UTA will partner with Rice to develop flood warning system for Hill Country

Elizabeth Campbell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram on May 4, 2026

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The University of Texas at Arlington was awarded a $4 million grant from Gov. Greg Abbott’s office to help develop a real time flood warning system for the Hill Country, the university announced Monday, May 4.

On July 4, 2025, over 130 people were killed in floods in Kerr County, including 25 campers, two counselors and a director at Camp Mystic near Kerrville.

UTA is also joining forces with Rice University on the flood warning initiative, according to a news release.

“The number one priority of our state is the safety of our fellow Texans,” Gov. Abbott said.

The university’s Water Engineering Research Center will deploy a high-resolution weather modeling and monitoring network to provide faster, more precise flood warnings in the Hill Country, which is prone to flash floods because of the steep hills, deep valleys and limestone terrain.

Residents and emergency managers will have more time to respond as conditions rapidly change, according to the news release.

Nick Fang, the Robert S. Gooch Endowed professor and director of the Water Engineering Research Center, said the grant will help move from research to “real time action.”

“By combining advanced forecasting, high-resolution weather monitoring, and proven flood modeling techniques, we can provide communities with faster, more accurate warnings that help protect lives and property,” Fang said.

Fang will partner with the Severe Storm Prediction, Education and Evacuation from Disasters Center at Rice University, where he is a founding director.

The partnership will bring together storm prediction, flood modeling and emergency response planning.

UTA and Rice will help develop the computer modeling system and comprehensive floodplain map library that will underpin the operational warning platform.

“Early warning doesn’t start with a siren — it starts with science,” said Phillip Bedient, director of the Disasters Center at Rice University. “By combining radar rainfall, stream measurements and predictive modeling, we can forecast how deep the water will be and where it will go, giving communities the lead time they need to make life-saving decisions.”