Texas flood

The Texas Hill Country has been in a severe drought for several years with some the larger lakes being tens of feet low. Some have even been reported to be less than 10% full. The timing could not have been worse with camps and public areas being littered with people holiday camping in anything from tents to RV's, not to mention camping structures that have been in place for decades. The Christian Girls Camp where many lost their lives has been in existence for over 100 years. Water doesn't easily penetrate the limestone that dominates the area resulting in huge runoffs in creek beds that have been dry for some time. And the fact that the water came up during the predawn hours was a true recipe for disaster.

Just to give an idea of the situation before and after, much of the water will flow into Canyon Lake which is north of San Antonio. Before this event, the lake was at 877 ft above MSL with a normal pool level of 909. The lake is currently at just 888 ft after having taken much of the runoff, which still makes it more than 20 ft low. The maximum flood level is 943.
Medina Lake; where my family’s land is at, not to far to the west of Canyon Lake was at dead pool status 2%. Flash floods around that area do happen and when they do it’s amazing how fast. Did swift water rescue training rt after the ‘98 flood at Guadalupe State Park when I first got in the SAFD and even with the proper training it can be overwhelming, for children being awaken in the middle of the night….poor little things. Just awful for them and their families.
 
I wish I would not know where this thread was going but I knew. People have strong opinions and voice them. That is human and understandable when tragic things happen.
The thing about it, at least in the area where this is happening; my back door, we are not politically bitching. We have a very polarized political climate in San Antonio and surrounding areas, this is true, but rt now…we have come together to get things done. I have plenty good friends that are there on different strike teams and such doing rescues and performing medical care; my age and back do not allow me to do what I used to.
As far as warning and prior planning, floods of this nature are going to happen. We had people staged for this but they happen quicker than u can imagine. This area has very small, barely 2 lane roads that wind and curve with many low water crossings. It’s hard slow driving with normal weekend summer traffic, throw in the 4th of July, and flooding…..The only way to have completely stopped this tragedy was to have the entire area downstream completely shut down prior to. But then the question, “prior to what?” These storms build up with little notice, start moving, and park in a spot. There are dried up creeks all over out there that funnel from long distances to these “rivers”
Sorry for the rant.
 
The larger concern regarding human safety is recently heightened by the funding cutbacks and "DOGE"ing of knowledgeable experienced public servants who study, watch and warn so that timely evacuations and safety practices can take place. It is not a political position; it's just plain fact and warrants discussion and evaluation.
The Montana-Wyoming Yellowstone River basin flooding of 2022 is a prime example. That flood was the worst of recent history and wiped out hundred years old roads and bridges, even dumping a large house into the river. Human safety concerns were paramount and received the proper attention immediately as the flood warning was alerted. That is why evacuations were timely and smoothly executed, with negligible human injury or deaths.
 
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The larger concern regarding human safety is recently heightened by the funding cutbacks and "DOGE"ing of knowledgeable experienced public servants who study, watch and warn so that timely evacuations and safety practices can take place. It is not a political position; it's just plain fact and warrants discussion and evaluation.
The Montana-Wyoming Yellowstone River basin flooding of 2022 is a prme example. That flood was the worst of recent history and wiped out hundred years old roads and bridges, even dumping a large house into the river. Human safety concerns were paramount and received the proper attention immediately as the flood warning was alerted. That is why evacuations were timely and smoothly executed, with negligible human injury or deaths.
I mean no disrespect but you are comparing apples to oranges here. Levels of staffing had nothing to do with it, zero. People had time to react to the Yellowstone floods and the community came together to help. You could see it building up. It was not a flash flood. Topography is different. Most properties are above the 100 year flood zone from Gardiner to Livingston. You have plenty of time to get to higher ground as well. Don't get me wrong, the devastation was significant but danger to life was low. The issue with Yellowstone is one road in or out of Gardiner.
 
The larger concern regarding human safety is recently heightened by the funding cutbacks and "DOGE"ing of knowledgeable experienced public servants who study, watch and warn so that timely evacuations and safety practices can take place. It is not a political position; it's just plain fact and warrants discussion and evaluation.
The Montana-Wyoming Yellowstone River basin flooding of 2022 is a prme example. That flood was the worst of recent history and wiped out hundred years old roads and bridges, even dumping a large house into the river. Human safety concerns were paramount and received the proper attention immediately as the flood warning was alerted. That is why evacuations were timely and smoothly executed, with negligible human injury or deaths.
My God, I’m not going to speak about ur floods n what could’ve/should’ve happened….get ur ass down here n put boots on the damn ground n then talk shit!
U don’t know…these things (flash floods) happen down here with little to no warning. The area is limestone rocks n manly cedar trees with deep draws n gullies; ie no Fkn ground absorption. Maybe if there was a crystal ball to predict thunderstorms parking over certain areas then there could be some warning. Like I’ve said in a previous post, even with hours of warning the road system out there with the influx of soo many people, they couldn’t have gotten out in time. We are talking literally seconds to minutes when these things rise.
It’s not damn politics, cuts, or any of the Fkn above!!! These things have gone on and will continue to go on. Be it Democrat, Republican, Liberal, Conservative it will happen.
I am getting hot rt now because I do have brothers and sisters up there taking care of business, saving lives, and making awful dead recoveries; like I have done in the past. It’s a sight, smell, and taste u will hopefully never have to experience.
And you know what….they come from vastly different sides of the isle and are working together not being sniveling little bitches complaining about who’s Fkn fault it is.
We will all make contingency plans for the future with the best intents and followed out to the letter but in the end…it will happen again
 
Your "oranges" argument does not fundamentally refute the dynamics of alerts, nor does it refute the concern, expressed as, "The larger concern regarding human safety is recently heightened by the funding cutbacks and "DOGE"ing of knowledgeable experienced public servants who study, watch and warn so that timely evacuations and safety practices can take place. It is not a political position; it's just plain fact and warrants discussion and evaluation."
 
get ur ass down here n put boots on the damn ground n then talk shit!
Respectfully, you have no idea! Calm down. Emotional glittering generalities spewed with personal insults add nothing to the discussion. " not being sniveling little bitches complaining about who’s Fkn fault it is."

I have lived in the flood plain for over fifty years and have experienced many floods to which we have been forced to react, with human safety paramount, but also with the reality of property damage. Worst being an ice dam, with below-zero temperature conditions, not knowing where the flow was critical! Frostbite in a flood isn't drowning ... but ain't fun!
 
Yup. Like others, I'm done. Third time I think I have given up on this site. I keep coming back because Randy shares critical info.

Too many know it alls for this simple guy. As if the bullies regarding wildlife management isn't bad enough. Now we get DOGE derangement syndrome to go along with the TDS.

Freakin dumpster fire. See ya.
 
Is it possible to just mourn the lost and support the survivors and rescuers and deal with the other arguments later?
'Sorry to offend those whose focus is on "Debbie Downer" discussion of the tragic deaths and damage. But realize even the news from the folks involved and the emergency services and support authorities also includes evaluation of what occured, what could have been done better, and what improvements are warranted. Not meant to disrespect the horrific events and aftermath, but constructive evaluation is a critical element of the discussion. No apology, as it's ingrained as a career Army National Guard pilot and officer with state flood, wildfire, and other emergency response experiences ... as well as living in the flood plain.
So continue with your handwringing and sad descriptions.
 
Respectfully, you have no idea! Calm down. Emotional glittering generalities spewed with personal insults add nothing to the discussion. " not being sniveling little bitches complaining about who’s Fkn fault it is."

I have lived in the flood plain for over fifty years and have experienced many floods to which we have been forced to react, with human safety paramount, but also with the reality of property damage. Worst being an ice dam, with below-zero temperature conditions, not knowing where the flow was critical! Frostbite in a flood isn't drowning ... but ain't fun!
No idea!?!?!? I grew up in the exact places this is happening !! I went to a Junior League Camp there. It did my swift water rescue training there, I have pulled bodies and live rescues out of that water. My coworkers are currently doing the same!!!
As far as getting emotional about it, u damn Fkn skippy I’m emotional about it!
This is not a political thing, stop making this who should’ve done this n who should’ve done that!!
This is a time to be American, come together in a common cause, human, mourn the victims, n celebrate the heroes!!
Not the stuff that this thread has turned to
I am not going to apologize to people who are not here and don’t know what is actually going on putting their complaints out for the thread. I am not going to apologize for getting emotional over a situation that I am directly involved and seeing how it SHOULD operate (no political decisive blame games)
I don’t know u and your experiences but what I do know if you were in the same situation I would offer you prayers and what I could do to help, not this crap
 
'Sorry to offend those whose focus is on "Debbie Downer" discussion of the tragic deaths and damage. But realize even the news from the folks involved and the emergency services and support authorities also includes evaluation of what occured, what could have been done better, and what improvements are warranted. Not meant to disrespect the horrific events and aftermath, but constructive evaluation is a critical element of the discussion. No apology, as it's ingrained as a career Army National Guard pilot and officer with state flood, wildfire, and other emergency response experiences ... as well as living in the flood plain.
So continue with your handwringing and sad descriptions.
I was a cop for 20 years.

I get it.

I also get that there is a time and place to do it.

This isn't it.
 

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