John Cornyn

A bipartisan Senate bill introduced would allow wireless emergency alerts (WEAs) to be delivered via satellite communications when cell towers fail during disasters — a response to the alert-delivery failures during the deadly July 4, 2025, floods in the Texas Hill Country.

The Mystic Alerts Act, introduced by U.S. Sens. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., on Tuesday, July 14, is named after the floods that killed more than 130 people across Central Texas on July 4, 2025, including 28 people at Camp Mystic.

During that time, the Guadalupe River, where Camp Mystic sat, experienced a flash flood that killed 25 young campers, two counselors and the camp’s co-executive director.

"The Mystic Alerts Act would help ensure communities experiencing severe disasters receive wireless emergency alerts even when cellular communications networks are compromised, and I urge my Senate colleagues to support this legislation to strengthen this important technology and save lives,” Cornyn said in a statement.

While introduced in the Senate, the companion bill is being led in the U.S. House of Representatives by U.S. Rep. August Pfluger, R-Texas. Here's what the Mystic Alerts Act would do.

What does the Mystic Alerts Act do?

Cornyn's office said that during the July 4, 2025, floods, there were multiple reports of undelivered WEAs across the affected areas after cell phone infrastructure was damaged.

The Mystic Alerts Act would:

Allow cellular companies to partner with satellite communications providers to deliver WEAs during emergencies.

Direct the Federal Communications Commission to establish the necessary rules and policies to preserve the effectiveness of WEA infrastructure while integrating satellite communications.

Create a new communications pathway to deliver emergency alerts in areas where other infrastructure has been destroyed or taken offline.

Mateo Rosiles is the Texas Connect reporter for USA TODAY and its regional papers in Texas. Got a news tip for him? Email him at [email protected].