Floods, camera, action: new high tech cameras helping residents at risk from flooding in the West Midlands
The Environment Agency has been helping local residents be better prepared for flooding by installing new high tech flood warning cameras across the West Midlands.
The camera system, which is entirely solar powered, will monitor 7 watercourses across the county to help make sure that local residents are alerted if their properties are at risk of flooding. Residents signed up to the Environment Agency’s flood warning service will receive an automated call, and those who follow the camera via twitter will receive alerts and photos when the water levels rise significantly.
Speaking about the new camera system, Environment Agency Project Manager, Jamie Sarginson said:
There’s a history of severe flooding in places such as Halesowen on the Illey Brook when 46 properties flooded. Since then the Environment Agency has been working closely with partners and communities to investigate ways to make them more flood resilient – and this new camera goes a long way to achieving that goal.
The cameras have a high water sensor which will enable us to alert residents as river levels rise. If the correct settings are added to the individuals’ twitter account, then they will be able to hear an alert when images or alarms are tweeted from the camera’s twitter account. We hope it makes a real difference for those potentially at risk of flooding so they can be better prepared.
The community can also view the cameras via Vision Link - the company that created the cameras. The pages are automatically updated when new images/alarms are received. Under this tab there is also guidance on how to set up a twitter account, follow the cameras and receive alerts.
The camera sends images approximately every 4 hours during daylight hours but more images can be requested by Environment Agency staff via the Vision Link mobile site as and when needed allowing us to closely monitor the sites during an incident.
Contact
Media enquiries: 0800 917 9267
Note to editors
Anyone who is concerned about flooding can sign up to receive free flood warnings, check their flood risk and keep up to date with the latest situation, including a three day flood forecast here or by calling Floodline on 0345 988 1188.
Locations with twitter sites and alerts
| Location | Post code | Watercourse |
| Bridge Pub Screen, Kingswinford | DY6 7AF | Dawley Brook |
| Mushroom Green | B64 5BX | Mousesweet Brook |
| Illey Brook | B62 8RW | Illey Brook |
| Bristol Road South, Birmingham | B29 6LX | Wood Brook |
| The Bourn | B30 1JR | The Bourn |
| Darlaston Brook, Darlaston | WS10 8QH | Darlaston Brook |
| West Acre, Willenhall | WV13 2JP | Tame Tunnel |
List of locations with twitter sites and possible future water sensor alerts
We also have additional cameras that don’t currently provide alerts. These may be fitted at a later date. People can still follow these cameras on twitter and receive photos.
| Location | Post code | Watercourse |
| Warstones | WV4 4UQ | Warstones Brook |
| Stonehouse Brook | B32 3BG | Stonehouse Brook |
| Warwick Road | B92 7HY | Westley Brook |