The announcement comes after flash flooding on the Guadalupe River killed dozens in Central Texas.
KERRVILLE, Texas — In the wake of deadly flooding in Central Texas along the Guadalupe River, Texas’ lieutenant governor announced the state will front the bill for sirens to be installed in the area.
During an interview with Fox News Monday afternoon, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said that he and Gov. Greg Abbott agreed that the state should erect sirens along the Guadalupe River.
“There should have been sirens here,” Patrick said.
Patrick’s announcement comes amid criticism pointed at officials over National Weather Service alerts and forecasting before and during the flash flooding. Sen. Ted Cruz and the White House have defended the National Weather Service, and Patrick addressed the concerns.
“There’s a lot of comment going on, and that will be for another day, about when the alerts went out, but there was an alert around 1:30—very late—but about the flash flood,” Patrick said. “Had we had sirens along this area, all up and down… it’s possible that would have saved some of these lives.”
Some Texas cities, like San Marcos, have flood sirens, but Patrick said voters in the area didn’t want them, citing high costs.
“If the city can’t afford it, then the state will step up,” Patrick said. “And we need to have these in place by next summer.”
The Texas Hill Country is highly susceptible to flooding, earning the nickname “Flash Flood Alley.” Though the rise of the Guadalupe River was historic this time around, Patrick believes the installation of warning sirens will help save lives.
“We’ll fund it from the state because we just shouldn’t have this happen,” Patrick said.
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