HUNT, Texas — The Upper Guadalupe River Authority (UGRA) has been busy installing new flood sirens across Kerr County, an added layer of protection in the Hill Country.
“Pre-flood, we would have been doing this at the Hunt Store,” said Hunt Preservation Society President John Dunn.
After months of construction, the new Hunt Community Center is finally open.
“Where having this community center here will make us more resilient for the next disaster, whether it’s another flood, wildfire or ice,” John Dunn said.
To be better prepared for the next emergency, the river town hosted a community meeting.
“Know the area around you,” said a consultant. “Just walk it. Drive it when you’re safe. And just be as hyperaware as you can. And have a lot of different contingency plans ready to go.”
The meeting was focused on ways to keep residents alert in the future.
“They should go off in advance, otherwise you’re just telling me what I already know,” said a concerned resident.
The meeting also introduced folks to the “HuntSafe” concept, which is six technologies being used to monitor the weather and river levels.
“Making sure that we take advantage of all weather alerts and properness tools that are available to us,” said Vikki Dunn, also with the Hunt Preservation Society.
AccuWeather Skyguard and the 100 River Sentry flood warning towers were installed along the Guadalupe River.
“Visible and audible alarm,” said Vikki Dunn. “So, what happened, right, some people didn’t hear the alerts because they were sleeping. You won’t sleep through this.”
To improve flood warning capabilities in the Hill Country, the state of Texas awarded Kerr County partners $14.7 million to expand broadband infrastructure — a key component of the new flood warning system.
“Purchased eight sirens and installed six,” said Tara Bushnoe, the general manager of the Upper Guadalupe River Authority. “We have placed all of the initial six on private property. And that was done because we wanted them to be out of the floodplain.”
Bushnoe says rain gauges were in place last summer, but these 50-foot sirens are new.
“If your home is outside of the immediate area of the siren, you may not hear it,” Bushnoe said. “That’s why we have the multiple layers of notification. So, a siren doesn’t make warning in of itself.”
The UGRA is in the process of deploying “Riverhub” an online dashboard that gives updates on rain and river conditions in real time.
Experts say knowing how to use these tools, like a two-way radio, can be lifesaving during an emergency.
“All of us are responsible for our own personal safety,” said Vikki Dunn. “But we can certainly do better as a community.”
The Hunt Preservation Society plans to host monthly meetings to ensure residents know how to use these tools, pushing toward a more resilient Hunt.
“We do believe we are on a path to that,” said John Dunn. “No question we’re going to be safer and more prepared than last summer. But truly we do have to educate, train, practice and prepare to really make these tools useful.”