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Verizon and startup Hyfi monitor flooding with 5G sensors Verizon is launching 50 floodwater sensors, connected via the operator's 5G network, in flood-prone areas of Chicago to provide data that could help lessen the impacts of flooding. Chicago residents are no strangers to street and basement flooding. In July, the city was hit with flash flooding, especially on the South Side, as six inches of rain fell in under two hours in some areas, according to CBS News. The flooding caused vehicles to stall and basements to fill with water, in addi on to flooding roadways. Verizon's new 5G floodwater sensors for Chicago are developed by startup Hyfi, a company providing wireless, solar-powered water-level sensors that connect to a web-based and mobile app. Water level data is collected by the sensors to create a real- me map of flood condi ons for use by city managers and emergency preparedness officials. The Center for Neighborhood Technology is also par cipa ng in the launch by hos ng disaster preparedness workshops for local communi es, together with Hyfi and Verizon. Hyfi's sensors operate by sending an acous c pulse downward, which bounces off the water's surface to quickly calculate water depth and provide city officials with early flood warnings. Stormwater professionals and emergency responders can also access the app to view the flood map during storms instead of having to manually calibrate the sensors in the field. The app will be made available to residents in the future to monitor poten al flooding in their areas. "By delivering real- me insights into neighborhood flooding and the underlying causes, we're focused on helping crews and communi es get ahead of floods—up to an hour before a flood hits," said Brandon Wong, CEO of Hyfi, in a statement. Hyfi also joined Verizon's Frontline Innova on Program, which was launched last year to develop emergency-response solu ons. Last year, Verizon and Hyfi deployed floodwater sensors in New Orleans, where the sensors provided floodwater data during Hurricane Francine in September 2024. The hurricane delivered six to eight inches of rainfall and flash flooding to New Orleans; in Lafourche Parish, 26 people had to be rescued from the floodwaters, according to NOAA's Na onal Environmental Satellite, Data, and Informa on Service (NESDIS). "When the Hyfi sensors measure a flood, we then have an automa cally generated map that shows us the area of the flood," said Aus n Feldbaum, director of Hazard Mi ga on for the City of New Orleans. "We can use that to provide public warnings, re- route emergency responders or focus our efforts on recovery a er the water goes down." Texas floods and a new network slice During the recent flooding in central Texas in July, Verizon worked with local public safety agencies to gauge connec vity requirements in the area. In addi on, the service provider deployed low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite devices to support the Texas Department of Public Safety's drone search and recovery opera ons. Verizon noted that customers on select Android and iOS devices could send texts and access emergency SOS via satellite. In April, Verizon said its new Frontline Network Slice for connected vehicles, the first implementa on of the technology, will allow first responders to access connec vity "with dedicated network resources." Verizon Frontline provides network resources and deployable mobile assets to support first responders during natural disasters and regional emergencies. The new network slice runs over the carrier's 5G standalone network. Verizon plans to deploy the Hyfi floodwater sensors in other ci es over the next year. Ar cle Credit: h ps://www.lightreading.com/5g/verizon-and- startup-hyfi-monitor-flooding-with-5g-sensors Talleycom.com SHEET QUARTER 3 2025

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