Saves Lives

ALERT is a means of detecting, forecasting, and providing real time
warnings for conditions which are capable of producing floods. These
systems can AND DO save lives and property!

This page will be relocating soon to
[www.alertsystems.org](http://www.alertsystems.org/), get your bookmarks
ready!

Table of Contents

-   [Benefits of Using ALERT Technology](#benefits)

-   [ALERT History](#history)

-   [User\'s Groups](#users)

-   [News of Interest](#news)

-   [ALERT Vendors](#vendors)

-   [Want Ads](#ads)

-   [Feedback](#feedback)

[]{#benefits .anchor}Benefits of Using ALERT Technology:

-   Low Cost / High Benefits Ratio

-   Real Time Data Acquisition

-   Automated Hydrologic / Hydraulic Modeling

-   Automated Warnings

-   Established Reliable Technology in WorldWide Use

[]{#history .anchor}ALERT History

> ALERT is an acronym for Automated Local Evaluation in Real Time, which
> is a method of using remote sensors in the field to transmit
> environmental data to a central computer in real time. This standard
> was developed in the 1970\'s by the National Weather Service and has
> been used by the National Weather Service, U.S. Geological Survey,
> Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Reclamation, numerous state and
> local agencies, and international organizations.
>
> There are a vast number of types and manufacturers of ALERT hardware
> and software, but they are all designed to meet a common set of
> communications criteria. Because of this, most equipment and programs
> are interchangable, which has allowed for competition to improve
> performance and reduce cost. ALERT systems have become a standard in
> real time environmental data collection because of their accuracy,
> reliability, and low cost.

[]{#users .anchor}Users Groups

> Thoughout its growth and development, ALERT has benefitted from the
> input of its users. In order to collect input, discuss planning /
> operations / maintenance, and to prepare organized queries for
> hardware and software vendors; these ALERT users have formed the
> following groups. Information on member systems and data sources is
> available through these Users groups Web Links:

\<MAP NAME=usa\>\<AREA SHAPE=POLYGON COORDS= \"138,86, 201,85, 200,95,
259,95, 257,90, 295,90, 318,125, 301,158, 302,173, 296,185, 313,185,
321,206, 276,198, 244,215, 243,237, 225,231, 200,197, 185,207, 155,178,
140,182, 132,182\" HREF=\"http://www.alertsystems.org/saas\"
ALT=\"SAAS\"\>\<AREA SHAPE=POLYGON COORDS= \"80,170, 58,169, 27,150,
5,106, 1,91, 4,67, 14,33, 11,10, 26,5, 187,5, 185,46, 124,46, 121,86,
138,86, 135,126, 90,125, 90,134, 83,134, 84,149\"
HREF=\"http://www.alertsystems.org/aug\" ALT=\"AUG\"\>\<AREA
SHAPE=POLYGON COORDS= \"132,182, 111,182, 80,170, 84,149, 83,134,
90,134, 90,125, 135,126\" HREF=\"aaug\"\>\<AREA SHAPE=POLYGON COORDS=
\"327,146, 308,144, 318,123, 355,107, 354,78, 380,80, 433,46, 470,43,
481,21, 493,24, 505,47, 476,66, 484,78, 453,90, 436,123, 442,141,
391,181, 407,228, 402,247, 388,235, 375,201, 325,193\"
HREF=\"http://www.cometg.com/af_ecug\" ALT=\"ALERT\~FLOWS\"\>\</MAP\>

-   [ALERT User\'s Group](http://www.alertsystems.org/aug) (AUG -
    Western U.S.)

-   [Southwestern Association of ALERT
    Systems](http://www.alertsystems.org/saas) (SAAS - SouthWestern
    U.S.)

-   [National Hydrologic Warning Council](../nhwc) (NHWC - National
    coordination and legislative action group)

-   [Arizona ALERT User\'s Group](../aaug) (AAUG - Arizona is also a
    member state of AUG and SAAS)

-   [ALERT\~FLOWS](http://www.cometg.com/af_ecug) (Eastern U.S.)

-   [IFLOWS](http://www.nws.noaa.gov/afws) (Eastern U.S.) A similar
    flood warning technology used by the federal government which uses
    different communications and [software](http://www.wxwarn.com/) from
    ALERT.

> One of the things that has been developed through the cooperation of
> these Users Groups is an [ALERT Guidelines and Maintenance
> Manual](../guidelin.zip) (Version 2.2-June \'95, Word Perfect, 122K
> Zip File). In addition, these groups have been instrumental in
> assisting the National Weather Service in the preparation of the
> [Automated Local Flood Warning Systems
> Handbook](http://hsp.nws.noaa.gov/oh/docs/alfws-handbook), which is
> now available for download.
>
> ALERT began in the USA, but is also in use internationally:

-   Argentina

-   Australia

-   China

-   India

-   Indonesia

-   Jamaica

-   [Spain](mailto:saih@bcn.servicom.es)

> If you own or operate an ALERT system outside of the United States of
> America, please contact the [WebPage
> administrator](mailto:ARooke@LCRA.org) for inclusion in this list.

[]{#news .anchor}News of Interest

> NCAR, CSU and NSSL are planning a comprehensive program to evaluate
> and [improve precipitation estimates with
> NEXRAD](http://www.atd.ucar.edu/homes/nash/nexprecip.html) radars.
> Ultimately, this program will be coupled with efforts to improve short
> term quantitative precipitation forecasts.

[]{#vendors .anchor}ALERT Vendors

> There are a growing number of vendors who offer hardware and / or
> software for the operation of ALERT systems. If you are aware of any
> other vendors which merit inclusion in this list please notify the
> [WebPage administrator](mailto:ARooke@LCRA.org):

-   A-Tek (800)-308-4835 : Complete/partial systems

-   [Acro Systems](http://www.adonweb.com/business/acro.html)
    (702)-577-2630 : Water measurement, dataloggers, ALERT equipment

-   [Aerotron-Repco Systems (ARS)](http://aerotron-repco.com/)
    (800)-950-5633 : Radio telemetry equipment

-   The Brown Computer Company (919)-361-5118 : QNX tape backup systems

-   [Community Alert Network (CAN)](http://www.can-intl.com/)
    (800)-992-2331 : Warning notifications via telephone

-   [DEC Data Systems](http://www.saber.net/~coltond) : Forecasting &
    ALERT Software

-   [Data Transmission Network Corp.
    (DTN)](http://www.dtn.com/wxcenter/wxcenter.htm) (806)-794-3258 :
    Radar, satellite

-   [DC Consulting](mailto:DCCURTIS@gnn.com) (916)-988-2771 : Flood risk
    management service, ALERT system audits, Radar-rainfall analysis

-   [DIAD, Inc.](http://www.diad.com/) (303)-823-6263 : Maintenance and
    software

-   [Druck, Inc.](http://www.druck.com/) (203)-746-0400 : Pressure
    Transducers

-   [ELPRO Technologies Pty. Ltd.](http://www.elpro.com.au/)
    61-7-3357-5344 : ALERT hardware (Australia)

-   Fluid Data Systems (800)-773-5843 : Bubbler gauges

-   [Fox Weather](http://www.foxweather.com/) (805)-985-8743 :
    Meteorological services

-   [Futuretech Electronics Pty.
    Ltd.](http://www1.tpgi.com.au/users/futuretech) 61-3-9568-1944 :
    Complete/partial systems (Australia)

-   [Handar](http://www.handar.com/) (800)-955-7367 : Complete/partial
    systems

-   [Henz Meteorological Services](http://www.hmsweather.com/) (303)
    458-1464 : Meteorological services

-   [Hi-Go](http://www.hi-go.com/) (800) 550-8535 : Emergency management
    communications, wireless video

-   [High Sierra Electronics /
    ACRO](http://www.highsierraelectronics.com/) (800)-275-2080 :
    Complete/partial systems

-   [HydroLynx](http://www.hydrolynx.com/) (formerly NovaLynx Systems)
    (916)-852-9174 : Complete/partial systems

-   [Intermountain Environmental, Inc.](http://www.inmtn.com/)
    (800)-948-6236 : ALERT hardware, dataloggers

-   [Kavouras, Inc.](http://www.kavouras.com/) (800)-328-2278 : Radar,
    satellite, forecasting

-   Keller PSI (800)-328-3665 : Pressure Transducers

-   Marta Systems, Inc. (805)-933-1270 : Radar, satellite

-   Michael Mark Systems (717)-766-0364 : Forecasting software

-   [NovaLynx Corp.](http://www.novalynx.com/) (800)-668-2596 :
    Meteorlogical systems

-   [Paroscientific, Inc.](http://www.paroscientific.com/)
    (206)-883-8700 : Bubbler gauges

-   [QNX](http://www.qnx.com/) : (800)-676-0566 : Intel real-time,
    multi-tasking operating system

-   [Qualimetrics, Inc.](http://www.qualimetrics.com/) (800)-824-5873 :
    Weather sensors

-   Remote Operating Systems (800)-683-0661 : Complete/partial systems

-   [Roper Associates](http://www.rope.com/) (916)-988-7950 :
    Complete/partial systems

-   Schaaf & Wheeler (408)-297-4848 : Design/installation/support

-   [SM Technical](mailto:102140.1251@compuserve.com) (510)-232-0575 :
    System design

-   [Sutron Corp.](http://www.sutron.com/) (703)-406-2800 : Sensors,
    Data processing software, modeling software

-   T&T Computer Products, Inc. (800)-921-5563 : QNX OS & applications

-   [Unisys](http://www.unisys.com/Services/nids) (800)-445-5929 :
    Radar, satellite, forecasting

-   [Vitel](http://www.vitelinc.com/) (703)-968-7575 : Complete/partial
    systems

-   [WSI](http://www.intellicast.com/) (508)-670-5000 : Radar w/ALERT
    links, satellite, forecasting

[]{#ads .anchor}Want Ads

> Please send an e-mail to the [ALERT WebPage
> administrator](mailto:ARooke@LCRA.org) if you would like to submit an
> item for listing in the Want Ads section. This section can serve as a
> clearinghouse for information on employment opportunities, used
> hardware/software, or anything else of value within the ALERT
> community. Ads will be run for 90 days (a free service!) unless
> earlier removal is requested. Please include the contact name,
> telephone and fax numbers, physical and e-mail addresses, as well as
> any pertinant info. about your particular ad \<BLINK\>(please be
> brief)\</BLINK\>.

Employment Opportunities:

-   [Hydrologist I/II](http://www.co.clark.nv.us/humanr/hydro.htm);
    Clark Co. NV (posted 9/1/98, closes 9/9/98) [Contact Tim
    Sutko](mailto:TESURFC@co.clark.nv.us) for more information

-   [Software Applications Engineer](http://www.diad.com/jobs.htm);
    DIAD, Inc. (posted 6/8/98)

```{=html}
<!-- -->
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-   Used Hardware / Software:

```{=html}
<!-- -->
```
-   [Miscellaneous field hardware](mailto:ARooke@LCRA.org) (20 year old
    EG&G RTUs, SM tipping buckets w/top sections - TAKEN, etc.) Yours
    for the taking . . . (updated: 06/02/98)

Miscellaneous:

> (none listed at this time)

[]{#feedback .anchor}That\'s All Folks!

**To submit comments about this WebPage, here is the E-mail address for
the ALERT WebPage administrator:** <ARooke@LCRA.org>

*Updated 09/01/98*