To: Governor Abbott and Members of the Texas Legislature

When disaster strikes, every second matters. In early July, flash floods swept through Central Texas and thousands of residents did not receive adequate warning. Emergency alerts and sirens were either unavailable or insufficient. The lack of a reliable communication system revealed serious gaps in local emergency preparedness and contributed to the tragic loss of more than one hundred lives.

The failure of our emergency warning system and the inadequate response of state and county government officials was not just devastating - it was preventable.

We urge Governor Abbott and members of the Texas Legislature to prioritize passing House Bill 13 as emergency legislation to ensure it passes during the special session of the 89th Legislature. Texans urgently need a modern, reliable disaster warning system that ensures they are alerted when their lives are at risk.

This is not a partisan issue, it is a matter of public safety. Whether the danger is wildfires in the west, hurricanes on the coast, or flash flooding in the Hill Country, every Texas community deserves access to timely, localized alerts that help people protect themselves, their families, and their communities.

HB 13 is a practical, cost-effective response to this growing statewide need. The bill would:

• Establish the Texas Interoperability Council within the Texas Division of Emergency Management
• Develop a statewide strategic plan for emergency communication
• Launch a grant program to help local governments purchase and maintain interoperable sirens, radios, and other alert systems
• Fund training to ensure first responders and agencies can effectively use the systems

The estimated cost of implementing HB 13 is $5.75 million over the first two years, covering essential staff, capital investment, and training. While the human toll of the recent floods is immeasurable, early estimates place the financial cost at $18 billion in damages. These modest investments will save countless lives, and with a 2025 state rainy day fund well over $25 billion dollars in 2025, the state of Texas can certainly afford it. 

We call on the Governor to prioritize this bill as emergency legislation for the July special session and urge lawmakers to pass, fund, and implement it without delay. Every day we wait is another day Texas communities remain vulnerable and unprepared for the next emergency.

Let’s make sure no Texan faces the next disaster without warning.

We sign in memory of those who tragically lost their lives in the floods, the incredible first-responders and community volunteers, and all those who are rebuilding their homes, businesses, and lives.

The people of Texas are committed to protecting their communities, and we expect the same enthusiasm for safety and disaster prevention from our elected representatives.

Overview of Texas State Legislature House Bill 13:

• Creates the Texas Interoperability Council under the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM)
• Directs the council to create a statewide strategic plan for interoperable emergency communication systems
• Establishes a grant program to support local governments in building and maintaining emergency alert infrastructure
• Enables local agencies to purchase interoperable radios, build warning sirens and towers, and receive training to use them effectively

Urgency:

The tragic floods in Central Texas in July 2025 have killed over one hundred people and with many still missing. Flood sirens  and coordinated alerts were inefficient and in some places entirely unavailable.

Local officials reported that with even a few minutes of warning, lives could have been saved.

Many rural and suburban areas lack basic disaster warning infrastructure like said flood sirens or interoperable emergency radios.

As extreme weather events increase in frequency and severity, early warning systems are an essential public safety tool and cost benefits far outweigh their price.

Although NWA was able to send their typical alerts, reliance upon cell service, lack of sirens, and lack of knowledge of higher ground resulted in loss of life. Central Texas is a storied tourist destination, so we must remember that non-residents will always be present in rural areas.

We have a significant need for an easy-to-use and highly visible state database of higher ground and escape routes.

Estimated Cost:

Two-year cost estimate: $5.75 million (FY 2026–2027)

FY 2026: $3.49 million
FY 2027: $2.26 million

Includes staffing (11.3 FTEs), capital expenditures, training, and operational expenses

Not including the massive loss of life but the financial costs of the recent floods have early estimate of $18 billion in damage. Texas has a current rainy day fund estimated to hit it's constitutional cap of $28.5 billion this year. (Without cap, projected to be $31 billion in 2025.)

We can certainly afford it, and we have a moral duty to invest in life-saving disaster warnings and publicly available, effective and usable higher ground maps.

Texans demand that our Governor and state representatives put HB 13 first on the agenda in the July 21, 2025 special session, pass it without delay, and have it take effect immediately.