Chicago has installed 50 solar-powered, 5G-connected floodwater sensors in flood-prone areas as part of a project with Verizon, startup Hyfi, and the non-profit Center for Neighborhood Technology.
The rollout follows severe flash flooding in July, when parts of the city saw up to six inches of rain in less than two hours, flooding basements, stranding vehicles, and blocking roadways.
Hyfi’s sensors use acoustic pulses to measure water depth, sending real-time data to a web and mobile platform that generates live flood maps for city managers, emergency services, and—soon—residents. The system can provide alerts up to an hour before flooding begins, reducing the need for manual checks during storms. The initiative also includes disaster preparedness workshops for local communities.
This project builds on earlier deployments in New Orleans, where the technology supported emergency response during Hurricane Francine in 2024, and is part of a wider plan to expand to other U.S. cities over the next year.
