FloodMapp and RISE Launch Regional Real-Time Flood Forecasting Across Western Virginia
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
Virginia, USA — March 5, 2026 — RISE Resilience Innovations and FloodMapp bring real-time, impact-based flood forecasting and early warning tools to multiple communities across western Virginia through the Riverine Community Resilience Challenge II. Kicked off in 2025 and scaled from a successful pilot in Botetourt County, the initiative provides jurisdictions with ArcGIS-integrated dashboards and operational flood intelligence to support faster, more confident decisions before, during, and after flood events. This project is made possible by funding from RISE, which is funded through the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development.
"This initiative helps us issue actionable, location-specific alerts to protect lives and property,” said Daniel Murray, Emergency Manager for Botetourt County. “It enables us to support first responder safety and streamline post-flood damage assessment to better support our communities after flood events.”
The new tools provide decision-makers a shared view of where and when roads, buildings, and other facilities are at risk so they can position resources, adjust closures and detours, and communicate clearly with the public. The approach is designed to augment existing emergency management workflows rather than replace them.
“Inland flooding presents a very different set of risks than coastal flooding. Conditions can change quickly and vary widely, even within a few miles,” said RISE Deputy Executive Director, Betsy Hnath. “FloodMapp’s Challenge-winning solution gives leaders in western Virginia’s rural and mountain communities, places that have historically had the least access to this capability, the tools they need to prepare, respond, and recover.”
Each participating locality receives a customized ArcGIS dashboard aligned to its network, thresholds, and workflows. The 12-month challenge includes more than 15 participating agencies and local governments across the region, supporting a coordinated approach to flood preparedness and response. The project addresses three priorities identified by stakeholders: (1) public safety: keeping drivers and residents away from flooded areas; (2) continuity of operations: reducing secondary incidents and responder redeployments; and (3) transparency in recovery: supporting consistent, verifiable post-event assessments.
“Virginia’s Blue Ridge has seen catastrophic flooding, and Hurricane Helene alone affected 36 counties, nearly 500 roads, and over 100 bridges,” said Juliette Murphy, CEO and co-founder of FloodMapp. “Floods don’t respect county borders, so agencies need more than static risk maps; they need scalable, operational forecasting. We’re proud to support Planning District commissions 4, 5, and 6 and their county, city, and state partners as they deploy an advanced impact-based flood forecasting system that provides a common operating picture and shared situational awareness. This work strengthens public safety today and builds resilience for the future.”
About FloodMapp
FloodMapp provides operational, impact-based flood forecasting and real-time impact intelligence to support preparation, response, and recovery. Updated hourly and delivered into existing GIS and operations systems, FloodMapp maps flood extent, depth, and impacts to the built environment.
To request a short demonstration, contact sales@floodmapp.com. FloodMapp is headquartered in Brisbane, Australia, with a U.S. hub in Denver, Colorado. Learn more at www.floodmapp.com.
About RISE Resilience Solutions:
Since its founding in 2016, RISE has worked alongside communities to identify, fund, and scale practical solutions to the growing risks of flooding and extreme weather. To date, RISE has awarded more than $10 million to small business innovators, attracted over 400 submissions from 30 countries, and supported the development of 45+ real-world pilot projects. RISE-funded companies have collectively raised more than $48 million and created more than 180 jobs, helping turn promising ideas into proven tools that protect people, strengthen economies, and build long-term resilience.
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