After the record floods brought on by Tropical Storm Harvey in 2017, Texas State legislators in the Senate and House held committee hearings to address the need for improved public access to critical information during adverse weather conditions. County Judges from Hardin, Jasper, Jefferson, Newton, and Orange Counties formed a coalition and, working together with other area organizations, prioritized a list of required information that would assist residents and emergency management personnel..
The Southeast Texas Regional Alerting & Information Network (SE TEXAS R.A.I.N.) was developed by SRA-TX with the assistance from the Lower Neches Valley Authority, the USGS, and the National Weather Service.
SE TEXAS R.A.I.N. was formally launched in August 2018 with the support of State Senator Robert Nichols, State Representative James White, and State Representative Dade Phelan.
The site, www.setexasrain.org, provides access to user-friendly information to help residents throughout Southeast Texas make informed and timely decisions during threatening weather conditions. This information is also used by emergency management offices, and county, local, and regional governments to advise the public of rising water conditions.