New technology is helping to keep local residents and emergency responders safe as flood waters continue to rise. Emergency personnel can now get up to the minute information on how high flood waters are, thanks to the recently installed Spring River gauge. This is the first flood the gauge has been used in. Baxter Springs firefighter Steven Burton says being able to access current river levels on the internet has helped the department stay on top of potential dangers. Burton says the Spring River is still rising. Between 6 and 11 this morning it rose one foot to about 20 feet total. The river is rising at a slower rate than yesterday, which was about a foot an hour. Burton says 25 feet is still the expected crest height for the Spring River in Cherokee County.