The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration now reports its All Hazards weather radio signal for Galveston County will be back up by Aug. 15.
NOAA reports that it will be a temporary signal, with the permanent signal back on the air by September 30.
The signal serving Galveston County has been down since March 25, when a fire destroyed the transmitter. NOAA’s All Hazards weather radio serves as a lifeline of information when storms knock out power and cell service.
Galveston County residents became increasingly frustrated with a lack of answers from NOAA and the National Weather Service, especially since we are in the middle of Hurricane season.
“I’ve got to admit, I’m a lot tenser,” said Galveston resident Al Clements, Jr. “You’re not going to have any television, you’re not going have your Internet to look it up and see, oh, what is happening, are they bringing water in, is the Red Cross coming, can we get into the Island or get off the Island.”
U.S. Rep. Randy Weber(R-Tx. Dist. 14) recently sent NOAA a letter asking for specific details on the restoration of the signal.
“Let me emphasize--time is not on our side as these storms can strike at any time,” Weber wrote.
A day after Weber’s letter, the National Weather Service announced a new transmitter would be built at a new tower site with a temporary signal up by Aug. 31 and a permanent signal broadcasting by Sept. 30.
Following another inquiry by 2 Investigates, NOAA officials said the temporary signal would now be up two weeks sooner, and the new transmitter site would be in Galveston.
On July 31, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) announced he and Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) were reintroducing the NOAA Weather Radio Modernization Act.
“The legislation expands coverage for areas with poor or no cellular service, amplifies non-weather emergency messages, and provides additional transmitters for areas with weak or nonexistent cell service and broadband coverage,” read a news release from the Senate Commerce Committee.
The bill, first introduced in 2023, would also direct the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to develop standards for flash flood emergency alert systems within the 100-year floodplain.
Cruz cited the July 4 floods in the Texas Hill Country as to why there is a need for this legislation, since many flood-prone parts of Texas have poor cell and internet service.