Small Texas town saved their residents from the flooding by sticking to age old, time tested sirens
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As deadly floodwaters surged through Texas Hill Country on July 4, claiming over 120 lives across the region, one small town stood out—not for its devastation, but for its sticking to old, time tested technology.
While critics say digital warnings were sent to late and couldn't reach campers in areas outside of phone coverage, some managed to warn all of their residents using far older technology.
The town of Comfort, population just over 2,200, emerged as a rare beacon of preparedness amid the chaos. While neighbouring Kerr County mourned dozens of victims, including 27 campers and counselors at Camp Mystic, Comfort’s residents evacuated in time—thanks to a community-driven flood warning system that blared sirens across town.
“We made the decision to hit the siren around 10 a.m.,” said Assistant Fire Chief Danny Morales, a 50-year veteran of the Comfort Volunteer Fire Department. “It’s a sound people know. When they hear it, they move.”
The sirens—one new, one refurbished—were installed last year after decades of grassroots advocacy. Morales, who lost his grandfather in the 1978 flood, worked with local residents and donors to fund the system, which cost around $60,000. A sensor at Cypress Creek, a tributary of the Guadalupe River, triggers the sirens when water levels spike. The system can also be activated manually.
The town’s emergency response included police and fire vehicles driving street-to-street, lights flashing, urging residents to evacuate. “We do for ourselves and for the community,” Morales said.
Among those who helped push for the upgrades was Betty Murphy, one of four women in their 80s who rallied support from government and private donors. “It took four women over age 80 to suggest that Comfort move forward,” Murphy told CBC News. “We didn’t want to lose people again.”
The sirens are tested daily at noon, and residents have been trained to recognize their distinct tones—one for tornadoes, another for floods. On July 4, the flood tone rang out at 10:52 a.m., just as the Guadalupe River crested at historic levels.
While Comfort was spared the worst, its residents have been deeply involved in search and recovery efforts upriver. Pastor and firefighter Katie Rode described the emotional toll of helping reunite families with lost loved ones. “This entire river has become a very holy place,” she said, tears streaming down her face.
The contrast with Kerr County, which lacked a siren system despite years of debate, has sparked renewed calls for expanded flood preparedness across Texas. Officials in Kerr County had previously balked at the $1 million price tag for a countywide system. Now, with lives lost and communities shattered, many are reconsidering.
Morales says Comfort may add a third siren soon. “Anything we can do to add to the safety, we’re going to sit down and try to make it work,” he said.
In a region known as Flash Flood Alley, Comfort’s story is a powerful reminder that early warning systems save lives—and that community action can make all the difference.
Photo Credit: Wikipedia Commons License
Federal Signal Thunderbolt 1003 (dual tone) siren head mounted on pole in Louisville, KY
Date: 26 March 2009
Source: Own work
Author: Ben Franske
Read more:
- CBC News – "When Floodwaters Came, One Small Texas Town Sounded Its Alarm"
- NBC News – "In Deadly Texas Floods, One Town Had What Some Didn't: A Wailing Warning Siren"
- U.S. News – "A Small Texas Community Where Everyone Survived Flooding Has Sirens That Warned Them"
- CBS News Texas – "Comfort Fire Chief Credits Life-Saving Warning System During Central Texas Flood"
- NBC DFW – "Everyone in the Texas Community of Comfort Survived the Flood Thanks to Warning Sirens"
- Rocky Mountain Outlook – "A Small Texas Community Where Everyone Survived Flooding Has Sirens That Warned Them"
- SSBCrack News – "Community’s Sirens Help Save Lives Amid Deadly Guadalupe River Flooding"