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

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:
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, May 20th at 9:30 AM, click here for the live link .
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