Houston Post, 09/30/1936: "For years we have stood by idly while this tremendous waste of human life, property and resources went on unchecked and the State was impoverished."
Thank you so much for this excellent summary. Can’t wait to read part 3! And I guess part 1 if this was part 2?
I worked at 2 different camps year round in the mid-90s in the Hunt area. They were still talking about the ‘87 flood and the campers that were swept away back then. At one of the camps (it was on a 40,000 acre ranch) we would hike the kids a couple of miles out from camp base to backcountry campsites, teaching them about edible plants, tracking tips, geology, etc. along the way. We always hiked some in a draw and would ask kids how high they thought the water could get when big rains came. They were always amazed to realize that the debris stuck in trees so far above their heads was the high water mark.
We used to get gullywashers fairly regularly, and we knew exactly what roads would flood out. All of our housing was not necessarily near camp; it could be miles away in a different part of the ranch. One time the rain came and we purposefully situated ourselves at one of the houses we knew would be cut off so we would be guaranteed a day or two off because we wouldn’t be able to drive to camp the next day (we didn’t have campers at the time). Our plan worked, but then we got bored and by mid morning ended up hiking through the woods to camp anyway, (avoiding flooded areas of course) to be with everyone else. 😂
This was part 3. Part 1 was Boerne and laying groundwork. Part 2 was floods of 1921 through July 1932. This one, part 3, was October 1932 through 1987.
I seriously thought about doing 1988 to present, but it started to get extremely repetitious. Always, “there’s no way we could have seen this coming,” followed by hand-wringing, followed by “we’ve got to do something.” Rinse, repeat.
I love the idea of summer camps for kids. As you well described, it makes city kids aware of LIFE. We just need camp owners and directors who care enough to make them safe.
My daughter’s camp (she’s a counselor at a special needs camp) was able to open up again this week because overwhelmingly helpful volunteers. None of their cabins are near the water. It was featured on the nightly news tonight, NBC. She’s the one kneeling around second 14-16.
Good news clip. And good on your darlin’ daughter! Camps for special needs kids and adults should be held to a higher standard. If that camp followed the rules and kept their campers safe, it will be indelibly imprinted on your daughter’s conscience. 💕
Such good research. Are you going to hopefully have Part III? Hardly anyone has reported on the 1998 flood. Not many died , but it was a500 yr. Flood? It flooded my neighborhood in San Antonio.
Thank you. I considered doing the floods of 1845, 1973, 1998. But it all became horribly repetitious. So I mostly stuck to floods in areas that directly or indirectly impacted my family (both sides) or that were carbon copies of the 2025 flood.
I hope the Austin American Statesman follows through with their calls for accountability. Today’s stories of continued flooding highlights construction in flood plains. That is so wrong.
Before my grandparents moved to San Marcos and Martindale, they and their people lived along the Frio River in Leakey and Sabinal. I remember when we built our house on our Hays County ranch, my grandfather came and helped choose the site so it wouldn't flood. Old-timers like him knew how to guess water flow based on the shape of the canyons and their water marks. People looked at the contours of the land and they knew what it meant. You also got an important clue from how high old debris from previous floods was lodged up in the trees.
To this day, I really don't like not having my house on high ground. You can always go down to the river or creek to fish, but come back up to sleep.
Exactly! Put parks (nature reserves) with easily replaceable swing sets and sandboxes and hiking trails and picnic tables two miles either side of the banks. Homes and cottages, high up.
Your comment about high up debris was in trees: Yes!
Thank you so much for this excellent summary. Can’t wait to read part 3! And I guess part 1 if this was part 2?
I worked at 2 different camps year round in the mid-90s in the Hunt area. They were still talking about the ‘87 flood and the campers that were swept away back then. At one of the camps (it was on a 40,000 acre ranch) we would hike the kids a couple of miles out from camp base to backcountry campsites, teaching them about edible plants, tracking tips, geology, etc. along the way. We always hiked some in a draw and would ask kids how high they thought the water could get when big rains came. They were always amazed to realize that the debris stuck in trees so far above their heads was the high water mark.
We used to get gullywashers fairly regularly, and we knew exactly what roads would flood out. All of our housing was not necessarily near camp; it could be miles away in a different part of the ranch. One time the rain came and we purposefully situated ourselves at one of the houses we knew would be cut off so we would be guaranteed a day or two off because we wouldn’t be able to drive to camp the next day (we didn’t have campers at the time). Our plan worked, but then we got bored and by mid morning ended up hiking through the woods to camp anyway, (avoiding flooded areas of course) to be with everyone else. 😂
This was part 3. Part 1 was Boerne and laying groundwork. Part 2 was floods of 1921 through July 1932. This one, part 3, was October 1932 through 1987.
I seriously thought about doing 1988 to present, but it started to get extremely repetitious. Always, “there’s no way we could have seen this coming,” followed by hand-wringing, followed by “we’ve got to do something.” Rinse, repeat.
I love the idea of summer camps for kids. As you well described, it makes city kids aware of LIFE. We just need camp owners and directors who care enough to make them safe.
Thanks for your response!
My daughter’s camp (she’s a counselor at a special needs camp) was able to open up again this week because overwhelmingly helpful volunteers. None of their cabins are near the water. It was featured on the nightly news tonight, NBC. She’s the one kneeling around second 14-16.
https://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news/video/one-texas-camp-reopens-after-deadly-floods-243210821868
Good news clip. And good on your darlin’ daughter! Camps for special needs kids and adults should be held to a higher standard. If that camp followed the rules and kept their campers safe, it will be indelibly imprinted on your daughter’s conscience. 💕
Such good research. Are you going to hopefully have Part III? Hardly anyone has reported on the 1998 flood. Not many died , but it was a500 yr. Flood? It flooded my neighborhood in San Antonio.
Ok. I see part III. WILL READ
Thank you. I considered doing the floods of 1845, 1973, 1998. But it all became horribly repetitious. So I mostly stuck to floods in areas that directly or indirectly impacted my family (both sides) or that were carbon copies of the 2025 flood.
I hope the Austin American Statesman follows through with their calls for accountability. Today’s stories of continued flooding highlights construction in flood plains. That is so wrong.
Before my grandparents moved to San Marcos and Martindale, they and their people lived along the Frio River in Leakey and Sabinal. I remember when we built our house on our Hays County ranch, my grandfather came and helped choose the site so it wouldn't flood. Old-timers like him knew how to guess water flow based on the shape of the canyons and their water marks. People looked at the contours of the land and they knew what it meant. You also got an important clue from how high old debris from previous floods was lodged up in the trees.
To this day, I really don't like not having my house on high ground. You can always go down to the river or creek to fish, but come back up to sleep.
Exactly! Put parks (nature reserves) with easily replaceable swing sets and sandboxes and hiking trails and picnic tables two miles either side of the banks. Homes and cottages, high up.
Your comment about high up debris was in trees: Yes!