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 that the TWDB has identified as being prone to flash flooding.
The backstory: Central Texas was impacted by catastrophic flooding on the weekend of July 4, resulting in more than 130 fatalities.
Senate Bill 3 requires cities or counties impacted by the July 4-5 floods to install and operate outdoor warning sirens. Under Senate Bill 5, the state will award $50 million across 30 counties.