Watch Duty App Now Alerts Users to Floods Across US

When wildfires tore through Los Angeles last year, millions of people turned to Watch Duty for real-time updates that helped them stay safe. Now the nonprofit app is expanding beyond flames to help communities prepare for floods across the entire country.

Watch Duty started in 2021 focused solely on California wildfires. The free app uses paid staff and volunteers who monitor emergency radio channels and translate critical information into clear, instant alerts that anyone can understand.

The expansion to flood alerts marks a major step in the organization's mission to become America's go-to resource for natural disasters. Users can subscribe to specific counties and receive push notifications when flooding threatens their area, complete with details about water levels and flood paths.

CEO John Mills says floods are actually easier to track than fires because warning signs are more predictable. The challenge isn't getting information but making sense of it all when it comes from FEMA, the National Weather Service, NOAA, and multiple other agencies.

Watch Duty solves this by putting everything on one screen. Users can find the nearest water level buoy and set custom alerts for when flooding becomes a real threat, giving families time to make informed decisions about evacuation.

The app has grown dramatically since the LA fires, doubling its staff and landing partnerships with Amazon Ring and Google.org. The Google partnership brings AI tools that automatically transcribe emergency radio traffic during disasters.

The Ripple Effect

Watch Duty's evolution shows how technology can democratize life-saving information. What started as a handful of volunteers listening to fire radios has become a nationwide network protecting communities from multiple disasters.

Mills plans to keep expanding to cover every natural disaster, whether it's hurricanes, tornadoes, or volcanic eruptions. The goal is simple: no matter what nature throws at Americans, they'll have one trusted place to get clear, actionable information.

Since the LA fires, thousands of new users have joined the service, creating a growing community that looks out for each other. More users means more volunteers monitoring more areas, which means faster alerts and better coverage for everyone.

Watch Duty proves that when people come together with the right tools, they can face disasters with confidence instead of fear.