The Guadalupe River flood down here in Texas

[Voyageur]

Today our cleaning lady came to help us in our house. She'd been unable to help us for the last 8 weeks. She was battling a problem that required abdominal surgery to remove a tumor, and thankfully it wasn't cancer. During her absence, her daughter who lives in the Suburbs of San Antonio decided to have a reveal party since she was pregnant. She'd decided to hold it over the 4th of July at a campground located right by Camp Mystic. It was to be a 4-day event with the entire family, almost 20 people in total. They'd be camping there during that time.

A problem arose. Her youngest son said he wouldn't go. He told her he'd go up to San Antonio and watch all the little ones for the weekend but felt very uncomfortable about going there. He said there was something that bothered him immensely about it. He was so insistent that our lady told her daughter that she was concerned, and maybe they could change the dates. The daughter was a little miffed, but there was no problem changing the dates and they went up there a week earlier.

While they were there, the son kept talking about how dangerous the place was. They couldn't even get cell phone signals because the location is down at the river's edge and even the parking ground is located on a hill overlooking the river. There was one way down and one way up, and it was easier to walk it then drive down. For three days he kept telling people how uncomfortable he was about them being there. He said he could see death all around them. He could see Camp Mystic, and the little girls playing there, and in the water of the river. It was so peaceful, and they enjoyed the tubing and the area immensely. When it was over, his sister told him that he was a sissy. Afraid of things that didn't exist.

One week later, dozens of children and possibly up to 200 or more people have died from the flood at that very location.

The thing about it is that no matter what anyone says, there was no internet and cell service down by the river and nobody associated with the campgrounds or Camp Mystic were in a position to get the information that the state has officially claimed was sent to them. The fact that they did not build the warning system with sirens along the river in 2017, when the state legislature opted to give an additional tax break to the oil barons instead of doing what was right for an area where over 300, 000 people camp every year.

 

[OldSchool101]

Today our cleaning lady came to help us in our house. She'd been unable to help us for the last 8 weeks. She was battling a problem that required abdominal surgery to remove a tumor, and thankfully it wasn't cancer. During her absence, her daughter who lives in the Suburbs of San Antonio decided to have a reveal party since she was pregnant. She'd decided to hold it over the 4th of July at a campground located right by Camp Mystic. It was to be a 4-day event with the entire family, almost 20 people in total. They'd be camping there during that time.

A problem arose. Her youngest son said he wouldn't go. He told her he'd go up to San Antonio and watch all the little ones for the weekend but felt very uncomfortable about going there. He said there was something that bothered him immensely about it. He was so insistent that our lady told her daughter that she was concerned, and maybe they could change the dates. The daughter was a little miffed, but there was no problem changing the dates and they went up there a week earlier.

While they were there, the son kept talking about how dangerous the place was. They couldn't even get cell phone signals because the location is down at the river's edge and even the parking ground is located on a hill overlooking the river. There was one way down and one way up, and it was easier to walk it then drive down. For three days he kept telling people how uncomfortable he was about them being there. He said he could see death all around them. He could see Camp Mystic, and the little girls playing there, and in the water of the river. It was so peaceful, and they enjoyed the tubing and the area immensely. When it was over, his sister told him that he was a sissy. Afraid of things that didn't exist.

One week later, dozens of children and possibly up to 200 or more people have died from the flood at that very location.

The thing about it is that no matter what anyone says, there was no internet and cell service down by the river and nobody associated with the campgrounds or Camp Mystic were in a position to get the information that the state has officially claimed was sent to them. The fact that they did not build the warning system with sirens along the river in 2017, when the state legislature opted to give an additional tax break to the oil barons instead of doing what was right for an area where over 300, 000 people camp every year.

It’s close to home. Members of my church had a daughter that was at Mystic. Thankfully she survived.

In a time when technology is so touted, it’s inconceivable this wasn’t addressed. Even my subdivision in NE Texas plays a practice warning on the 1st Tuesday morning each month over a positioned loudspeaker maybe 2-3 blocks away. It’s spooky sounding only used for tornado like weather. Here’s a case where several distress calls to evacuate to higher ground would’ve saved dozens of lives and that’s shooting low.

The other idea would be to have a roof top or emergency door exit strategy near the ceiling in each cabin. Have them equipped with a shelf or loading platform and life vests hanging within reach. Should be a short ladder starting at 4 feet high extending to a higher point to the hatch exiting to outside. Similar outside with a ladder extending back down with 2 launch levels and eye hooks on either side. Hook the raft to both hooks and pull the inflation string and it holds the boat tight to the home until a release lever on the boat detaches it. If practiced similar to a routine fire drill these techniques take a just couple of minutes (tops) to employ and the time it takes to climb a ladder and drop in secure a vest and release. Many were trapped in their cabins with water breach and pressure holding doors shut. No possibility or time of escape when they had only realistically a few minutes to react.

Also there should be a night guard watch for each group on 4-5 cabins or per campsights with 2-3 volunteers paired taking a 3hr shift 10-1,1-4,4-7
walking the grounds looking for signs of rising water or mudslide events and following forecast and updated hourly and direct contact to Park Rangers
If there is any inclimate weather whatsoever they should be Equipped with emergency evacuation Horns and cabin monitors, setting off a distress call if danger is imminent. Then having location forwarded to local authorities as to specifics of the event.

Then rehearsed temporary and permanent evacuation shelters meeting places with beacons that can be activated, similar to a mini lighthouse and distress speakers in each direction. With an evacuation plan.

 

[Canadian Cheddar]

Today our cleaning lady came to help us in our house. She'd been unable to help us for the last 8 weeks. She was battling a problem that required abdominal surgery to remove a tumor, and thankfully it wasn't cancer. During her absence, her daughter who lives in the Suburbs of San Antonio decided to have a reveal party since she was pregnant. She'd decided to hold it over the 4th of July at a campground located right by Camp Mystic. It was to be a 4-day event with the entire family, almost 20 people in total. They'd be camping there during that time.

A problem arose. Her youngest son said he wouldn't go. He told her he'd go up to San Antonio and watch all the little ones for the weekend but felt very uncomfortable about going there. He said there was something that bothered him immensely about it. He was so insistent that our lady told her daughter that she was concerned, and maybe they could change the dates. The daughter was a little miffed, but there was no problem changing the dates and they went up there a week earlier.

While they were there, the son kept talking about how dangerous the place was. They couldn't even get cell phone signals because the location is down at the river's edge and even the parking ground is located on a hill overlooking the river. There was one way down and one way up, and it was easier to walk it then drive down. For three days he kept telling people how uncomfortable he was about them being there. He said he could see death all around them. He could see Camp Mystic, and the little girls playing there, and in the water of the river. It was so peaceful, and they enjoyed the tubing and the area immensely. When it was over, his sister told him that he was a sissy. Afraid of things that didn't exist.

One week later, dozens of children and possibly up to 200 or more people have died from the flood at that very location.

The thing about it is that no matter what anyone says, there was no internet and cell service down by the river and nobody associated with the campgrounds or Camp Mystic were in a position to get the information that the state has officially claimed was sent to them. The fact that they did not build the warning system with sirens along the river in 2017, when the state legislature opted to give an additional tax break to the oil barons instead of doing what was right for an area where over 300, 000 people camp every year.

Wow! Just read this. The prescience and insistence of the son to change things was both eerie and ultimately lifesaving.