Recent heavy rains in the Hill Country sparked fears of a repeat of last summer’s deadly floods that killed more than 130 people.
The lower death toll shows that better preparation and early-warning systems can save lives. Yet here in Travis County, where 10 people perished in the 2025 floods, residents likely won’t see sirens in flood-prone areas until sometime in 2027, after two rainy seasons have passed.
It’s not because the money isn’t there. Travis County still has about $14 million left over from the disaster tax hike it imposed after last year’s floods, and there are state and federal dollars still available as well.
We appreciate the scale of the job. The county must coordinate with multiple departments, municipalities and stakeholders to install sirens, flood gauges and other life-saving technology and infrastructure. When a waterway has shown it can swell within hours with deadly force, however, the county’s response must match the urgency of the threat.
Travis County has until December to submit its flood warning system plan to the state for partial reimbursement. But the timeline that matters most is one that prioritizes residents’ safety. The county should fast-track the planning and installation of early warning systems so that people in flood-prone areas will know when the water starts to rise again.
As the climate warms, these disastrous events will become more common. Warmer air holds more moisture, which can contribute to more frequent and intense downpours.
In his most recent report, the Texas climatologist at Texas A&M University, Dr. John Nielsen-Gammon, estimated the chances of extreme one-day precipitation events could increase by as much as 15% and the frequency of urban flooding will likely double by 2036.
Our warming climate will amplify the conditions that give Flash Flood Alley its unfortunate moniker. The decisions the county makes today will either save lives or leave people at risk.
Last year’s flood was significant enough for Travis County to impose a one-time disaster tax hike to fund repairs. Residents need to see that same sense of urgency now in the county’s efforts to install life-saving protections against the next flood.