AUSTIN – In the aftermath of devastating flash floods that killed more than 100 people over the July 4th weekend, Texas leaders are pushing for a statewide system of outdoor warning sirens in flood-prone areas like the Hill Country.
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Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick visited Kerr County this week, where the Guadalupe River surged nearly 30 feet in under an hour, catching residents and summer camps off guard. Patrick says the state will step in and pay to install sirens in vulnerable communities if local governments can’t.
“If they can’t afford to do it, let us do it,” Patrick told reporters. “There should have been sirens here. We will have them by next summer.”
The flooding killed at least 104 people statewide, including 84 in Kerr County alone. Among the victims were 27 campers from the all-girls Camp Mystic along the Guadalupe River - 17 of them children. As of Monday, multiple campers and a counselor remained unaccounted for.
Missed warnings, stalled plans
Although residents received National Weather Service alerts on their phones, many were asleep when floodwaters rushed in during the early morning hours. Local officials and survivors say outdoor sirens could have made a difference.
Kerr County officials had previously discussed installing sirens and even sought a nearly $1 million FEMA grant in 2016, but the project was dropped due to cost concerns. Neighboring counties like Comal and Guadalupe did install sirens in recent years.
Now, Patrick and Governor Greg Abbott are expected to include siren funding and emergency communication upgrades in a special legislative session scheduled for later this month.
Legislative turnaround
A previous effort to create a state-funded emergency alert system - House Bill 13 - failed in the Texas Senate last year. But with the tragedy still unfolding, momentum is shifting. Kerr County State Representative Wes Virdell, who previously opposed the bill, told local reporters he might have voted differently had he known the risks.
Local officials say they're working with state leaders to fast-track new alert systems, including sirens, evacuation signage, and better river monitoring tools. Meanwhile, volunteers and first responders continue to search along miles of debris-strewn riverbanks for the missing.
Flags are flying at half-staff across the state, and grief is giving way to calls for action.
“This isn’t just about Kerr County,” said Patrick. “It’s about making sure every family along every river in Texas can sleep at night knowing they’ll be warned in time.”
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