When the idea of a co-located, meaning shared, 911 facility was first voiced back in 2016, it seemed like the perfect solution to a hard-learned lesson. The floods of 2015 had, in fact, provided a trial run. When the Blanco River went on its deadly rampage in May of 2015, it forced the county’s tele...

Hays County’s new grant-funded flood warning system is to be completed this summer and begin improving research and emergency services during one of the county’s biggest threats – flooding. On Oct. 30 of last year, Hays County commissioners approved a project that would involve paying for half of th...

One person was killed Friday after his vehicle was swept away by flood waters along a stretch of Bell Springs Road at Barton Creek near Dripping Springs. Michael Brandon Hurlbut, 55, of Dripping Springs, was identified as the victim, according to authorities. Hurlbut’s body was located early May 4 a...

Concerns over flooding problems at the site of Hays County’s new centralized 911 call center facility in San Marcos led a handful of residents to voice their worries Tuesday. But an estimated $27 million to $29 million total price tag to move the site to a location in Kyle pushed the majority of cou...

More than $400,000 in state grants meant to improve emergency response county wide was given the green light by Hays County leaders last month.  On Oct. 30, county commissioners accepted four grants totaling $417,477 for the Hays County Office of Emergency Services, Hays County Command Vehicle, reso...

Retired Texas Ranger GW Hildebrand gets a twinkle in his eye when he talks about Austin Community College’s new Hays Criminal Justice and Emergency Training facility in Kyle. A former state trooper, FBI profiler and Texas Ranger, Hildebrand now heads ACC’s Criminal Justice Department and gave a tour...

Following the tragic Feb. 14 school shooting in Parkland, Florida, Hays County and local school districts assure parents and students there are safety protocols in place in the instance of an emergency situation. According to a county press release, Hays County officials instituted a School Safety P...

Hays County Commissioners Sept. 12 approved overtime pay for Hays County emergency staff who worked during Hurricane Harvey in August. Kharley Smith, director of emergency management and emergency management coordinator of the Office of Emergency Services, asked for $5,786 for overtime hours for eme...

Hays County Commissioners recently authorized an agreement with Water and Earth Technologies for the installation of low-water crossing warning systems within the county. In a deal that will cost the county $1.9 million, Hays County Judge Bert Cobb said in a recent commissioners court hearing that h...

Submitted report    The Hays County Commissioners Court appointed a new Fire Marshal during its May 24 meeting, which also saw the county restructure its emergency management office.  The Commissioners Court named Clint Browning, who has served as Assistant Fire Marshal in Hays County for four years...