The Verge spoke with experts about what it would take to design an ideal disaster warning system. The last mileBy definition, flash floods are difficult to forecast with specificity or much lead time. “If I were to envision a really good, robust warning system in flash flood alley, I would say that there would be sirens in these very rural, remote areas,” Sutton says. State lawmakers start a special session next week and are expected to consider legislation to bolster flood warning systems and emergency communications. “This is exactly what we don’t want to have happen, because when you turn it off you’re not going to get the message for that flash flood.