The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) has expedited the timeline for implementing Senate Bills (SB) 3 and 5, amplifying efforts to address flood warning system deficiencies and deliver $50 million to install and operate outdoor warning sirens.
Flash flooding has been a rapidly escalating environmental issue for Texas for years due to a combination of climate change-driven increase in storm severity on the backs of extended drought conditions. Since 1980, Texas has seen nine major flooding events that resulted in more than $1 billion in damages each, with six of those occurring since 2015.
This past July, Kerr County – along with bordering counties – experienced some of the most hazardous flooding that has seen in years, causing widespread damage and loss of life. The rainfall caused select rivers to rise up to 30 feet. Kerr County is among those that does not have a dedicated flood warning system, prompting the Legislature and TWDB to respond by giving counties, municipalities and local communities the warning systems they need to properly prepare for and respond to extreme weather emergencies.
SB 3 directs the TWDB to analyze 30 counties featured in the July 22, 2025, disaster declaration to identify which flash flood-prone areas are in most dire need of outdoor warning sires. After being signed into law on Sept. 5, the bill requires that:
- Select municipalities or counties in the designated area must install, maintain and operate an outdoor warning siren system.
- The TWDB must develop best management practices and guidance for operating outdoor warning sirens.
- The TWDB must create rules establishing requirements for these systems in flash flood-prone areas.
SB 5 will provide additional support for SB 3 beneficiaries after establishing a $50 million fund to help recipients create and deploy a flood warning siren system to protect public welfare and safety during inclement weather. The funding will only go toward those 30 counties and municipalities included in the July disaster declaration.
The awards will help cover costs related to the establishment of these systems, including flood gages and other components critical to maintaining them. The accelerated timeline resulted in the TWDB delivering all grant agreements by Dec. 18, 2025.
Photo by Connor McManus from Pexels
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