Posted on 07/09/2025 10:11:40 AM PDT by DFG
An internal report prepared by officials in the county hit worst by the Fourth of July Texas floods predicted such an event would occur this year, DailyMail.com can exclusively reveal.
The report also said the number one priority for saving lives in heavy floods was to 'improve the delivery and effectiveness of warning messages'.
- snip -
But the report, published just nine months ago in October 2024, shows officials knew of the dangers but dragged their feet when it came to doing anything about them.
Not only did the Kerr County Hazard Mitigation Action Plan explicitly note that a flood event was 'likely' in 2025 and 'probable' by 2027, it also accurately forecast the places most likely to be hit.
'The local planning team determined it is likely that Kerr County and the participating jurisdictions will experience a flood event in the next year, meaning an event is probable in the next three years,' reads the report, which was drawn up by seven officials from varying local bodies.
It goes on to note that past floods had maxed out at 10 inches – a stark contrast to last Friday when the Guadalupe River swelled into a monstrous 23ft wall of water in a matter of minutes.
But despite the strongly worded warnings from its own officials, Kerr County put off nearly all the flooding recommendations, listing them as 'deferred' in a table towards the end of the 220-page document.
Flood preparations in the county, 100 miles west of the state capital Austin, have come under scrutiny in the days following the catastrophic deluge.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
I wonder if they did the “send out a cell phone alarm” thing. I’ve gotten those for tornado warnings. They scare the crap out of you.
I have no idea how that would work in rural counties.
The cost of these systems are pretty expensive for something that is not “likely” to happen. Except when it does happen…kids die.
I don’t know the answer. But I DO know that towns and counties don’t like spending money on projects like this. It’s not just a Texas problem.
Random notes. Not saying they’re true, but just how I understood some news reports:
Someone reported today that Kerr County or Kerrville voted DOWN installing an emergency siren warning system because of the cost. I think it was last year or early this year.
Also heard that where the Mystic Camp was, and areas around there, never have cell service. If there are no warning sirens, cell notifications are helpful/critical.
The DEI top government official in the Austin area nixed some emergency action because he’s so retarded he didn’t grasp the concept of reimbursement. (This per firemen under him.)
“I wonder if they did the ‘send out a cell phone alarm’ thing. “
On Newsmax today, a TX official said there is no cell coverage in the area of the Mystic Camp and that general area.
Providers should consider beefing up their towers.
It’s a flood plain.
Even if cell phone service was crappy/marginal, it is highly likely they camp had landline phone access and internet access. For an operation that size, they had to have phone and internet access to operate..
Total BS. If we acted on everyone’s predictions were be a basket case nation.
Texas’s government, California’s government — there’s just a general stupor all of America is in as it pertains to infrastructure updates, disaster preparedness, and the priorities of government overall.
Where does our tax money go exactly? We’ve completely lost sight of the bare minimum role that government — especially at the local & state level — is supposed to play in our lives. I don’t think most Libertarians would be against taxes going towards making a repairs on a major bridge, or revamping an outdated emergency alert system.
DeSantis, for all his faults, has been a very good governor in this regard. Hurricanes, Covid, you name it. Take off the partisan blinders and he is a case study into what good federalist leadership looks like.
See the FL budget:
https://www.floridadisaster.org/news-media/news/20250204/
NO. Florida is not a “basket case” for being prepared, plus with some money left over for a rainy day no pun intended. This is BASIC State Government 101. Federalism 101.
“Florida Division of Emergency Management Highlights Governor Ron DeSantis’ Commitment to Emergency Preparedness, Disaster Response and Recovery in Focus on Fiscal Responsibility Budget”
$505 million and 15 FTE are provided to the Division of Emergency Management in the current year to ensure Florida stands ready to enforce President Trump’s Illegal Immigration policies.
$1.24 billion in federal and state funding so that Florida communities and the state can respond to and recover from major disasters or emergencies and mitigate against future disasters or emergencies.
$43 million for the Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) Swift Current Program to reduce or eliminate repetitive flood damage to buildings insured through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) to rebuild more flood-resistant buildings.
$8.2 million for the continued design, development, testing and application of the Division of Emergency Management Enterprise Solution (DEMES), a state-of-the-art information technology platform that provides seamless and expedited processing of FDEM’s emergency response and everyday business activities.
$4 million for the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) Grant Program to enhance and expand the ability for research-supported, proactive investment in community resilience.
$3.6 million for the continued maintenance and advancement of information technology utilized by the State Emergency Operations Center to efficiently coordinate and deploy resources when responding to an emergency.
$3.2 million to support the sustainment of the Statewide WebEOC initiative, a technological solution that allows counties, local municipalities and other entities to coordinate and respond to emergencies impacting Florida.
https://www.floridadisaster.org/news-media/news/20250204/
Those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it.
#hindsight
The proposals for alarm systems were put forth at the state and local level, but nobody wanted to foot the bill either at the state or local level so...
In hindsight, look at the lives and money that could have been saved...It’s sobering. And spine chilling.
I wasn’t clear. The hindsight I was talking about is the left whining and the know-it-alls.
Both parties bear responsibility for the tragic neglect of our infrastructure, lull in disaster preparedness, basic civic order, etc...that has been unfolding for decades including at the state and local levels!
There’s a reason why MAGA stands for Make America Great *Again*
We’ve lost our way...and need to get it back. As Americans, not just conservative or liberal...
Yeah but sometimes these things happen.
In May 2010 Nashville got hit be a similar rain. Flooded every river. Downtown was under water from the riverfront to 5th Ave.
Franklin downtown flooded from the Harperh river.
We had zero notice. Deaths weren’t as bad but people died. It barely got reported outside of the state.
Having worked in the Telecom business for a couple of decades I can assure you that WON’T happen unless the government pays for it. Maybe it could be part of the Biden infrastructure bill. You know…something useful.
No. It just floats.
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