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<br />ASFPM Austin 2000 Conference <br />Abstracts & Biographies <br /> <br />Application of Emergency Warning Technology At Tempe Town Lake <br /> <br />By: Laurie T. Miller, P.E., and Ash Campbell, AlCP, MP A <br /> <br />Development of recreational facilities, particularly those in and around floodplains, poses special <br />safety concerns for local jurisdictions. Public officials are recognizing the following special <br />conditions: 1) Development or improvement of recreational areas implies to the public that the <br />facilities will be safe; 2) The nature of outdoor recreational facilities dictates that users will be <br />exposed to a variety of weather-related and man-made hazards; and 3) Patrons of developed <br />recreational facilities, particularly those in urban settings, are often less aware of natural hazards <br />and lack experience in assessing threats to their personal safety. <br /> <br />A prominent example of urban outdoor recreational development is Tempe Town Lake. The City <br />of Tempe, Arizona, is converting a portion of the Salt River into a large recreational and <br />commercial development. The Salt River is normally dry, but becomes a major flood control <br />channel during significant storms. The focal point of the new development is Tempe Town Lake, <br />a two-mile lake created through the use of inflatable rubber dams in the channelized portion of <br />the Salt River. Tempe Town Lake was opened to the public in November 1999 and could draw <br />up to 5 million visitors annually for boating and special events on the Lake as well as perimeter <br />activities such as bicycling, outdoor sports, shopping, and dining. <br /> <br />In recognition of public safety concerns, the City's risk management, parks, police, lake <br />operations, and project management departments collaborated with L TM Engineering, Inc., to <br />develop an emergency warning plan. As a result of this joint effort, the City installed an <br />Emergency Warning System for the lake. The Town Lake EWS incorporates public education, <br />weather monitoring, and the innovative application of existing technology to help lake users <br />assess their personal safety and respond accordingly. Information available to lake users includes <br />weather forecasts~ severe ~weatlier- warrungs, -and speclfic VISUal and audio warnings to alert fake - . <br />users of high winds, lightning, and other hazards (man-made or natural) that would require lake <br />evacuation. <br /> <br />Additionally, new monitoring and communications equipment was selected to easily integrate <br />with the City's existing equipment and enhance its emergency recognition and response <br />activities. The EWS is solar and wind powered, and is very robust due to built-in redundancies <br />essential for monitoring and emergency response activities. The combined system of technology <br />and increased awareness will provide a timely picture of impending threats to public safety. <br /> <br />Page 8 <br />