BUNCOMBE COUNTY, N.C. — Technology used to predict flooded roadways potentially saved lives during Helene, according to the North Carolina Department of Transportation.

What You Need To Know

  •  NCDOT has a flood warning system

  •  It uses gauges throughout the state to determine whether roads could flood when a storm hits

  •  The system was able to accurately predict flooded roads before Helene hit the state

  • Officials were able to block off roads before drivers were in danger

According to officials, NCDOT's flood warning system predicted certain roads would flood before Helene ever hit our state. 

Crews were able to close off part of I-40 near exit 47 before it eventually flooded in September during Helene.

Because of that data, lives were potentially saved, officials said.

"It was amazing technology and the use for it, of course, I think will grow after this point for sure," said Chad franklin, an NCDOT regional intelligent transportation systems engineer.

Franklin said some of the flood monitoring gauges went offline during Helene due to cell service being down.

The department is working on adding satellite capabilities for future storms to keep data coming in.