Abbott signs SB 5 which includes money for siren systems

The State of Texas is now officially providing nearly $300,000 to help pay for disaster relief and flood warning sirens systems.  Governor Abbott signed SB 5 Thursday morning.  The bill includes $50 million for a program within the Governor’s office to help cities and counties establish flood warning sirens and flood gauges along the Guadalupe River and other locations prone to flooding.

The bill includes another $200 million intended to match federal money received by cities and counties for disaster response, relief, and recovery.  The bill analysis states it will cover the “projected 25 percent non-federal matching funds for FEMA reimbursement.”

The bill will also include $24 million to develop enhanced atmospheric modeling techniques and $20 million for a swift water training facility.

Finally, it will provide just over $5 million to the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) to pay for expenses related to new campground safety legislation.