Catastrophic flooding has hit communities across the U.S. in recent years — including Buchanan County, Virginia, which has suffered three major floods in just four years. Now, Buchanan and nearby Botetourt County are piloting new flood warning systems that combine sensors, rain gauges, predictive modeling, and real-time alerts to give local officials crucial minutes of preparation.

In this episode of The Cardinal: News of Virginia, host Dutchie Jessee talks with Cardinal News reporter Susan Cameron, who explains how these cutting-edge systems work, why they’re especially vital for mountainous regions prone to flash flooding, and what this technology could mean for the future of flood preparedness across the state.

Read Susan's full story here: https://cardinalnews.org/2025/07/18/2-western-virginia-counties-now-have-flood-warning-systems-to-gather-data-and-guide-local-officials-during-emergencies/