Bexar County expands high-water alert system into city amid severe weather

Flood warning devices installed on Northwest Side

SAN ANTONIO – Bexar County is expanding a system meant to save lives into the city limits while San Antonio is expecting more rain and the potential for flooding this week.

The high water alert lifesaving technology system, or HALT, is mostly seen in rural areas.  

The system is a part of a 10-year $500 million Bexar County flood control project approved by county commissioners in 2007.

The county is currently in the third phase of the HALT system, according to spokeswoman Monica Ramos, but residents have concerns.

Stephanie Krueger said the HALT device outside her home in the 200 block of Freeman Drive does not work.

Krueger said the creek near her home used to rise a few feet when it rained heavily, but no longer does after drainage improvements were made.

Krueger's main concern is why the HALT device in front of her home, the second device located near Hillcrest Drive and Babcock Road and the one at West Quill Drive and Heather Hill are not operating.  

"They've had them covered with the plastic now ever since they put them in," Krueger said.

Ramos said the new devices are not running yet because they haven't been calibrated and tested. As it turns out, recent rains pushed testings back by a couple of weeks.

The three HALT devices on the Northwest Side are the first to be installed within city limits.

In order for them to properly connect to the city's alert system all must be activated at the same time.

When the flood warning devices are active at crossings drivers should find an alternate route because crossing could pose serious risks.

To see a map of the HALT devices already in service, click here. Road conditions are updated in real time, according to the county.