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Kerr County 1st to Install Bettencourts’ SB 3 Flash Flood Outdoor Warning Siren System

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UGRA Successfully Tested the first 6 Sirens on the Guadalupe River in Western Kerr County Ahead of Camp Season, 28 of 30 Eligible Counties have Secured SB 3 Agreements  

AUSTIN, TX — As a priority bill of Lt. Governor Dan Patrick and Speaker Dustin Burrows, author Senator  Paul Bettencourt’s (R-Houston) with House Sponsor Terry Wilson’s (R-Georgetown), Senate Bill 3,  the Flash Flood Outdoor Warning System, is now being implemented in Central Texas’ “Flash Flood Alley”  ahead of summer camp season in response to the devastating July 4, 2025 floods. With swift cooperation  among the Office of the Governor, Texas Water Development Board (TWDB), Upper Guadalupe River  Authority (UGRA), and local emergency management partners, Kerr County has become the first county to  install and test (Phase 1) its’ outdoor warning siren technology under the new statewide flash flood warning  framework. The first six sirens are designed to alert half a dozen camps on the Guadalupe River in western Kerr County. Note: Gov. Greg Abbott called for a quick implementation date.

“Within a day of hearing of the July 4 Flash Flood tragedy in the Hill Country, both Lt. Gov. Patrick  and I posted about the need for ‘old tech’ sirens to be used to help save lives. It was obvious that  ‘new tech’ cell phone alerts were not enough warning on their own, and that combining ‘old tech’  with ‘new tech’ was the right solution and that was SB 3!” Senator Bettencourt remarked. Also, TWDB 

did a great job developing, coordinating, and helping local governments, 28 out of 30 eligible  counties so far to have secured SB 3 agreements. Hats off to the Upper Guadalupe River Authority  for being the first to install their new outdoor warning siren system,” He added.

Kerr County Project Details & Infrastructure: 

  • Coverage: Each siren is designed for a 1-mile audible

radius, depending on weather and terrain.

  • Redundancy: Each tower includes dual power, wireless

connectivity, and backup radio communications

  • Partners: The Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) built

the towers, and WEST Consultants designed the broader Guadalupe

River Flood Warning System.

  • Funding: UGRA used reserve funds for the project and is being

reimbursed by TWDB.

  • “The people of Kerr County requested a data-driven,  

automated warning system to be designed and installed before  

next summer,” said Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring. “We  

are so grateful for the help from the State of Texas, especially for  

the help provided in Senator Bettencourt’s SB 3.” Herring added.

Under rules adopted by TWDB, SB 3 requires local governments in TWDB-identified flash-flood-prone  areas to install, maintain, test, and document outdoor warning siren systems. The program is supported by  $50M in state funding appropriated by the 89th Legislature to deploy sirens, sensors, backup power, flood  gauges, and emergency activation protocols in Central Texas’ “Flash Flood Alley”.

“Upper Guadalupe River Authority, Kerr County, and the City of Kerrville have made an exceptional  start to have tested their 1st phase of their system by May 15th, less than a year after SB 3’s passage.  One of the best days you can have as a legislator is to help save lives in the future, and SB 3 will  do exactly that.” Bettencourt concluded. UGRA will have a Zoom update on their progress Wednesday,

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