Kerr County Emergency Management provides update on flood warning system
Kerr County Emergency Management is proud to be an operating partner in one of the most significant public safety investments this community has ever seen. The Guadalupe River Flood Warning System is not simply a network of sirens and gauges. It is a commitment - one that demands clear protocols, trained personnel and disciplined coordination across multiple agencies. That is exactly what we are building.
We are actively developing and finalizing the Standard Operating Procedures that will govern how and when this system is activated. Those procedures define who has the authority to trigger a siren, under what conditions and through what chain of communication - from National Weather Service flash flood warnings and observed river conditions to real-time data flowing directly to our emergency managers through the UGRA watershed dashboard, RiverHub. Every decision point will be documented, tested and backed by signed memorandums of understanding with our partner agencies.
"Should another flooding event affect the area, we are ready and able to activate all completed outdoor warning sirens, along with our other warning methods,” said Kerr County Emergency Management Coordinator Shorey Harmon. “As this system continues to roll out, these and additional capabilities will be reflected in our final plan for operations.”
This work does not happen in isolation. The close collaboration among the UGRA, local cities and our state and federal partners has been essential — and it continues every week. This team has worked side by side to ensure that hardware, communications, data systems and human procedures are integrated into a single, reliable, actionable system. That kind of coordination takes time to do right, and our community is doing it right.
When a siren sounds in Kerr County, it will mean something. We are working to help the public know what it means, why it sounds and what to do when they hear it. That clarity is the product of deliberate preparation, and it is the foundation of public trust.
“We are deeply aware of the history of this river and the lives it has touched. This system, built by this community, will provide a layer of safety that future generations will inherit and build upon,” Harmon said.
“We are grateful to UGRA, Kerr County leadership, our city partners, and every agency that has contributed to this effort. We are ready to do our part in Emergency Management,” he added.
For real-time river and rainfall conditions, the public is encouraged to monitor RiverHub a riverhub.ugra.org and to ensure they have enabled emergency alerts on their devices.
Stay informed. Have a plan. Know your route to safety.