City leaders presented a plan Tuesday to improve Bexar County’s flood plan.
SAN ANTONIO — Almost two months after the Beitel Creek flooding that overwhelmed some San Antonio roads, leaders with the city, Bexar County and the San Antonio River Authority are potentially preparing to make some big changes.
A plan was presented to county leaders Tuesday that would update and enhance the region’s flood warning system. It’s called the Nextgen Flood Warning System and is borne out of a partnership with the San Antonio River Authority.
This comes after more than 100 people died one month ago in the Guadalupe River flooding in Kerr County and 13 others died when Beitel Creek in San Antonio flooded in June, sweeping cars off the road.
Bexar County is prone to severe weather and flash flooding due to its geographic location between eastern and western coastal plains and the rapid changes in elevation within the county. The San Antonio River, five major creeks and countless other smaller waterways run through the city.
The goal of the new technology would be to update and improve early warning systems, prevent and reduce low water crossing rescues, remove structures from floodway, and create more resilient systems for the future in case weather conditions get even worse.
The new warning system carries a price tag of around $54 million. Officials said that would cover upgrades and expansion of the San Antonio and Bexar County early warning system, as well as improvements in surrounding regions. Most notably, the changes would update flood gauge alert thresholds and allow for flood gates that automatically close if rain gauges reach a certain level.
The funding is expected to come from the county, the City of San Antonio and external sources.