Failing to translate flood forecasts into timely messages that tell people what they need to do to stay safe can have tragic consequences. In Texas and elsewhere, the solution is more wide-ranging than fixing any single channel of communication.

Even when floods can be anticipated, communicating their severity to the public is a tall order. Because flash floods are very localized, even neighborhood-level warnings may seem like false alarms to some residents, leading to what the journalist Zoë Schlanger has dubbed “ alert fatigue .”

Kerr County had discussed buying such things as water gauges and sirens after previous flood disasters. But as with many rural Texas counties, cost was an issue.

Texas ranks as the country’s leader in flood fatalities, and the Hill Country flood of July 2025 ranks among the deadliest in American history, claiming more than 130 lives and with dozens unaccounted for.

One of the worst floods in a Texas rivers' history left dozens dead over the Independence Day weekend. What to know about flash flooding and warnings.

Infrastructure related to flooding and other disasters must be treated as the top priority during the Texas Legislature’s special session that starts

Texas flood at Camp Mystic prompts summer camps to enhance weather monitoring and communication tools as more camps seek accreditation for improved safety standards.

The first State Flood Plan, published last year, identified $54 billion in flood mitigation, warning and data needs. The state has awarded around $660 million since the plan was published, with a special legislative session coming.

Would a flood scale like those used for hurricanes and tornadoes have prompted different actions by Texas officals and the public before July 4th flooding?

Kerr County failed to secure a warning system, even as local officials remained aware of the risks and as billions of dollars were available for similar projects.