Bandera County commissioners last Thursday approved a resolution authorizing the county to accept financial assistance from the Texas Water Development Board for improvements to the county’s flood warning infrastructure.
The action allows county officials to move forward with a grant agreement of up to $1.25 million to support installation of an outdoor warning siren system and related flood monitoring equipment.
Officials say the state is prioritizing flood mitigation projects and encouraging local governments to act quickly.
County leaders said recent flooding events highlighted gaps in existing warning systems and reinforced the need for a coordinated approach that combines multiple tools, including sirens and monitoring gauges.
Officials noted that drought conditions in past years slowed progress on flood-related planning, but changing weather patterns have renewed urgency.
Commissioners discussed the limitations of an outdoor siren system, noting that sirens are most effective in densely populated areas and would not provide full coverage across the county.
Officials said a comprehensive system must include sirens, river and rain gauges, and improved indicators to provide earlier warnings during flood events.
Securing the funding allocation is the next step before determining implementation details.
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