Mayor Neal Linnartz

Last month’s flooding across the Texas Hill Country has once again reminded us of both the awe-inspiring beauty and, at times, the devastating power of Mother Nature. My heart is with every individual, family, business, and community impacted by those events, as I pray for your recovery and well-being.

Of course, as Texans, our strength lies not only in our compassion, but in our shared resolve. I have seen firsthand how our communities come together during hardship, with neighbor helping neighbor, first responders working tirelessly, and citizens stepping up to offer support. This spirit of togetherness is what makes our city and our state a very special place to live.

Of course, we know all too well the risks that flooding can pose. Having both the Comal and Guadalupe Rivers, along with Dry Comal Creek, inside of our city limits makes us particularly vulnerable during periods of intense rainfall. In the weeks since this most recent disaster, New Braunfels residents have rightly wanted to know more about the flood warning systems in place.

In late 2010, following flooding earlier that year, the New Braunfels City Council approved the purchase of an outdoor flood warning siren system, an investment of approximately $280,000. In 2011, eight flood warning sirens were installed across our city’s most flood-prone and heavily traveled river areas. These sirens are not just poles with speakers. They are silent sentinels standing watch over our community.

Strategically placed in critical locations, including River Acres Park, Gruene River Crossing, Fire Station 3, Torrey Park, Prince Solms Park, the Boy Scout Hut, the HEB Soccer Complex, and Camp Comal, these sirens are designed to give people timely, audible alerts that something dangerous is approaching. Whether you’re tubing the Comal, camping along the Guadalupe, or simply enjoying a day near the water, these sirens are positioned to help ensure you’re not caught unaware.

Each siren can be heard from at least a mile away. Four of them, including those near our busiest river access points, are also equipped with voice announcement capabilities to deliver clear, audible instructions. These sirens aren’t just for floods. They’re part of a larger, multi-tiered emergency response system that can be activated during fires, tornadoes, hazardous spills, or any situation that may require urgent public action. The city’s emergency siren system is manually activated by trained professionals in our Fire and Police departments, which monitor river flow data, weather alerts, live updates from the National Weather Service, and reports from staff on the scene to ensure that the sirens are used properly whenever necessary.

But we know that sirens alone are not enough, so the city’s emergency communication strategy is layered and proactive. Residents are encouraged to register their mobile phones with the Emergency Notification System (often referred to as reverse 911) which allows first responders to send targeted alerts by phone, text message, or email. To register your mobile phone, visit http://www.newbraunfels.gov/ENS.

 We also rely on the city website (www.newbraunfels.gov) and the city’s official social media pages to get real-time information out quickly. If a situation requires evacuations, police officers and firefighters will go door-to-door to help get residents and visitors out of harm’s way.

To those in neighboring communities who have lost family, friends, or property, please know that we are here for you. The City of New Braunfels has maintained an open line of communication with the agencies coordinating the flood recovery efforts in the Hill Country and we have offered to assist in any way possible. The City has deployed several employees, including some on a rotating deployment, to the Hill Country to help with search and recovery operations, to serve on the Peer Support Team, to act as a Critical Care Paramedic operating in a mobile hospital, and help with drone searches. Additional readiness teams are ready to be deployed when called upon.

The City of New Braunfels also recognizes that many city employees are eager to help, so the City has authorized the use of paid volunteer time off to participate in flood relief or community support activities.

I would encourage all residents to prepare now for the possibility of local floods. Have a family emergency plan and make an emergency kit for your home When storms start rolling in, stay weather-aware and monitor updates from local officials and the National Weather Service. And once the rain has fallen, be careful on local roads. Never drive around barricades, and if you see water on the roadway remember to Turn Around, Don’t Drown. These simple steps can help you and your family when inclement weather strikes. For more about preparing for floods and other natural disasters, please visit www.newbraunfels.gov/emergencymanagement.