Some communities in Flash Flood Alley, which stretches through Central Texas and includes the Colorado and Guadalupe River basins, would be required to install flood warning sirens under a bill advanced by state House lawmakers Aug. 26.
What you need to know
Under Senate Bill 3:
- The Texas Water Development Board would identify areas impacted by the deadly July 4-5 floods that have “a history of consistent or severe flooding.”
- Local governments in the identified areas would be required to install flood warning sirens if they are not already present.
- The state would distribute up to $50,000 in grants to help cities and counties install warning systems.
“The recent devastating floods in Kerr County and across Central Texas highlighted how critical early warning systems are to protecting lives,” bill sponsor Rep. Terry Wilson, R-Georgetown, said on the House floor Aug. 26. “With limited cellphone coverage in many of these areas, we must rely on proven technology like outdoor warning systems.”
At least 137 people died due to the historic flooding, much of which occurred before sunrise July 4. Some lawmakers have said they were concerned that some Hill Country residents and visitors missed or did not receive emergency alerts issued by the National Weather Service.
House lawmakers passed SB 3 unanimously, returning it to the Senate with a minor amendment. If state senators sign off on the amendment, the warning siren bill will head to the governor’s desk.
SB 3 would take effect immediately after the governor signs it, meaning warning sirens could be installed before next summer.
Also of note
The state comptroller’s office announced Aug. 25 that it will offer up to $200 million in grants to help communities detect and warn residents about future floods. Local governments, utility providers and river authorities have until Nov. 20 to apply for funding, according to the grant website.
The grant program is designed to build “extremely high-speed” broadband infrastructure aimed at “[improving] connectivity for flood detection and emergency warning systems in vulnerable areas.”
House Bill 22, which House lawmakers approved Aug. 21, would expand the state’s broadband infrastructure fund to cover emergency communication and warning systems. HB 22 had not been considered by the Senate as of press time.
More information
Texas lawmakers are considering several other proposals that were drafted in response to the deadly flooding, including:
- House Bill 1, which would require Texas youth camps to create and annually update comprehensive plans for disasters and other emergencies, with daily fines for camps that do not comply. House lawmakers passed the bill Aug. 21 and sent it to the Senate.
- Senate Bill 1, which would prohibit summer camps from operating cabins in floodplains and require all campers to be evacuated once a flood warning is issued near a camp. The bill passed the Senate Aug. 21 and was sent to the House.
- Senate Bill 2, which would establish licensing requirements for local emergency management coordinators and create a mass fatality training program for justices of the peace. Both chambers passed the bill and are fine-tuning the details in a closed-door conference committee.
- House Bill 3, which would establish a state interoperability council to develop an emergency communications plan and administer grants to help local governments acquire new radio equipment. House lawmakers passed the bill Aug. 21 and sent it to the Senate.
- Senate Bill 5, which would set aside up to $368 million for flood relief grants, including $240 million to match federal grants and $50 million to help communities impacted by the July 4-5 floods install flood warning sirens. The bill is in a conference committee after passing both chambers.
- House Bill 20, which would create an accreditation system aimed at preventing fraudulent organizations from soliciting and receiving donations in the wake of disasters. The bill passed the House Aug. 21 and was sent to the Senate.
- House Bill 48, which would create a work group tasked with studying statewide alert notification systems and issuing a report by December 2026. House lawmakers initially approved the bill Aug. 27.
- House Bill 149, which would direct the governor’s office to review planned purchases of local radio systems used by first responders. It initially passed the House on Aug. 27.
All legislation must be approved by both chambers before it can reach the governor’s desk.
Lawmakers have said the slate of bills could help save lives and reduce damage from future floods by tightening safety requirements at summer camps, increasing qualifications to lead a city or county’s emergency operations and facilitating the development of a statewide emergency communications plan.
“We have a chance now to right these wrongs, to say ‘Never again,’” Rep. Drew Darby, R-San Angelo, said on the House floor Aug. 21.