City Cast Austin

Why Were the Central Texas Floods So Deadly?


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In the early morning of July 4th, the National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning, but two hours later, the swollen Guadalupe River swept camp children out of their cabins at Camp Mystic. A wall of water then flooded the Hill Country and most of Central Texas, eventually killing more than 110 people, including dozens of children. Another 170 people are still missing, and the victims are strewn from Kerr County down to Sandy Creek. But flash floods are familiar to this area, known as “flash flood alley,” so why did the July Fourth floods catch so many off-guard? From missing warning systems to critical staffing gaps at the National Weather Service, spotty cell phone service and just plain complacency, veteran KXAN Meteorologist Jim Spencer joins host Nikki Davaughn to examine what could have gone wrong and how Texans can better prepare for the next flash flood. Late Wednesday, Gov. Greg Abbott announced that several flood-related items, including funding flood warning systems, are now on the agenda for the Texas Legislature’s upcoming special session.  

Learn more about the sponsors of this July 10th episode:

  • Jones Dairy Farm
  • LBJ Presidential Library
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