As most of you have heard, Central Texas got hit by a very severe storm on the 4th of July. This storm caused catastropic flooding on the Guadalupe River which flows through Kerrville. There are a few summer Camps along the river. During the summer they are usually quite full with kids. That was the case this past weekend.
Updated at noon Sunday 6 July, there are 67 dead and 11 missing. Many are elementary and Middle School aged.
God Bless and keep them all!
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| Camp Mystic | Fox News |
This occurred along the Guadalupe river. However there also was flooding along the Pedernales, a tributary to the Guadalupe which is about a mile and a half from our property. Fortunately, the Pedernales while it overflowed its banks, did not make it up to the highway that runs alongside it. Another advantage is it's about a mile of level ground along the banks which, while blocking traffic, will minimize flooding by spreading out the river. Finally at the end of that mile, there's about a 75' ridgeline that goes up to where our property and our neigbor's property is located, further reducing our flooding risk.
So, the only running water we saw on our property was runoff from the property. That having been said, we didn't venture out until things were a little bit more reasonable and the Law Enforcement people gave the say so. Which was a couple of hours after the rain stopped.
Oh, BTW the Guadalupe river is only about 10 miles from our property. So, we had a fair level of concern. But...We got lucky.
All in all, we got 10" of rain in a little under 5 hours. For those of you living in Rain Forests, that's probably not a lot. In Central Texas, well....It's flood level.
Lots of emergency vehicles headed towards Kerrville this morning as we were headed into town (AKA away from the Guadalupe River) for Mass. Needless to say there were a few extra prayers being said.
As it should be.
Saturday, in the middle of all this, our daughter called and asked if a family that's friends of theirs could come up and spend the night in one of our cabins. They had reservations on the Guadalupe for the weekend.
After checking our driveway wash, we said sure. The wash was only 6" or so. They showed up a bit later. The husband got out and I thought he had an interesting outfit on. A two toned green tee shirt and a pair of new looking jeans. The tee shirt was light green at the top and a darker green about 2/3rds of the way up. The jeans were a very dark blue. I thought it interesting as I walked out (into the rain) to greet them. Got them settled in the guest bedroom and he asked if he could use the washer/dryer. I said sure. He then explained that he had to wade out of the guest house they'd rented in Kerrville while helping his wife and two kids get to the car to evacuate.
The police had knocked on the door and told them they had 2 minutes to evacuate.
Somebody in Heaven musta been looking out for him .
One of the several people still missing is a 4th grader. She badly wanted to go to camp with her friends. Her family, friends of our daughter, had planned a trip to Italy during that time frame. The family came to an agreement and let her go to camp while they went to Italy.
I cannot imagine what is going through that family's minds now. I hope they get help soon. Again, prayers much appreciated.
So...not a great week here in the State of Texas.
Oh and it’s Sunday PM, we’re back in a flash flood advisory and it’s raining…HARD!
Yay!
Aw geeez juvat.........prayers out. So many gone.
ReplyDeleteYeah. Definitely tragic, pretty much all round.
Deletejuvat
So sad. I pray that there are still survivors.
ReplyDeleteTim, please do as well as the families of those who didn’t make it.
Deletejuvat
I have been praying for those girls, as well as the adults, ever since first hearing about this. I pulled out the atlas to see exactly where in TX this was happening, and included you folks in those prayers...I remember what Hurricane Irene did around here a few years ago flood-wise, and while rapid, and high, it certainly wasn't 35 FEET in just a very short time frame. My heart just breaks for those families.
ReplyDeleteSuz
Suz, Thanks. Prayers are much appreciated.
Deletejuvat
I've seen footage of how fast the water rose, unbelievable, but it happened. Horrible how all those young kids got caught up in this disaster. I pray that more survivors will be found, also prayers that the weather doesn't give south Texas (or anywhere for that matter) a repeat.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of survivors. There are quite a few because of courageous people. Here’s one.
Deletehttps://pjmedia.com/ashleymccully/2025/07/06/more-than-4-dozen-dead-ron-filipkowski-smirks-n4941475
Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer Scott Ruskin rescued 165 people on his first actual rescue mission!
Thank you and well done!
juvat
Prayers.
ReplyDeleteThanks WSF, much appreciated.
Deletejuvat
Juvat, we have sent our children to Summer camps back when they were of the age. I cannot imagine what those parents are going through.
ReplyDeletePrayers up indeed.
Yeah, so did we. I don’t remember if they went to these camps or not, but the camps were in the general vicinity of Kerrville. So, rather be lucky than good!
Deletejuvat
Prayers are easy, but if there's more we can do, please advise...worthy organizations to receive donations and such.
ReplyDeleteSermon at church yesterday said they needed bleach, water, canned goods and underwear. Not sure why the latter, probably because their underwear and house, is downstream. Central Texas Red Cross, should be able to point you in the right direction.
DeleteThanks
juvat
After our tornado that killed 79 and tore hundred of homes apart the first and last to leave was Samaritan's Purse organization. They came immediately to my home and completely clean and removed all the debris and trees. They cut, removed all the downed trees and things that had been dropped in yard was put on sidewalk. Then neighbor next door came over and they went and did hers and neighbor across street asked. They repaired, cleaned of the downed tree's along with repairs and then came later and would rebuild for you. If you need help of any kind they provided everything. Arrived at 7 and done by 7 that evening. Amazing group of men and women.
DeleteWhile this is undeniably a tragedy, it has brought to light the goodness in a large portion of the population. From jumping into the river and pulling out 165 people, 1 at a time, to providing food, clothing and shelter to the victims. And the folks criticizing the effort are the lowest form of scum. I would not want to be standing in front of the Lord with that on my record. Jist sayin!
Deletejuvat
Why underwear? Because real crotch-rot is as dangerous as trenchfoot. Having dry skivvies to get into after getting out of water is a good thing.
DeleteBack in my SCA days, I always had a clean outfit, from underwear to outerwear, to change into after packing up all our stuff. Even if I had to hose off with an actual hose (and even in very cold weather.) Bathroom run, shower run and then go home. And take another shower when the immediate unloadable stuff was unloaded.
Well, that makes sense. I also think there’s some credibility to the idea, they didn’t stop to pack undies. There’s lots of used outer wear, but who wants to ewar undies worn by someone else? Ewww!
Deletejuvat
Learned the 'have an extra set of skivvies' from my father. Monkey Butt and Crotch Rot were very common during the summers in Korea as the planes weren't air conditioned when sitting on the flightline. His tales of woe and shocking colors of fungal growth got to me at a young age.
DeleteEwww! Not a mental picture I want to ponder!
Deletejuvat
I learned that on my first deployment. On my second I had new undershorts and t-shirts that I prelabeled and packed in vacuum sealed bags. They took up little space and there was never a guarantee that the Ship would have them in the Store in your size. Between working the flight deck and the ship's laundry they tended to wear out pretty quick.
DeleteSarge, I’m becoming a little concerned. I think Beans is writing an underwear post and the comments will destroy the gentile atmosphere of this site. What do you think?
Deletejuvat
Just kidding of course, but….Beans, you never know!
Deletejuvat
Heh.
DeleteI lived on that river near Comfort. Just missed the 87 flood. The hill country / Edwards Plateau is 38000 square miles of limestone. Think parking lot. There isn't much dirt, it's almost all runoff. I've seen it rise in a flash, and all the rain was 20 miles upriver. That river is beautiful and it scares the crap outta me. It's a killer and always will be. You can't put your life in someone else's hands there. You are your own safety officer.
ReplyDeleteWow. Stripped my name. STxAR sends.
DeleteGood point STxAR. It doesn’t take long at all. Mere minutes.
Deletejuvat
Interesting attempt at anonymity on your part!😉
DeleteScary, and not a lot you can do once involved in a disaster like this. We from far away can offer prayers and financial assistance, but nothing will ever make everyone whole again. Nor are disasters like this entirely preventable, but some risks can be lessened.
ReplyDeleteBless those folks who were in the midst of it, or went there or, like Juvat were adjacent, and provided immediate assistance to those in need. A lot of really good people, mostly anonymous, seeking nothing, but a chance to help others jumping in and doing what they can. Americans are like that. Good on y'all.
John Blackshoe
Thanks John. There are quite a few good people in this country. Unfortunately, there are also quite a few turds.
Deletejuvat
If you'd like to donate to a Texas organization that has zero admin fees- all "employees" are volunteers, consider this one: https://tkofc.org/Donate-Now/Disaster-Relief
ReplyDeleteWill do, thanks
Deletejuvat
Quite a few first responders are also among the missing/dead. Prayers for all, especially those searchers. They will live with what they 'find' for the rest of their lives.
ReplyDeleteCharging towards the sounds of the guns is both heroic and dangerous.
DeleteMay they rest in peace!
juvat