Thank you, thank you so much for the best report (and I have read almost them all) on Texas Hill country politics. Something will change after this event.
I’m 77 and have lived in Texas since 1957. I used to be so proud of being a Texan. But now, I hate living here mostly bc of Abbott, Patrick and Chip Roy. Such liars and thieves. My daughter is here so I know I will never leave. Please leave no stone unturned to expose the Texas Republicans for who they are.
Almost same, I'm 10 yrs younger than you, I'm native-born & you remember how it used to be. We cld wave our Texan red, white and blue flag & sing "Deep in the Heart" & know we were a special kind of American. Now I'm ashamed to be American & especially Texan...all Americans know how stupid our Tx bureaucracy is, most especially our cruel, inept & Cheeto ass-kissing governor (& his happy shitforbrains Lt gov 🤮)
“Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us now at the hour of our death.” If this is indeed a direct quote from Abbott's 2015 message on the Feast of the Assumption, every good Catholic knows he left out one important word...
We all sin. But where are the wise decisions? I don’t care about any party. Why are we failing so badly? And what can we do to improve? How can we prevent? We always fall short. We need proactive processes not reactive processes
Agree with everything you say here. I read through the NWS alerts and would have pulled my girls out Thursday afternoon based on NWS 3:30p report bc I know those rivers can change on a dime. Was NWS posting only on X? No weather radio?? I know this area well – it's hard to get cell and sometimes basic radio signals through. Several somebodies should have been up through the night at the camps physically monitoring the situation with their own eyes on the river. And yes, along with all the other things you brought up.
Jim, this was very well penned. I have family in and around Kerrville, and they’ve complained about the lack of a radar warning system for decades along the headwaters of the Guadelupe. There’s a sort of sickening pride when it comes to law enforcement agencies in the area that rarely helps during events such as these.
I remember the 1987 flood in Kerrville. Seeing the news with pictures of the kids clinging to trees and being rescued, those images have stuck in my mind. I don't remember it becoming political.
Having lived in central Texas more than 50 years I've witnessed a number of floods through the years. Frequently they start in the night when most are sleeping.
Thursday evening I watched the San Antonio weather. The forecast was for isolated spotty showers through Saturday. Friday morning could be wet but expected to clear mid-morning. Upon waking early Friday morning to the non-stop coverage it felt surreal, a mistake. Flooding had not been a possibility. I spent the rest of the day glued to the TV.
Today the weather girl said the rain was more than the amount going over Niagara Falls in a day.
In the early hours of Saturday the flood waters reached Canyon Lake. Due to the long drought the lake was at 46% full on the 4th and is still filling. With more rain west of Kerrville predicted this afternoon the lake will continue to fill. I'm about a mile from the lake, as the crow flies. I can see the ride from my porch. It is the color of a portable a mushroom with so much debris floating.
The local water supply has been compromised as it is drawn from the lake. Just after midnight last night the water company issued a Boil Water notice with a 2nd one this morning. Currently the time length is unknown.
Seems a fair number of factors comtributed to this devastating event, not just the obvious 3 or 4.
Thank you, thank you so much for the best report (and I have read almost them all) on Texas Hill country politics. Something will change after this event.
I’m 77 and have lived in Texas since 1957. I used to be so proud of being a Texan. But now, I hate living here mostly bc of Abbott, Patrick and Chip Roy. Such liars and thieves. My daughter is here so I know I will never leave. Please leave no stone unturned to expose the Texas Republicans for who they are.
Almost same, I'm 10 yrs younger than you, I'm native-born & you remember how it used to be. We cld wave our Texan red, white and blue flag & sing "Deep in the Heart" & know we were a special kind of American. Now I'm ashamed to be American & especially Texan...all Americans know how stupid our Tx bureaucracy is, most especially our cruel, inept & Cheeto ass-kissing governor (& his happy shitforbrains Lt gov 🤮)
“Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us now at the hour of our death.” If this is indeed a direct quote from Abbott's 2015 message on the Feast of the Assumption, every good Catholic knows he left out one important word...
"sinners"...pray for us "sinners."
We all sin. But where are the wise decisions? I don’t care about any party. Why are we failing so badly? And what can we do to improve? How can we prevent? We always fall short. We need proactive processes not reactive processes
Agree with everything you say here. I read through the NWS alerts and would have pulled my girls out Thursday afternoon based on NWS 3:30p report bc I know those rivers can change on a dime. Was NWS posting only on X? No weather radio?? I know this area well – it's hard to get cell and sometimes basic radio signals through. Several somebodies should have been up through the night at the camps physically monitoring the situation with their own eyes on the river. And yes, along with all the other things you brought up.
Maddening.
Surrounded by fools.
One of your best articles, and a hellava history lesson. Thank you sir.
bullseye
People keep voting for same people!!!
Jim, this was very well penned. I have family in and around Kerrville, and they’ve complained about the lack of a radar warning system for decades along the headwaters of the Guadelupe. There’s a sort of sickening pride when it comes to law enforcement agencies in the area that rarely helps during events such as these.
I remember the 1987 flood in Kerrville. Seeing the news with pictures of the kids clinging to trees and being rescued, those images have stuck in my mind. I don't remember it becoming political.
Having lived in central Texas more than 50 years I've witnessed a number of floods through the years. Frequently they start in the night when most are sleeping.
Thursday evening I watched the San Antonio weather. The forecast was for isolated spotty showers through Saturday. Friday morning could be wet but expected to clear mid-morning. Upon waking early Friday morning to the non-stop coverage it felt surreal, a mistake. Flooding had not been a possibility. I spent the rest of the day glued to the TV.
Today the weather girl said the rain was more than the amount going over Niagara Falls in a day.
In the early hours of Saturday the flood waters reached Canyon Lake. Due to the long drought the lake was at 46% full on the 4th and is still filling. With more rain west of Kerrville predicted this afternoon the lake will continue to fill. I'm about a mile from the lake, as the crow flies. I can see the ride from my porch. It is the color of a portable a mushroom with so much debris floating.
The local water supply has been compromised as it is drawn from the lake. Just after midnight last night the water company issued a Boil Water notice with a 2nd one this morning. Currently the time length is unknown.
Seems a fair number of factors comtributed to this devastating event, not just the obvious 3 or 4.