Safetycom Project Spotlight

Tempe Arizona Town Lake Project

The City of Tempe, Arizona converted a portion of the Rio Salado or Salt River into a large recreational and commercial development, including a two-mile lake created through the use of inflatable rubber dams. The lake opened in November of 1999.

In order to keep users of the lake safe from flash floods on the river in the mountains upstream of Tempe, high winds, lightning, other severe weather and man-made disasters, an emergency warning system was needed.

SafetyCom was contacted by LTM Engineering of Phoenix and asked to help design a system for the area that would address all of the concerns.

The resulting system combines weather information, weather sensors, communications equipment, visual warnings, and public education to help lake users assess their personal safety and respond accordingly. The Town lake EWS is based on three scenarios; Watch, Warning, and Evacuation.

Each of the three towers contains Whelen warning sirens and strobe beacons used as a warning medium. Under high wind conditions, two white strobes will flash in accordance with wind speed. The higher the wind speed the faster the flash. If lightning is detected in the area, a sensor automatically activates a amber colored strobe and in the event of evacuation the sirens roar periodically and the red light is activated and remains active until the lake is re-opened.

Each of the towers is powered by DC voltage, through a series of attached solar panels.

The system has been in operation since November of 1999 and has provided for a safe and enjoyable environment for the Town Lake.