A bipartisan pair of U.S. senators has introduced legislation that would expand emergency weather alerts by allowing cell phone providers to partner with satellite operators, a proposal inspired by the deadly Central Texas flooding that claimed dozens of lives last summer.
The Mystic Alerts Act, named for Camp Mystic in the Texas Hill Country, was introduced this week by Sens. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Jon Ossoff, D-Ga.
The bill would authorize wireless carriers to use satellite technology to deliver weather emergency alerts directly to cell phone users, providing another layer of communication when traditional cellular infrastructure is unavailable or compromised during natural disasters.
Under the proposal, the Federal Communications Commission would develop rules governing the expanded alert system and partnerships between wireless providers and satellite operators.
The legislation comes as Central Texas again faces heavy rainfall and renewed scrutiny of the region's flood warning systems. The proposal is named after Camp Mystic, where campers and counselors were among those killed during catastrophic flooding in Kerr County last summer, one of the deadliest natural disasters in recent Texas history.
Supporters of the bill say integrating satellite communications with existing wireless networks could improve the reliability and reach of emergency alerts during severe weather and other disasters, particularly in rural areas or where flooding damages communications infrastructure.
