Floresville may once again have a siren to warn people in the city about tornados.
City Manager Henrietta Turner raised the subject at a Nov. 3 meeting with Joe De Ochoa, area director for rural development with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
According to Turner, De Ochoa said Floresville should qualify for a loan/grant combination to fund an early warning system for the city.
“We asked for an application and plan to submit it,” Turner said. She added that she recently learned Floresville had an early-warning siren that became inoperable at least five years ago.
No cost for a new system has been estimated at this time.
The meeting was facilitated by Gilbert Lafuente of U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar’s office to explore funding to help the community recover from Floresville’s Oct. 30 tornado. Wilson County Judge Richard L. “Dickie” Jackson, Pct. 1 Commissioner Albert Gamez, and Floresville Mayor Diana Garza also attended the meeting.
USDA also has grants available for homeowners through its Single Family Home Repair Program. Turner said residents whose homes were damaged by the recent tornado must meet the low-income qualification and other requirements.
She said the city secretary can assist homeowners with the application.
