Months after a historic flood hit Central Texas, Travis County has been awarded a $1 million state grant to install flood warning sirens.
The Travis County Commissioners Court approved an award agreement for at least $1 million in funding from the Texas Water Development Board at a March 24 meeting. The grant is a part of the state’s $50 million effort to fund the installation of flood warning siren systems in counties impacted by the July 4-5 flooding.
The details
The $1 million grant is expected to cover the installation of outdoor warning siren systems, including flood gauges, in Travis County. The sirens must be located in areas the TWDB has identified as being prone to flash flooding.
The TWDB approved provisional flash flood hazard areas at the March 3 meeting and was expected to work with affected counties on a final map detailing where warning sirens would be warranted, TWDB Division Director Dena Green said.
The board identified high-risk areas based on environmental conditions and where people would likely be exposed to flooding, including camps, RV grounds and parks, Green said. Other factors considered included building footprints, population estimates and historical records of past flash floods, she said.
The backstory
Central Texas was impacted by catastrophic flooding on the weekend of July 4, resulting in more than 130 fatalities, according to previous Community Impact reporting. In Kerrville, 25 campers and two counselors died at Camp Mystic.
In Travis County, there were 10 deaths and 80 homes destroyed from the disaster, according to Travis County information. Flooding in the Sandy Creek neighborhood in northwest Travis County resulted in multiple deaths.
The devastation prompted state lawmakers to enact several new laws related to flood safety in the 2025 legislative session.
Senate Bill 3 requires cities or counties impacted by the July 4 floods to install and operate outdoor warning sirens. Under Senate Bill 5, state lawmakers set aside $50 million to award 30 counties grants to install these systems.
Each county will receive a minimum of $1 million and may receive an additional $250,000, according to TWDB documents. Counties must apply to receive any funding beyond $1.25 million.
Next steps
To receive the grant funding, county officials are working to create and submit a project plan to the TWDB board by Dec. 31. Additionally, the county is planning to hire a consultant to help implement the project.
The county may receive up to 25% of the grant funding following project approval. The remaining funds will be reimbursed after documentation is submitted with a deadline of Aug. 1, 2027.
