Following catastrophic flash flooding in Texas that claimed the lives of at least 120 people, emergency officials in the Tampa Bay Area are urging residents to sign up for local emergency alert notifications.

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor took to social media Wednesday with a clear message: don’t wait until it’s too late. “We are not immune,” Castor said, pointing to the deadly floods in Texas and North Carolina. “We need you to be prepared and ready.”

Tampa Emergency Services Director John Antapasis stressed that emergency alerts are often the public’s first warning of a dangerous situation. “These aren’t just for hurricanes,” he said. “There are human-caused hazards that can happen at any time. Being informed saves lives.”

The renewed push comes as Texas officials reevaluate their alert systems, after many flood victims reported they received little or no warning. “There’s going to be a time to review what can be done differently,” said U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas. “How can we make sure people have an earlier alert?”

In Florida, local governments receive funding to run alert systems capable of sending geo-targeted warnings for hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, boil water notices, and more.

In Pinellas County, however, only about 116,000 people are enrolled — leaving a large portion of the population without direct access to potentially life-saving alerts. “Anywhere it can rain, it can flood,” said Spencer Shaw, the county’s emergency management coordinator. “Flooding is a serious hazard in Florida, and not just during hurricanes.”

Emergency officials across the Bay Area are now encouraging residents to register through county or city websites, hoping to avoid the kind of devastation seen in Texas by boosting enrollment and raising awareness.

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