Senate Bill 3 heads to Gov. Abbott’s desk

A bill requiring outdoor warning sirens in flash flood-prone areas of Texas is headed to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk after receiving final approval from both the House and Senate during the second special session of the 89th Legislature on Wednesday.  Senate Bill 3, filed in response to the July 4 floods that happened in Kerr County and Central Texas, now will head to Abbott’s desk to become law.

Kerr County, which did not have warning sirens, saw the most deaths during the disaster, with 119 people losing their lives.

The bill would require installing an outdoor warning siren to alert residents and visitors of flood danger, particularly at youth camps, RV parks and recreational areas that are highly vulnerable to flash flooding and often lack reliable cell service for emergency alerts.  An outdoor warning sirens would not be required in an area where a governmental entity already has one that meets state standards.

SB3 would also set up a grant program to help cities and counties pay for them.