When catastrophic flash floods tore through Kerr County, Texas, in 2025, residents and emergency crews expected a lifeline from the county’s brand-new, $7.5 million Motorola emergency radio system. Instead, they were met with silence and static.
What Went Wrong With the Kerr County Radio System?
Just three years prior, in 2022, Kerr County officials awarded Motorola a $7.5 million contract to overhaul the county’s aging public safety communications infrastructure . The promise was clear: a modern, interoperable, and reliable system that would keep first responders connected during disasters. Yet during one of the region’s worst natural emergencies, the system faltered when it was needed most .
First responders reported inconsistent signal coverage, dropped transmissions, and difficulty coordinating across agencies. In some areas, the system was completely inoperable, forcing crews to revert to outdated or personal communication methods .
The Human Cost of Technical Failure
While some residents received timely flood warnings via the CodeRED alert system, others didn’t get their first notification until hours after floodwaters began rising . This delay wasn’t just inconvenient—it was potentially life-threatening.
“We invested millions to avoid exactly this scenario,” said one anonymous emergency coordinator. “When the system failed, we were flying blind.”
Broken Promises and Oversight Gaps
The radio system was part of a broader emergency preparedness initiative, but investigations suggest Kerr County officials may have failed to fully implement or test the technology under real-world conditions . Worse still, reports indicate the county didn’t fully adhere to its own state-mandated disaster response plan during the crisis .
This isn’t an isolated issue. Across Texas, first responders have repeatedly flagged radio interoperability as a critical weakness in disaster response . Yet, despite recurring warnings, systemic fixes remain elusive.
Timeline of the Kerr County Emergency Radio Debacle
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 2022 | Kerr County signs $7.5M contract with Motorola for emergency radio system . |
| 2024 | State-mandated disaster plan updated but allegedly not fully implemented . |
| April 2025 | Devastating flash floods hit Kerr County; radio system fails during response . |
| July 2025 | Post-flood reviews reveal gaps in alert dissemination and system reliability . |
What’s Next for Public Safety Communications?
The Kerr County incident raises urgent questions about vendor accountability, government oversight, and the real-world readiness of multi-million-dollar public safety tech. Motorola has not publicly commented on the specific failures in Kerr County, though the company maintains its systems meet federal standards.
Local officials have promised a full audit, but for residents who lived through the floods, trust has already been eroded. “You can’t buy safety with a contract,” said one Kerrville resident. “You have to test it, maintain it, and be ready to use it.”
Key Takeaways
- A $7.5M Motorola radio system failed during 2025 Texas floods.
- Emergency crews faced communication blackouts during crisis response.
- Alert delays left some residents unaware of rising floodwaters.
- Oversight gaps and untested tech contributed to systemic failure.
