A regional coalition led by Kerrville Public Utility Board (KPUB) will use a $14.7 million state broadband award to upgrade the communications backbone behind flood monitoring and public warning efforts in Kerr County, focusing on faster data transmission from field sensors to forecasting and emergency management systems.
KPUB said it was selected for the grant through the Texas Middle Mile Program, administered by the Broadband Development Office. The utility board described the project as a partnership that includes Kerr Together Long-Term Recovery Group, the Upper Guadalupe River Authority, the Lower Colorado River Authority, Kerr County, the city of Kerrville, the city of Ingram, Hill Country Telephone Cooperative and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT).
The project’s technical focus is on building a high-speed middle-mile network that connects stream flow sensors, rain gauges, weather monitoring stations and TxDOT bridge sensors to flood forecasting systems in real time. KPUB said the upgraded connectivity is expected to reduce flood data reporting intervals from about 30 minutes to as little as five minutes, a shift the partners say would support earlier detection of dangerous conditions, faster coordination among emergency responders and timelier public notification.
“This grant represents a significant milestone for Hunt, Ingram, Kerrville and Kerr County,” said William Whitson, senior recovery consultant with Kerr Together, in a press release. “Not only will it expand broadband infrastructure, but it will also create a critical ‘electronic highway’ that will be the backbone of an advanced flood warning system.”
The Upper Guadalupe River Authority is expected to use the integrated data to expand access to real-time information and initiate predictive flood modeling capabilities. The plan also includes enhancements to the Lower Colorado River Authority’s communications network intended to strengthen connectivity between monitoring equipment and emergency management systems.
As lead applicant, KPUB said it will work with partners to construct and operate the communications infrastructure. The utility board said about $1.5 million of the award is allocated to KPUB, including construction within its 146-square-mile service territory, with remaining funds supporting partner components across the regional buildout, using a mix of fiber-optic and wireless technologies.
Program requirements call for completion no later than Dec. 31, 2028. The state will maintain an interest in the project assets through Aug. 31, 2035.
Kerrville Lands $14.7M Grant for Flood Warning Network
What to Know:
- Kerrville Public Utility Board is leading a regional partnership funded through the Texas Middle Mile Program to strengthen flood monitoring and warning capabilities in Kerr County.
- The buildout is designed to move data from stream and rain gauges, weather stations and Texas Department of Transportation bridge sensors in near real time.
- Partners include river authorities, local governments, Hill Country Telephone Cooperative and the Texas Department of Transportation.
