United Way of Southeast Louisiana and Verizon announce installation of groundbreaking Hyfi Stormwater Detection Sensors
New Orleans is the first market nationally to benefit from the partnership
NEW ORLEANS – 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 stormwater sensors are made possible by startup platform Hyfi, winner of Verizon’s Inaugural Climate Resilience Prize competition. The stormwater 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.
“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.
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 global attention,” 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.
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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.
About Citizen Verizon
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