Maverick County Advances Flood Warning Siren Plan
Maverick County is moving ahead with a grant-funded plan for nine outdoor warning sirens and 14 real-time flood gauges, a project of about $1.25 million.
EAGLE PASS, Texas – Maverick County is moving forward with a flood warning siren plan worth about $1.25 million. The proposed outdoor warning system would add eight sirens and 9real-time flood monitoring gauges across the county.
County Judge Pablo Garcia Jr. met this week with engineers along with Veterans Services Officer Miguel Chavez, Grant Administrator Isaak Ruiz, Building Inspector Israel Rodriguez and Planning Director Oscar Garza. They sat down with project engineer Alan Stanton of Streamline Engineering LLC and representatives of HDR Engineering. The goal is to finish the county’s SB 3 Outdoor Warning Siren Grant project plan by the end of October.
Commissioners advanced the proposal on Sept. 23. Officials said then that grant funds were expected to cover construction without local tax dollars. The state money became available after the deadly 2025 Texas floods.
Where the flood sirens could go
Streamline Engineering built a countywide hydrology model to find the areas most likely to flood. The firm worked with the Joint Emergency Operations Center and the City of Eagle Pass on possible siren sites.
Proposed coverage areas include Quemado, Elm Creek, Seco Mines near Seco Creek, North and South Heights, West Hacienditas, Tierra del Sol, the Kickapoo Reservation and areas along the Rio Grande and El Indio.
The gauges would give emergency crews live readings on rising water to help guide warnings and evacuations. Engineers are running acoustic studies. In September, Stanton said each siren could be heard more than a mile away depending on placement and conditions.
Concerns and next steps
Commissioner Robert Ruiz has raised concerns about reaching residents with disabilities and special needs. Stanton said emergency management would handle those procedures.
Commissioners also authorized talks with the City of Eagle Pass, the Joint EOC, Maverick County WCID No. 1, TxDOT and the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas on operation and maintenance. Officials also pointed to a upcoming Texas Water Development Board funding deadline.
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