TEXAS — The process for flood-affected areas in Texas to implement warning sirens and flood gauges following the catastrophic floods in July 2025 could be quickening.
The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) voted on Tuesday to allocate close to $1 million each to 30 counties with a severe history of flooding through a new grant program. This money is expected to be available early in the new year.
In September, Texas legislators approved $50 million for flood-affected counties to install outdoor warning sirens for flood-prone areas in Central Texas in a special session through Senate Bill 3. In SB 3, state legislators tasked the TWDB with identifying the counties with consistent severe flooding to install the warning sirens and developing rules and best practices for these systems. This process is still ongoing.
In Kerr County, which had the highest casualty count from the summer flooding with 119 deaths, officials worried this funding wouldn’t come fast enough. In early December, they said they needed them as soon as possible — specifically by summer 2026, when children will return to sleepaway camps along the Guadalupe River. They then suggested even dipping into their local funds to quicken the process of getting these preventative measures.
While TWDB established best practices for the warning systems, the grant program could allow the board to speed up the process in some of the affected counties.
Officials with the Upper Guadalupe River Authority (UGRA) in Kerr County said they will continue to seek state help and updates as to when the warning systems will be installed.
“The funding recommended under this agenda item is a great first step,” said Jonathan Letz, who is on the board at UGRA. “However, it’s only the first step in implementing a complete and coordinated flood warning system. We look forward to other funding opportunities and continued work with this agency.”