The same type of Texas flood occurred in 1987. 10 lost. Why did they rebuild camps here?

[jmbar2]

15 min documentary

[tanyev]

1. I lived in San Antonio at the time and that was the first thing I thought of.

The camps are there because it is a beautiful area, and most of the time the Guadalupe is a quiet meandering river. But it sounds like one of the cabins the girls were in was very close to the river. You’d think after the 1987 tragedy they’d make sure all the sleeping cabins were well away from the river and set up procedures for quick local notifications, maybe even sirens.

[Silent Type]

2. Don't understand rebuilding either, but it happens after most similar disaster. Admittedly, it's a very pretty area and

I’m sure there are a lot of old timers still there.

One of the officials did say, “This is the 4th hundred year flood in the past hundred years.” So, maybe they are starting to get it.

[Melon]

4. I think it's flat right there. Or relatively to the river.

With cliff walls behind the camp. One road down to it. I need to look closer next time.

[LeftInTX]

10. We've camped at Hunt and it seems that way.

It's near the headwaters of the Guadalupe.
The river meanders in that area whereas closer to Kerrville the banks become steeper.

[Baitball Blogger]

3. For the love of money.

[eppur_se_muova]

5. I was gonna say ... bet the land there is cheap. nt

[LeftInTX]

9. Nope. It's where people go to cool off around here.

Our summers are hot. The area is in demand.

We rent air bnbs frequently on the river. There are also other rivers. Where else are kids gonna have camps? In the middle of a desert with no water?

These rivers are our source of outdoor recreation.

[Baitball Blogger]

13. Stupid is as stupid does.

Build in a flood zone and vote in a President who hamstrings the flood warnings. God helps those who helps themselves.

[marble falls]

6. Welcome to Texas. When I here in '99, I saw a guy who'd been flooded out near San Marcos, ...

... been flooded out three times in 10 years. The reporter asked him, what's next. and the guy replied, "I'm rebuilding." The reporter asked, "Why" and the guy said, "I love the life style."

Laws and insurance has changed since then.

[LeftInTX]

7. It's a very popular area. It's also quite large.

My son worked at a camp for disabled children from 2002-2004.
They had flooding.

Most of these camps are pretty rustic.

We have stayed at air bnb's along the river four times since 2017.

My son and his wife have an RV and they camp along another river near Uvalde every month or so.

Keep in mind summers are very hot. There aren't other outdoor activities that will keep you cool. We swim and tube in these rivers. They're the source of water recreation.

It isn't greed. It's literally demand for outdoor water activities.

The area extends 100 miles north. 150 miles west
100 miles south.

If a camp is not on water, no one will attend.

The Guadalupe is probably the most popular river, but there is also the Frio, Llano, Medina, Blanco, San Marcos, Colorado, San Saba, and parts of the Nueces. Camping along these rivers is very popular. The weather along these rivers are all pretty much the same.

Google: Edward's Plateau

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/db/Edwards_Plateau_Savannas_map.svg

[callous taoboy]

15. Thank you for the well-written response.

We were enjoying a good time on the Guadalupe near Comfort just two weeks ago after those nice rains. I have driven the road through Ingram and Hunt many times- That is some of the most beautiful scenery imaginable. Tragically, a former teaching colleague and her family who were camping in an RV campground were swept away last week, and they have only recovered her husband’s body.

[LeftInTX]

18. I drove over the I 10 bridge at Comfort today

I looked down. It's devastating.

[callous taoboy]

22. I did, too

But forgot to look down- Heavy traffic as well. Saw some guys at a gas station in Comfort covered in mud and pulling a humongous ATV. No doubt part of the rescue mission.

[Skittles]

19. I've been in Texas 50 years without ever going to a camp

OR a river, although I do occasionally swim across a lake.

[SunSeeker]

8. They probably called it a 500 year flood, like they're doing now, and figured it wouldn't happen again for 500 years.

In other words, stupidity and climate change denial.

[artemisia1]

11. Thats cuz that global warmin' nonsense you lib'rals peddling ain't nothing but a scam. (SARCASM). Any discussion of

weather or climate triggers RW talk radio diddoheads -- and Texas is full of them. Mention dangerous weather and many of them, imo, will do nothing simply to show you they are righteous conservatives who don't buy int that "stuff".

[SunSeeker]

12. CNN was interviewing a Texan wearing a MAGA hat as he described witnessing a swift water rescue of a woman from a tree.

I am sure he would never connect the dots between vlimate change, DOGE firing of weather service staff, and the catastrophic effects ofvthis flood. All he cares about is glorifying his Orange Jesus. He made sure he got "MAGA" platformed on CNN.

[Skittles]

20. that is just so pathetic

seriously

[BoRaGard]

14. The G.O.P. lies about climate change are flat-out EVIL

[ananda]

16. Memories are short and it was 40 years ago.

Still, I suppose putting a camp directly next to a river
of any kind if probably not a good idea.

I really don't see any particular need to do that.

You can put it a ways inland, and still enjoy the river
when it's safe.

[LeftInTX]

17. The event was different

In 1986, sheriff deputies came out and warned camp staff.

Pot O Gold made the mistake of trying to bus the campers over the flooded river. They should not have moved the campers down to the river. The bus was hit with a wall of water.

The bus company wss blamed for the lost lives.

[B.See]

21. For the same reason why

people rebuild along fault lines and in earthquake prone zones, on mountainsides and in neighborhoods wiped out by wildfires, in hurricane prone locales, along Tornado Alley, and at the foot of volcanoes.