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County highlights free Haz Cams weather camera network and early-warning tools
Summary
County staff demonstrated a new Haz Cams network of live weather cameras that provide local rainfall rates, time-lapse tracking and pan/tilt access for dispatch and the National Weather Service; officials said the cameras were acquired at no cost to the county and public access is free via a QR code.
County staff demonstrated a new Haz Cams weather-camera network intended to improve local weather awareness and emergency response across southwest Nevada County.
David, a county presenter, described the system’s features: live rainfall-rate and 12-hour totals, wind direction and speed, sunrise/sunset views, and a live ticker with localized alerts. He played a time-lapse from Prescott that tracked the eye of a storm and said the camera captured rotation that the regional radar (Shreveport/Little Rock) had not displayed. "It was a zero cost to the county. And it is free to the public," David said, and he encouraged residents to use the QR-coded rack card to view cameras on their phones.
The presenter said dispatchers and some National Weather Service staff can pan and tilt the cameras to confirm fires or direct responders; during fire season the cameras can help confirm locations for aerial resources and give more accurate local information than distant radar. Prescott and Bodcaw were identified as camera locations; the presenter said meteorologists nationwide sometimes watch the local feeds.
Officials framed the Haz Cams rollout as an emergency-management and public-safety improvement that fills local radar gaps and gives residents a free, realtime source of localized weather information. County staff will continue public outreach to increase sign-ups for the early-warning system and distribute rack cards showing camera locations.
