Texas flood

[BuzzH]

'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.

Exactly right. At my work we have a CRP (critical response protocol) for every single fatality that happens. The CRP teams need to be ready to travel to any incident within hours, including several alternates so we have zero excuse for showing up days or weeks later.

What we have found that the longer you wait to conduct the investigations, the less data you can gather, the less likely people are to remember critical details, and the less precise you can be on cause/effect, etc. etc. Sometimes even being able to find the people you need to get information from gets harder the longer you wait.

Also, part of being on that CRP team, includes visiting with the family of the victims and attending the funeral(s), which isn't exactly some day at the beach.

But, what many before me discovered, as hard as it may be, if you don't get there fast, investigate thoroughly as quickly as possible, these types of tragedies are harder and harder to prevent. The facts absolutely matter if you're going to even begin to try to prevent them in the future.

You just can't wait for weeks and weeks if you want to learn from these things. IF it wasn't important, we wouldn't have a CRP and the CRP teams in place.

Would be much more convenient and comfortable to just send thoughts and prayers and hope it never happens again.

 

[RealMuddyboots]

Prayers and deepest sympathy to ALL those affected by this disaster.

 

[Straight Arrow]

View attachment 377376

Thank-you, Hilljacwagon! Finally, someone who appreciates thoughtfulness and art of expression.

 

[Deleted member 16864]

Prayers for those affected by this tragedy.

 

[Alpine460]

Absolutely, prayers going out to the whole region.

 

[CRJR45]

If assholes could fly this place would be an airport.
Dammit , time and place , WTF ?

 

[brockel]

If assholes could fly this place would be an airport.
Dammit , time and place , WTF ?

Definitely a few here that could keep us airborne

 

[kansasdad]

He wasn’t supposed to go in the water. What this Coast Guard swimmer did instead saved lives

He stayed behind alone to comfort terrified campers while floodwaters rose around them. This Coast Guard hero was on his first mission.

www.khou.com

 

[schmalts]

From USA today. Last paragraph sums it up....

The Texas rains hadn’t even slowed before the debate began about why forecasts had underestimated the devastating flooding over Independence Day weekend.

Local and state officials, social media users and even the meteorology community raised questions. What were the National Weather Service forecasts? Why is it so hard to know where rain will fall? Did staff reductions at the weather service and other budget cuts by the Trump administration contrib

At least 81 people died between July 4 a

A series of circumstances, colliding at the worst possible location and time, caused the tremendous flooding, several meteorologists told USA TODAY. During a July 6 news conference, Texas state officials said there would be much to discuss in the weeks ahead.

A few things are known, including how difficult it remains to pinpoint where thunderstorms will drop their heaviest rain, what the weather service said and when, and staffing levels at two local forecast offices.

The horrific tragedy arrived amid a maelstrom already brewing over the weather service, its parent agency and the Trump administration’s budget cuts.

It’s “clear that many people are allowing their desire to score political points to color their insights and opinions on this tragedy," Alan Gerard, who retired earlier this year from the National Severe Storms Laboratory, wrote in his Substack blog on July 6.

“The National Weather Service office did everything they should do from everything I can tell,” said Jeff Masters, co-founder of Weather Underground, a commercial forecasting agency, and a former hurricane scientist with the NOAA Hurricane Hunters.

 

[JV842]

From USA today. Last paragraph sums it up....

The Texas rains hadn’t even slowed before the debate began about why forecasts had underestimated the devastating flooding over Independence Day weekend.

Local and state officials, social media users and even the meteorology community raised questions. What were the National Weather Service forecasts? Why is it so hard to know where rain will fall? Did staff reductions at the weather service and other budget cuts by the Trump administration contrib

At least 81 people died between July 4 a

A series of circumstances, colliding at the worst possible location and time, caused the tremendous flooding, several meteorologists told USA TODAY. During a July 6 news conference, Texas state officials said there would be much to discuss in the weeks ahead.

A few things are known, including how difficult it remains to pinpoint where thunderstorms will drop their heaviest rain, what the weather service said and when, and staffing levels at two local forecast offices.

The horrific tragedy arrived amid a maelstrom already brewing over the weather service, its parent agency and the Trump administration’s budget cuts.

It’s “clear that many people are allowing their desire to score political points to color their insights and opinions on this tragedy," Alan Gerard, who retired earlier this year from the National Severe Storms Laboratory, wrote in his Substack blog on July 6.

“The National Weather Service office did everything they should do from everything I can tell,” said Jeff Masters, co-founder of Weather Underground, a commercial forecasting agency, and a former hurricane scientist with the NOAA Hurricane Hunters.

The NWS for the area, based in New Braunfels; short distance from Kerrville actually had extra staffing on prior to n during this event because of the possibility of floods
Like u said, pinpointing these events r difficult

 

[gburk]

He wasn’t supposed to go in the water. What this Coast Guard swimmer did instead saved lives

He stayed behind alone to comfort terrified campers while floodwaters rose around them. This Coast Guard hero was on his first mission.

www.khou.com

Meanwhile, in Austin

Austin (TX) Fire Union Rips Chief

Union voiced outrage over Fire Chief Joel G. Baker's decision to deny their request to assist in flood-stricken Kerrville.

www.fireengineering.com

 

[squirrel]

Watching a flash flood, wildfire with a tailwind, tornado, etc from close enough that every ounce of you wants to run will educate you as to who is in charge... and he isn't up for election.

 

[noharleyyet]

Power of water...

 

[D_Walt]

My folks live just outside the small community of Center Point, TX, one of the towns ravaged by this flood. It is about 10 miles downstream from Kerrville. I caught my first fish in the Guadalupe there and have been wade fishing the river there for over 40 years. My parents live back in the hills a little and were fine. One positive from this terrible situation is the way folks have come from all over to volunteer to help. Thousands of volunteers, more food and supplies than you can imagine have been donated from individuals and companies across the state and country. There is no red or blue, just folks sincerely helping Nieghbors in need.

There will be some lessons and improvements needed from this, but when the “rain bombs” go off around here it is usually with little warning, and 10” plus can fall in just a hours leading to catastrophic runoff.

It will happen again, maybe next week, maybe not for 30 or 40 more years. Hopefully the lessons learned here will prevent future tragedies next time.