SAN ANTONIO – It’s a push that’s bringing thousands of people together. A San Antonio woman is now taking matters into her own hands, leading the charge for an emergency warning system in Kerr County.

Nicole Wilson is an advocate and a wife. Above all else — she’s a mother.

She started the petition after watching the tragedy in the Hill Country unfold, saying no amount of money will ever be too much when it comes to saving lives. That’s something she wants legislators to remember during next week’s special session.

“Nobody should be able to say no to this,” Wilson said firmly. “Whether it’s not pretty, whether it’s expensive, nobody can say no to this.”

That belief is shared by more than 43,000 people, and counting, across the country. That’s how many of them have signed a petition calling for an early outdoor warning siren system in Kerr County after the death of over a hundred people at the hands of historic flooding.

“We’re not going to prevent the flooding, but we have an opportunity, a huge one, by making an investment here, both through time and money, by our legislators and by the people of these areas, to make a difference the next time this does happen,” Wilson explained.

She watched along with the world as floodwaters devastated the Hill Country. She felt the need to help, adding that state and local legislators have a chance to do the same.

“Had we had sirens along this area, up and down, the same type of sirens that they have in Israel when there’s an attack coming, that would have blown very loudly, it’s possible that that would have saved some of these lives,” Lt. Governor Dan Patrick said earlier this month.

Wilson said she thought of her own daughters, who were at a different summer camp the same week. At one point, she and her husband considered sending them to Camp Mystic.

“I can’t imagine what these children, what these parents with these children who did make it,” she said tearfully. “It goes so much bigger than the camps.”

Adding that while there’s more work to do, sirens are a start. She’s urging leaders to act before another tragedy happens.

“Lt. Governor understands this. Governor Abbott understands this,” Wilson said. “I think everybody understands this. But five minutes could have, and probably would have, saved so many lives.”

With more than 43,000 signatures, Wilson said she’s hoping to get the attention of legislators during next week’s special session.

If not, she said she’ll keep pushing until their voices are heard.