Tragedy near Kerrville

biku324

biku324

Member
Gold Supporter
Joined
Jan 27, 2011
Messages
6,957
Reaction score
15,839
Location
NM - Land of Enchantment
Register to hide this ad
Been following this tragedy all day. I cannot imagine their horror.

I know the area well. Spent parts of several summers with a cousin who lived just upriver from that camp on TX 39 near the tiny town of Hunt. There are several other church camps nearby as well.
 
The Guadalupe is a shallow river to say the least, but the flood waters rose literally in minutes. She went from a quiet stream to a deadly torrent. Sad to say this is not the first time this has happened (Bunch of kids got washed away back in 84-85 I think)
 
I'm so heartbroken prayers for the girls and family ,will be rough to sleep tonight thing of them. My grand niece just had 10th birthday , she is so sweet gives me lots of hugs.
 
I was seeing news about this six hours ago, but I decided against posting it so as not to bum out anyone's 4th of July.
 
Latest news I saw said 24 known deaths and 23 missing. Many were kids at summer camps. Described as being just like a tsunami. I cannot imagine the anguish of the parents. This area is generally northwest of San Antonio.
 
StrawHat said:
Apparently the managers of the campground ignored warnings and refused to evacuate the campers!?

There is a special place in hell…

Kevin
Click to expand...
One of the Texas spokesman on tv said they had no idea that they were gonna get so much rain so they wasn't any local warnings.
 
The Last Standing Knight said:
The Guadalupe is a shallow river to say the least, but the flood waters rose literally in minutes. She went from a quiet stream to a deadly torrent. Sad to say this is not the first time this has happened (Bunch of kids got washed away back in 84-85 I think)
Click to expand...
87. Cousin's home got flooded despite being across TX 39 from the river. This flood is said to be higher than that one.

Interesting note: his next door neighbor was Judge Wiliam H Webster, the first Pres. Bush appointed him as director of the CIA, and he later became FBI director. Webster's home burned while he was away. Completely destroyed. It was a long way from the nearest firehouse.
 
Last edited:
bamashooter said:
Please provide official warnings issued for times, locations, and predicted impacts on the river itself.
Click to expand...
Yes, please. I live in Boerne just a couple of miles from Kerrville and the Guadalupe River. I was watching the weather forecast late Thursday and neither saw nor heard any severe river warnings. The NWS was predicting a manageable 4-5" of rain in the area and the Kerrville/Guadalupe River head waters actually got about 12" over a couple of hours. StrawHat may be right but I have not seen nor heard of any evidence that warnings were ignored.
 
StrawHat said:
There is a special place in hell…
Click to expand...
borntxn said:
StrawHat may be right but I have not seen nor heard of any evidence that warnings were ignored.
Click to expand...

He's not right and this statement should be retracted.

Camp Mystic is a Christian girls camp that had little to no warning to evacuate approximately 750 young girls (finishing 2nd grade). The river rose 26 feet in 45 minutes. This was all in the early a.m. hours (1-2 a.m.).

At Heart O' The Hills Camp (approximately two miles away), there weren't any campers but the owner and co-owner both drowned.

This is tragic. No blame is needed or warranted.

Perhaps changes will be made by local emergency management services such as warning sirens, phone alerts, weather radios, etc. My understanding is there currently is no warning system in Kerr County.
 
Last edited:
444 Magnum said:
He's not right and both of those statements should be retracted.

Camp Mystic is a Christian girls camp that had little to no warning to evacuate approximately 750 young girls (finishing 2nd grade). The river rose 26 feet in 45 minutes. This was all in the early a.m. hours (1-2 a.m.).

At Heart O' The Hills Camp (approximately two miles away), there weren't any campers but the owner and co-owner both drowned.

This is tragic. No blame is needed or warranted.

Perhaps changes will be made by local emergency management services such as warning sirens, phone alerts, weather radios, etc. My understanding is there currently is no warning system in Kerr County.
Click to expand...
Facts are always best. Thank you.
 
444 Magnum said:
My understanding is there currently is no warning system in Kerr County.
Click to expand...
Kerr County, Texas uses the CodeRED Emergency Notification System to alert residents about urgent situations like severe weather, evacuation notices, boil water advisories, and missing persons.

You can sign up for this free service through the City of Kerrville’s official CodeRED page or via the Kerr County Emergency Management site. Once registered, you’ll receive alerts by phone, text, or email—whichever you prefer.
Click to expand...
I do not know if that CodeRED system was activated or not though.
 
borntxn said:
I do not know if that CodeRED system was activated or not though.
Click to expand...
I may be wrong as well. I don't live in the area. A Kerr county official Judge Rob Kelly is quoted as saying the county does not have an early warning system.

This article presents a timeline of warnings. The county used their facebook page to alert citizens. Perhaps the CodeRED system was also used. It'll all be reviewed and detailed in time.


"While the National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning at 1:14 a.m. for portions of that area, it would be hours before the city and county’s Facebook pages posted their initial urgent directions for residents from local authorities.

The first came from the Kerrville Police Department, reposting an NWS alert at 5:16 a.m., adding: “Anyone near the Guadalupe River needs to move to higher ground now. Local streets are flooded in town and low water crossings are impassable. Do not drive into water.”

At 5:31 a.m., Kerr County posted: “Be safe and move to higher ground. Do not drive through water. Turn Around – Don’t Drown!”

A minute later, the county sheriff’s office also reposted NWS information on its own Facebook page, adding: “If you are near the water, move to higher ground immediately. Stay clear of low water crossings – turn around, don’t drown!”

The City of Kerrville’s Facebook page followed two hours later at 7:32 a.m., saying, 'If you live along the Guadalupe River, please move to higher ground immediately.'”
 
Unfortunately a very common occurence where rivers are dry to nearly dry beds waiting for the next torrential downfall dozens and dozens miles away in higher country. The downfalls can be sudden and unexpected. Markers at dry river beds signal how high flood waters reached in previous higher country torrents.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

walkin jack
Once Upon A Time In California.....
Replies
12
Views
2K
george minze
G
shaggist
Lucas Replacement Smoke Kit
Replies
2
Views
1K
Rustyt1953
Rustyt1953

Latest posts

Back
Top