Leaders are pushing for flood warning sirens after deadly July 4 flash flood

By Anthony Collins

LPR Editor

    
Above, The San Marcos River peacefully runs through the small town of Martindale, Texas. That could quickly change if a flash flood came through. Newly elected Mayor Laura Sanchez-Fowler is working aggressively to get the town’s warning siren system working and effective after years of being non-functional. Courtesy Photo.

In the wake of catastrophic flash floods that struck Texas on July 4, claiming more than 120 lives, state and local leaders are renewing calls for widespread implementation of flood warning sirens to help save lives in future disasters.

     Martindale, Texas a small town nestled along the San Marcos River in Caldwell County, is among the few communities in the state that already have sirens installed. Two sirens, one atop the Martindale Water Supply Cooperative tower downtown and another on Northwest River Road near Hermano’s Restaurant, have existed since 2018. But until recently, they were not functional.

    “If you had sirens blasting, and if people had known, ‘if you hear a siren, get to high ground,’ maybe that would have saved some lives,” said Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick in a recent statement. “What can we do better looking forward? We need sirens.”

     While sirens are common in tornado- and tsunami-prone regions, their use in flood zones has been limited. Experts say that needs to change.

     “Sirens are best for alerting people who are outside of a building,” said Sandy Carrie, an Austin-based emergency warning researcher who has advised FEMA and the National Weather Service. “They’re especially critical for campers or people along rivers.”

     Yet Martindale’s sirens had sat dormant for years. According to city records and email exchanges, the sirens, originally installed through a Caldwell County grant under former Mayor Kim Smith, saw inconsistent maintenance between 2018 and 2025. Over that period, the town had three mayors: Smith, Diviney, and Glaze. At times, batteries were replaced, or tests attempted, but the sirens still failed to operate.

     One key issue: the town’s only radio controller for the system had been misplaced during former Mayor Glaze’s tenure.

     When newly elected Mayor Laura Sanchez- Fowler took office in May 2025, one of her first actions was to meet with Caldwell County Emergency Management Chief Hector Rangel. “He reassured me that the County supports Martindale and will be here to help us in any capacity during an emergency,” the Fowler said.

    Police Chief Tommy Ward acquired updated radios compatible with the county’s soon-to-launch upgraded radio system. The sirens are now tied into this network, allowing Martindale officers to activate them once the system goes live later this summer.

    Following the recent Kerr County floods, Commissioner Theriot and Chief Rangel moved quickly to get the Martindale sirens functioning. Working with the Oklahoma-based manufacturer, a technician arrived and spent several hours repairing the system. A lightning strike had damaged the surge protector, fried wires, and rendered the county-replaced backup batteries from 2023 useless due to inactivity.

     “Thankfully, the main system is now working,” Fowler confirmed. “We’ve already ordered new batteries for backup.”

     Martindale officials are now asking residents to help evaluate siren coverage. During a test between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. a couple of weekends ago, citizens were asked to report if they heard the sirens, and how loud they were, via Facebook or by calling City Hall.

“All neighborhoods were accounted for,” Fowler said. “We’re using that data to fine-tune our emergency plans.”

     Martindale is also working to improve communication with residents who don’t use the internet. Staff compiled a list of utility subscribers without an email on file and are contacting them directly to assess their emergency alert needs.

    “We have to reach everyone, especially those who don’t use online platforms,” the Fowler said. Options being explored include a phone-based emergency call system, reverse 911, and neighbor-to-neighbor contact systems.

     Experts stress that technology is only part of the solution. “Sirens are only useful if people know what to do when they hear them,” said Dr. Keri Stephens, a risk communication researcher at the University of Texas at Austin.

    Ken Stiles, a flood warning system expert, added that “systems should be connected to river gauges that monitor water levels in real time and trigger sirens only when necessary.”

    In Martindale, the Mayor Fowler is committed to improving both the technology and the public’s understanding. “Planning and organizing are essential, especially for emergency situations,” she said. “We absolutely have to invest the proper time, money, and effort into preparing for the worst-case scenario. I just pray we never have to use it.”