While the nation mourns the lives lost during the recent Guadalupe River flash flooding in Texas, it may also be a good time to examine related emergency preparedness failures. Let’s start by examining the timeline leading up to the event as compiled by National Public Radio:
Wednesday, July 2: The Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) announced that it was activating state emergency response resources because of the threat of flooding.
Thursday, July 3: At 9:47 a.m. Texas Division of Emergency Management posted on X weather guidance in both English and Spanish, informing followers about what to do in a flood, adding: “As we head into the holiday weekend and the flood threat in West & Central TX continues, stay weather aware!” At some point in the morning, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick later said at a press conference, the TDEM Region 6 Assistant Chief had “personally contacted the judges and mayors in that area and notified them of potential flooding.” He said it was unclear exactly where in the region the storm would hit.
Thursday, July 3: At 3:35 p.m., the National Weather Service Austin/San Antonio announced a flood watch on X, saying “pockets of heavy rain are expected and may result in flooding.” A flood watch is used when the weather conditions make a flood possible, but it does not mean a flood will occur.
Friday, July 4: At 12:42 a.m., the National Weather Service Austin/San Antonio posted on X upgrading its flood watch to a flood warning for part of the impacted area.
Hindsight is, of course, 20-20, but the fact remains that NOAA weather radio service, with its capability for automatically alerting users to hazards has been available for well over forty years. The necessary radios receivers are available for 40 to 80 dollars.
Summer camps for children, for-profit campgrounds, and short-term rental facilities should have a NOAA weather radio as well as a plan for warning residents of potentially dangerous conditions, such as tornadoes, severe wind events, or significant flash flooding.
Many county fire dispatch systems throughout the United States are decommissioning their VHF “Plectron” warning systems in favor of new digital methods. Would it not make sense to repurpose this older system for transmitting local emergency alerts to schools, campgrounds, and other vulnerable facilities in high-risk areas?
Some type of local warning systems may also be appropriate in high-risk areas. For example, a similar catastrophic event occurred in the same area of Texas in 1987. It seems reasonable to expect that some precautions would have been taken in succeeding years. A campground could install something as simple as a loud, air-spun siren to awaken and alert campers of imminent danger. A plan could also be in place to move campers to a safe area if a warning is received.
There is really no excuse for an RV campground not to have a NOAA weather radio and some type of alerting system in place. Companies such as “Federal Signal” manufacture loudspeaker outdoor alerting system. On a more basic level, a campground host can simply drive around with a bullhorn warning residents of impending severe weather or another hazardous situation. The cost of an alerting system can be quite inexpensive. A 116 dB air-spun siren can be purchased on Amazon.com for under 200 dollars. Hand-cranked versions are also available for use in the event of a power failure.
Legislative action may be required to overcome cognitive dissonance. Requiring campgrounds in areas at high risk for tornadoes and flash flooding to have a working weather alert radio or similar device, log weekly tests as having been received, and a local warning system of some type would be a good regulation. Undoubtedly, some commercial campgrounds will balk at such a proposed regulation. This has been seen in the past when similar proposals have been advanced in other states. Some owners don’t want the responsibility or the small additional cost, so they lobby against such rules. Nonetheless, after two catastrophic events in Texas, it may be time for legislators to grow a spine.
Amateur Radio EmComm groups could certainly provide a fine public service by reaching out to nonprofit church camps, scout camps, and the like with an offer to install and program a weather alert radio and develop a plan for alerting campers and visitors in the event of an impending high-risk event. Training on proper two-way radio protocols could also be incorporated.
Finally, some of these failures are also related to our cell-phone addiction. It is simply assumed that people will get instantaneous alerts on their phones. However, the impact of emergency alerts has been somewhat deluded by using EAS for Amber Alerts and the like. Furthermore, many people now mute their phone while sleeping. Others are simply so overwhelmed with push notifications; they ignore any non-personal interruption.
Ultimately, this is a public education problem. Emergency services, community service organizations, and the like need to work together to push for better emergency preparedness. EmComm organizations should be a part of this campaign for improved public safety.