Texas residents are grappling with the aftermath of catastrophic flooding that has claimed at least 68 lives, including 28 children. Recently, the National Weather Service added new flood alerts for the state’s “hill country.” Consequently, copious rescue services were forced to suspend their searches for the missing. At least some campers from Camp Mystic are among those currently missing. Camp Mystic’s rustic cabins and campfire rings dot the leafy banks of the Guadalupe River.
Videos circulating on social media depict girls from Camp Mystic being evacuated. Paddlers greet the river and sing hymns as they walk across the old railroad bridge over the Guadalupe River. The deeply troubling footage is a stark reminder of the emotional impact caused by the disaster. It poses urgent questions as to the preparedness and response of local authorities.
Lesa Baird, a resident of the small town of Hunt, posted an emotional reaction that reflected the community’s anger. She reported getting “no notice whatsoever, zero notice” when the floods came. Her home, which has since become unlivable, is representative of the destruction that many in the area are still enduring. There is no place to return home to. It’s over with,” Baird said, mourning.
The community continues to grieve their preventable losses. In any case, questions are already being raised regarding how effective the storm warnings that were put out Thursday and Friday really were. The forecast has some residents upset at what they see as a lapse in communication between local honchos and the National Weather Service.
Dalton Rice, the Kerrville city manager, said, “We don’t want to get ahead of ourselves with speculation right now.” He continued that a more formal post review will be conducted, with an emphasis on future preparedness. He knew that this was no ordinary flood. He lamented a terrible stroke of luck that the heavy rainfall hit where the north and south forks of the river converge.
Kerr County is not equipped with outdoor weather sirens, a phenomenon found in many tornado alley counties. Nicole Wilson White PhD has started an online petition. She’s now advocating for an outdoor siren system as a regional plan, to boost early warning infrastructure across the county.
As Kerr County’s senior elected official, Judge Rob Kelly, expressed residents’ concerns to. He declared, “We were not aware that this flood was coming. I can promise you, no one was aware that this type of flood would affect us. We get floods constantly, but this is the most lethal river valley in all of America.” His statement has certainly not allayed the anger felt by families across the country, as dozens of families continue to look for answers after this tragedy.
The task of locating all those missing has been an incredible test against the scale of devastation that remains. Emergency officials urged people to heed their warnings and not evacuate. Evacuate only if you are in a dangerous flooded area, or if told to evacuate by emergency authorities. This recent tragedy underscores the critical nature of this message, as last fall’s Hurricane Ian recovery continues amid perils like these.
Meanwhile, Perkins, a local resident, revealed the emotional impact on families: “Many people are angry right now, but you wait ’til the parents get here.” He concluded, “Those kids ought to be safe!” He cited this as a glaring example of the failure to protect the most vulnerable during times of emergency.
As recovery efforts proceed, Baird reflected on her personal losses: “I may be able to salvage a bunch of things here and there, but this is my stuff.” Her sentiment rings true with so many others who have lost everything in this catastrophic flood.