AUSTIN, Texas (KEYE) — Gov. Greg Abbott said early warning systems and flood sirens helped save lives during last week’s Hill Country flooding and indicated expanding those systems will be a priority during the next legislative session.
Speaking at a news conference in Kerrville on Monday, Abbott said local officials reported that warning systems installed or improved following the devastating July 2025 floods played a key role in alerting residents ahead of this year’s flooding.
“The early warning systems have helped,” Abbott said. “We all acknowledge that there’s more to get done to make sure that the entire warning process is going to be complete.”
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Abbott said state lawmakers will continue working to strengthen flood preparedness across Texas.
“And those are the kinds of issues that we will take up in the next session to make sure that we fully address,” he said.
The governor’s comments came after he was asked whether the state plans to provide additional funding to expand flood sirens, particularly in areas along waterways vulnerable to flash flooding.
Abbott said local officials in and around Kerrville credited sirens and other early warning systems with helping residents receive timely alerts before floodwaters rose.
He also emphasized that emergency preparedness by state and local officials, along with residents responding to warnings, contributed to reducing the number of lives lost during this year’s flooding.
Flood warning systems became a major focus after the deadly July 2025 Hill Country floods, prompting state leaders and local communities to explore ways to improve emergency notification systems in flood-prone areas.