Because 2016, the subject of a “flooding caution system” for Kerr Area has actually turned up at 20 various area commissioners’ conferences, according to mins.
The concept for a system was initially presented by Kerr Area Commissioner Thomas Moser and Emergency Situation Administration Organizer Dub Thomas in March 2016.
Moser kept in mind that bordering regions had far more innovative flooding caution systems than Kerr Area, “although this is most likely among the highest possible flood-prone areas in the whole state.”
A downed indication is seen near a going across of the Guadalupe River after a flash flooding brushed up via the location, July 5, 2025, in Ingram, Texas.
Julio Cortez/AP
Kerr Area’s existing water tracking systems were not “flooding control or flooding caution systems,” Thomas discussed, including, “I assume we require a system that can be run or managed by a central place.”
Complying With the March 2016 conference, the flooding caution system was reviewed at 10 even more commissioners’ conferences that year. Yet after the area fell short to protect FEMA give financing to apply the system, it showed up to diminish the schedule.
Trees arise from flooding waters along the Guadalupe River on July 4, 2025, in Kerrville, Texas.
Eric Vryn/Getty Photos
In a November 2020 conversation of a brand-new FEMA emergency situation sharp program, Thomas kept in mind, “We have actually been attempting to obtain a brand-new Flooding Caution System below. We have not had the ability to do it.”
The last time commissioners pointed out the flooding caution system remained in July 2021, meeting minutes program. Yet ever since, various other city government bodies in Kerr Area have actually reviewed the opportunity of a brand-new flooding caution system for the location.
Authorities brush via the financial institutions of the Guadalupe River after a flash flooding brushed up via the location, July 5, 2025, in Quest, Texas.
Julio Cortez/AP
In April, the Upper Guadalupe River Authority, a federal government body that takes care of the landmark, assembled a special meeting of its Board of Supervisors. The board elected all to pick a company called Kisters “to create a Flooding Caution System in Kerr Area.”
Satisfying mins reveal the business was slated to get an agreement well worth as much as almost $73,000 as component of the suggested system, the condition of which is presently uncertain.
When the location swamped on Friday, Ingram City Board Participant Ray Howard obtained 3 flash flooding informs from the National Weather Condition Solution, however none from Kerr Area authorities, he informed ABC Information.
” The river turned up so quick,” Howard claimed. “There’s absolutely nothing you can do regarding that, however there must be very early caution systems to obtain something, a caution, much faster.”
Particles hinges on a bridge over the Guadalupe River after a flash flooding brushed up via the location, July 5, 2025, in Ingram, Texas.
Julio Cortez/AP
Howard kept in mind that cash has actually been an obstacle to applying such a system.
” We require to obtain financing for that,” he included, “for alarms or something that’s mosting likely to assist the neighborhood.”
Yet 2016 meeting minutes reveal there was likewise resistance to a flooding caution system amongst some commissioners, with one stating, “the idea of our stunning Kerr Area having these damn alarms going off in the center of [the] evening, I’m mosting likely to need to begin consuming once again to tolerate y’ all.”
One more commissioner voted against sending a give application for the caution system, stating he believed “this entire point is a little elegant for Kerr Area.”
Rather, numerous area authorities suggested that the area’s casual system of “river calling”– basically a phone tree to advise camps of brewing flooding– sufficed.
Howard differs: “Clearly calling from one location to one more isn’t quick sufficient,” he informed ABC Information.
