centralized, real-time database that will support emergency response, infrastructure planning, and scientific research.
“This will help us continue to gather data to help us rebuild, monitor, and ensure that we’re prepared for whatever may happen in the future,” said Mayor Larry Spears Jr. “We know that the east and southeast sides of our community are close to the water and definitely in a floodplain area.”
Lamar University graduate students will GPS-locate each gage to ensure precise elevation data, which will be referenced to sea level. This geospatial information will enhance the accuracy of flood modeling for agencies such as the National Weather Service and the Texas Water Development Board.
“This is a community-supported Flood Watch program,” said Lamar University Professor Liv Haselbach. “We’re very excited because I believe this program is the first in Texas. The city is working with our students and staff to make it happen.”
The City’s Public Works Department has identified the initial installation sites, focusing on areas vulnerable to tidal flooding, storm surge, riverine overflow from the Sabine River, and street flooding due to heavy rainfall. The program empowers residents and improves immediate disaster response and long-term flood mitigation efforts.
“This is going to help us mitigate and prevent loss of property and, hopefully, lives,” added Mayor Spears. “We’ve been talking about flood mitigation for years, and now our residents will not only hear about what we’re doing—they’ll be able to see it in action and take part.”
While a specific installation date has not yet been set, the city confirmed the project is being expedited.
“We’ll have them done as soon as possible,” said Mayor Spears. “Once I get the final update from staff, we’ll share it with the community.”
Mayor Spears also expressed appreciation for the collaboration, stating, “On behalf of the City of Orange, we sincerely thank Dr. Jaime Taylor and everyone involved. This is a true example of partnership and progress.”