Tribune News Service — An online petition calling for warning systems to be installed in Kerr County, where flash flooding killed at least 100 people on July 4, reached more than 35,000 signatures in less than 24 hours.
The petition calls on the city of Kerrville and Kerr County Commissioners' Court to install an outdoor early warning siren system for floods, tornadoes and other life-threatening emergencies. Several local officials had tried to convince the community nearly a decade ago to fund a new early flood warning system but were unsuccessful, a Chronicle investigation found.
“This is not just a wish — it is a necessary investment in public safety,” reads the online petition launched by San Antonio mother Nicole Wilson, who said she almost sent her children to Camp Mystic this year. “Early warning sirens have saved thousands of lives in other communities by giving clear, unmistakable alerts day or night, even when cell phone service or electricity fails.”
The petition had gained 39,344 signatures as of Thursday morning.
It remains unclear how Kerr County’s existing set of emergency monitors was deficient or if it failed during the deadly July 4 flash flooding along the Guadalupe River. The local National Weather Service office issued a series of flash flood warnings for the area starting just after 1 a.m. Friday, but it’s unclear how many people the messages reached, or how many of them took them seriously.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said during a Friday news conference that regional emergency management officials had “personally contacted judges and mayors in that area and notified them all of potential flooding.” But both Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly and Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring said they did not know the flood was coming.
At least 160 people, including five Camp Mystic campers and one counselor, were still missing Wednesday as search efforts continued.
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