Comal County warns the public “it’s going to get loud” Thursday along the Guadalupe River when it tests sirens and voice recordings of flood danger.
This is a routine test to ensure the county’s $1.9 million taxpayer-funded system works properly in the event of real flooding.
“No action is needed,” said Public Information Officer Cary Zayas. “We just want to spread the word to avoid confusion.”
The system is designed to save lives by using real-time data to provide early flood warnings, reduce response time for county crews, and bring peace of mind to residents during flood-prone events.
County officials are working to integrate siren triggers with the National Weather Service for even faster modifications.
“The goal is to give residents meaningful time to react, especially when seconds matter,” she said.
The county typically tests sirens once a month, but wants to conduct more testing as newer upgrades come online.
The comprehensive warning system includes both high-water and low-water warning systems to alert residents of flood dangers as early as possible.
Automated sensors at low-water crossings alert the county when the water reaches two inches above the pavement and at four inches above the pavement, activating road-closure warnings.
When that happens, flashing lights are activated and remote notifications are sent to reduce response times.
Future county budgets for warning sirens will include maintenance and possible expansion costs, Zayas said.
Comal County Emergency Management Coordinator Jeff Kelley said the county has spent the last several months replacing and/or updating equipment at low-water crossings and flood sirens, and still needs to install a few more along the Upper Guadalupe River to the west of Canyon Lake.
At a March 13 Commissioners Court meeting, the county agreed to locate a flood-warning siren at 8664 River Rd., describing the system as a flood-warning siren and a flood-warning sensor that included a water-level pressure transducer.
“The system will be comprised of a 30-foot-tall wood pole with attached siren, radio, and solar panel, a two-inch galvanized steel pole, approximately 40 feet of conduit for communication lines to the pressure transducer located in the river.”
Nine siren locations are positioned at:
- 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th crossings on River Road
- 8660 River Rd.
- 526 River Cliff Drive
- Rebecca Creek Road Bridge
- FM 311 Bridge
- Nicholls Landing/Spring Branch Road Bridge
Six sirens are downstream of Canyon Lake and three are upstream along the Guadalupe River.
Businesses and residents also can view the river height at each bridge crossing upstream from them and make safety decisions based on that data.
To check real-time river flow locations and predictions, click here.
Some crossings have automatic flashing lights, Kelley said.
No matter how loudly the sirens blare on Thursday, he has another piece of sound advice for residents and visitors — don’t turn off those loud cellphone alerts that many find annoying, especially when they’re for Amber Alerts from clear aross the state.
“That’s the very mechanism we would use to tell folks camping down the river to evacuate or take some protective measure,” he said.
Comal County residents should register their cellphones on the county website to receive notices 24/7, regardless of their location, even if they are in another state.
“You should never feel comfortable in flash-flood alley,” Kelley said.
(Editor’s Note: This story was edited and updated July 16 to include new information from Comal County.)
