General Discussion

LeftInTX

(32,811 posts)

13. Decades of drought made everyone forget what to do during a flash flood!

Mon Jul 7, 2025, 07:33 PM

Jul 7

The Guadalupe last had a major flood in 2002.

When we stayed in Kerrville in 2022, the river was completely dry. We were just relieved that our place had a pool.

We also stayed in Hunt in 2017 and 2021. The only reason we were able to swim was because locals made small dams to retain water.

San Antonio recently lost 12 people on an interstate access road during 6 inches of rain. Ongoing construction that began in 2022 likely lead to a wall of water that pushed cars off the road and into a creek. I seriously wonder if drainage studies were performed on the interim construction? The area was not barricaded during the flash flood. It's like emergency management just didn't think a wall of water would come barreling down the area. The area is not low lying all and the bridge is about 15 feet tall?

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misanthrope JustAnotherGen

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Scary info from a USGS gauge on the Guadalupe River [View all] misanthrope Jul 7 OP

Have you seen this? ... marble falls Jul 7 #1

Doesn't look right. carpetbagger Jul 8 #26

I've heard from friends that there was a river running right down the main drag. ... marble falls Jul 8 #31

The 38 minute video is worth seeing Renew Deal Jul 7 #2

I grew up in a flood plain near the coast in Texas...we kept a boat under the house. pecosbob Jul 7 #3

That happened in Iowa when I was in Marion. Just north of Cenrter City was an area that haden't flooded ... marble falls Jul 8 #32

The area is full of hills. You walk toward the top of a hill. LeftInTX Jul 7 #4

All great points misanthrope Jul 7 #6

" These are flash floods, not hurricane floods" obamanut2012 Jul 7 #8

Very informative malaise Jul 7 #14

Not to mention humbling - and terrifying! calimary Jul 7 #21

Agree malaise Jul 8 #30

I guess I don't understand. LudwigPastorius Jul 7 #24

You walk before high water approaches. LeftInTX Jul 8 #25

Bingo. If it's up to your ankles and running, you are in danger. marble falls Jul 8 #33

Once camping at Turner Falls, OK a Parker ranger told us to pack up MagickMuffin Jul 7 #5

Here's a 38 minute video from the beginning of the surge to the cresting of the bridge MagickMuffin Jul 7 #7

Wow, that is exactly what it looked like when tsunamis hit Japan BigmanPigman Jul 7 #10

I watched it..in horror, actually. I bookmarked it as it was the most stunning, tragic thing Ive seen. Deuxcents Jul 8 #27

When the water is high, its also fast. milestogo Jul 7 #9

Months and months of drought made everything much worse. Paladin Jul 7 #11

Decades of drought made everyone forget what to do during a flash flood! LeftInTX Jul 7 #13

Same thing happened here with Hurricane Gilbert in 1988 malaise Jul 7 #18

No offence - I do not want to be in Jamaica in a C-3 storm event. You are most welcome to come up north ... marble falls Jul 8 #34

Thanks my friend malaise Jul 8 #35

There is that, TOO. calimary Jul 7 #22

No. Ms. Toad Jul 7 #12

If they were aware of them misanthrope Jul 7 #15

That is the responsibility of the camp and/or local goverment. Ms. Toad Jul 7 #16

It wasn't my aim to "shift" anything misanthrope Jul 7 #19

I was just responding to your assertion that the only way Ms. Toad Jul 7 #20

I grew up in a place with tornadoes as well misanthrope Jul 8 #29

We had drills about twice a year. Ms. Toad Jul 8 #38

A lot of the reason I remembered misanthrope Jul 8 #39

Both away from shrapnel, and against the strongest walls in the building. Ms. Toad Jul 8 #40

Our warnings in Burnet came more than an hour before the first crossing, they set up a high water shelter ... marble falls Jul 8 #37

Exactly. There was no warning sent. Here in Marble Falls, we get warnings from both the city and the county, ... marble falls Jul 8 #36

It seems like the camp had no plan Buckeyeblue Jul 7 #17

It happened at 4:45AM. That area of the valley is a gentle slope to the riverbed Melon Jul 7 #23

You can check the river gauge here electricmonk Jul 8 #28