Maverick County Approves Nearly $1.5 Million Flood Warning System With Eight Sirens and 11 Monitoring Gauges
By Jose G. Landa, Copyright 2026 Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.
Maverick County Commissioners Court unanimously approved a comprehensive flood warning system plan Wednesday, October 28, 2026 that could bring nearly $1.5 million in emergency warning equipment to communities throughout the county.
The project, developed under Texas Senate Bill 3 and submitted through the Texas Water Development Board, calls for the installation of eight outdoor warning sirens and 11 flood monitoring gauges designed to provide earlier notification of potentially dangerous flooding conditions.
The proposed locations include El Indio, Quemado and areas near the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas, along with other locations throughout Maverick County identified as needing improved emergency warning capabilities.
County officials informed commissioners that $1.25 million in state funding has been allocated for the project, while an additional $250,000 is being requested to complete the proposed system.
The additional funding has not yet been approved.
During the presentation, project engineer Alan Stanton of Streamline explained that the warning sirens would generally be installed on poles approximately 50 feet tall, with an estimated audible range of one mile in each direction.
The monitoring gauges would be positioned along waterways and drainage canals to detect rising water levels and provide information to emergency management personnel.
Unlike a system that activates every siren simultaneously, the proposed equipment would allow emergency officials to issue warnings in specific communities depending on where flooding threatens residents.
For example, rising water levels near Quemado or El Indio could trigger a warning in the affected area without requiring sirens throughout the entire county to sound.
County representatives also explained that the project involves actual construction and installation of equipment rather than simply conducting another feasibility study.
The system is expected to be coordinated through Maverick County emergency management personnel and the City of Eagle Pass Emergency Operations Center. Officials indicated that additional agreements and operating procedures would be developed to determine how warning activations would be authorized.
Commissioners were informed that the project must be completed by August 30, 2027, creating an accelerated schedule for final planning, equipment installation and implementation.
Officials also emphasized that state funding would be provided in advance, eliminating the need for Maverick County to initially finance project expenditures while awaiting reimbursement.
State Representative Eddie Morales Jr. has provided a letter supporting the county’s request for additional funding, while support from State Senator Roland Gutierrez was also being sought.
The unanimous approval authorizes adoption of the final outdoor warning siren plan for submission to the Texas Water Development Board.
Once completed, the system could provide Maverick County residents with an additional layer of protection during heavy rainfall and rapidly developing flood emergencies, particularly in communities where rising water levels can create dangerous conditions with limited advance notice.
