At a marathon legislative hearing Wednesday, July 23, state senators and representatives grilled the Upper Guadalupe River Authority (UGRA) for backing out of a flood warning system that could have alerted residents before fast-moving waters swept through parts of the Hill Country.
During the hearing, part of the Senate Select Committee on Disaster Preparedness and Flooding, UGRA General Manager Tara Bushnoe told legislators the agency applied for state grants as far back as 2017 but was repeatedly denied.
Bushnoe said when new funding became available, they tried again in 2024—but ultimately dropped the project due to low state matching funds. The agency instead opted to build a public-facing dashboard with flood-related data, a decision that left lawmakers unimpressed.
“We need gauges, not dashboards,” said Rep. Ken King, R-Canadian.
Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, called the decision “pathetic,” and Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown, said he was disturbed to learn UGRA had millions in reserves from a failed project but still passed on investing in public safety.
The flood hit hardest in the early hours of July 4, when many residents were still asleep.
Lawmakers questioned whether local leaders saw the National Weather Service’s urgent warnings and why there is no guaranteed system to ensure officials get the alert in time to call evacuations.
Texas Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd said only mayors and county judges can issue evacuation orders—and there’s no mechanism to confirm they’ve seen life-saving alerts.
Kidd said he didn’t wake up until nearly 5 a.m., after people were already reported trapped on rooftops.
“We’ve got to make sure the people who make the call are awake, alert, and in the loop,” Schwertner said. “It’s like waking up a president during an attack.”
The hearing also highlighted the lack of qualifications for emergency coordinators in many counties.
Unlike police or EMTs, local emergency managers aren’t required to undergo specific training unless they serve in counties with over 500,000 residents. Legislators acknowledged a 2020 report already called for changes— but nothing was done.
“We are better than this,” said Rep. Joe Moody, D-El Paso. “This isn’t finger-pointing, it’s accountability.”
Lawmakers also looked at communications failures between first responders.
In Kerrville, San Antonio firefighters brought radios that didn’t work locally. A regional expert testified it took five days to get emergency radio infrastructure in place. He estimated a fully integrated statewide system could cost over $800 million, a number dating back to 2007 and likely much higher now.
In the meantime, basic low-water crossing warning systems with flashing lights or gates could be installed for around $30,000 each. With 340 rural crossings statewide, the total cost would be $10–12 million.
“These disasters keep coming,” said Rep. Armando Martinez, D-Weslaco. “We keep saying we did well, but the numbers and the lives lost say otherwise.”
Another hearing is scheduled in Kerville for Thursday, July 31.
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