You only need it when you need it

[Jimmy Higgins]

The flood in Texas that look to have killed nearly 300 people is a stark reminder of this important of vigilance, even when it costs money. One thing could have saved the lives of at least a couple dozen children. An alarm system that was in place, but then disappeared.

But other, more serious events had affected camps in the area. In July 1987, 10 teenagers were killed as they fled a flash flood at Pot O’ Gold Ranch, a Christian camp also along the Guadalupe River. A year later, two brothers were swept away in flash floods at the Bear Creek Scout Reservation camp.
...
An automated flood warning system that relied on water gauges was installed along the Guadalupe in 1989. But a decade later, the company that monitored it had closed, and river authorities shut it down. So locals returned to “the old-fashioned way,” with river spotters issuing warnings via telephone up and down the waterway, according to the Kerrville Daily Times.

That alarm system was put into place because of people that died. Now a magnitude more died because the empathy of those losses waned and no one (or not enough people) cared enough to ensure the system remained in place to prevent the loss of so many people.

The trouble with alarm systems is you only want them when you need it. You are always paying for it and it is never being used. But not being used doesn't mean not needed. Every family that lost a child in that flood would have had no problem in hind sight cutting their own checks to pay for the alarms that would have saved those girls lives.

But instead, the desire to save money cost those families their children. All to save what in the end was just a few bucks.

 

[Loren Pechtel]

This isn't a failure of the alarms--they knew enough to send the alert. They just didn't send it over the main cell system, only to an opt-in system.

The problem is that there are a bunch of local people who decide on sending out alerts. Some go way overboard (Amber alerts from far away), some don't send enough--like these guys.

 

[ZiprHead]

Wow, god sure seems to not like these Christian camps.

 

[Elixir]

Wow, god sure seems to not like these Christian camps.

Yet He equipped his BFFs (beetles) with astonishing abilities to survive floods.

Field and laboratory experiments were conducted to assess the time ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) survive during actual and simulated flood conditions. The effects of three variants of potential flood conditions were tested: (1) beetles trapped on the surface of flood water; (2) beetles trapped in air pockets; (3) submersion of beetles in flood water without access to air. Ground beetles trapped on the surface of water survived more than two weeks (Carabus granulatus - up to 16 days; Oxypselaphus obscurus - up to 22 days). Carabus granulatus in simulated hibernation chambers that had air-pockets also survived for 15 days.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

This isn't a failure of the alarms--they knew enough to send the alert. They just didn't send it over the main cell system, only to an opt-in system.

You can hear blaring sirens. That might have gotten the girls out of the lower cabins before it was too late. They would have known (despite the gross failure of the leadership at the camp, of whom I believe the owner did die) it was time to go up.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

Wow, god sure seems to not like these Christian camps.

They were awake, knew they were in grave trouble, the rushing water was cold, they were begging for help at the windows, well out of reach for anyone to come to their rescue. Over two dozen children died this way, I'm not thinking this is appropriate fodder for the occasion.

 

[TV and credit cards]

Whether it's disasters, vaccinations, firearms, or what have you, children should not be at the mercy of stupid adults. We have a court system that gives too broad a range of discretion to parents raising their children and politicians who too easily bend to the will of the masses. This is not responsible government.

 

[ZiprHead]

MAGAts are on social media trying to blame the "local" NPR station for not sending broadcast alerts. The problem is the "local" NPR station is in San Antonio and the signal doesn't reach Kerrville.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

MAGAts are on social media trying to blame the "local" NPR station for not sending broadcast alerts. The problem is the "local" NPR station is in San Antonio and the signal doesn't reach Kerrville.

...because Christian camps listen to NPR at 1 AM?

 

[Elixir]

MAGAts are on social media trying to blame the "local" NPR station for not sending broadcast alerts. The problem is the "local" NPR station is in San Antonio and the signal doesn't reach Kerrville.

...because Christian camps listen to NPR at 1 AM?

Right after midnight Devil Worship.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

Texas to sign legislation to work on it.

Most of the bill has silly shit in it. The thing that would have maybe saved lives was an alarm system, which existed but was turned off because of money. They kind of go into it here.

SECTION 27. (a) Defines "work group."

(b) Requires the statewide meteorological data monitoring work group to include a representative of each of certain entities, designated by the executive head of the entity.

(c) Authorizes the work group, as needed, to include representatives from the National Weather Service and river authorities of this state.

(d) Requires the work group to develop a plan for implementing a statewide system of flood gauges and other meteorological equipment to provide real-time information to state and local entities to inform emergency management decisions.

(e) Requires the work group, in developing the plan described by Subsection (d) of this section, to:

(1) incorporate existing mesoscale networks and other meteorological implemented by members of the work group to create a single data hub through which state and local leaders, institutions of higher education, and the general public is authorized to access in real time statewide meteorological data;

(2) identify areas of this state that lack adequate coverage of flood gauges, weather radar, and other meteorological equipment; and

(3) identify projects, including project costs, that address the inadequacies identified in Subdivision (2).

(f) Requires the work group, not later than December 1, 2026, to submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and each appropriate standing committee of the legislature a copy of the plan developed under this section.

So, more than a year to come up with a plan and costs... and nothing about an alarm system with blaring sirens that would have told the teens in no confusing way to seek high ground NOW, instead of making them have to wait for this cute coordination group to suss the data in real time.

The problem with the flood... there was no warning for the teens and children. The adults had sufficient notice that something bad could be happening soon (and there was no siren alarm system to help make the decision for everyone). No one in Texas wants to accept the fact that their desire to save money and being asleep at the switch got 27 children killed.

 

[Jarhyn]

The flood in Texas that look to have killed nearly 300 people is a stark reminder of this important of vigilance, even when it costs money. One thing could have saved the lives of at least a couple dozen children. An alarm system that was in place, but then disappeared.

But other, more serious events had affected camps in the area. In July 1987, 10 teenagers were killed as they fled a flash flood at Pot O’ Gold Ranch, a Christian camp also along the Guadalupe River. A year later, two brothers were swept away in flash floods at the Bear Creek Scout Reservation camp.
...
An automated flood warning system that relied on water gauges was installed along the Guadalupe in 1989. But a decade later, the company that monitored it had closed, and river authorities shut it down. So locals returned to “the old-fashioned way,” with river spotters issuing warnings via telephone up and down the waterway, according to the Kerrville Daily Times.

That alarm system was put into place because of people that died. Now a magnitude more died because the empathy of those losses waned and no one (or not enough people) cared enough to ensure the system remained in place to prevent the loss of so many people.

The trouble with alarm systems is you only want them when you need it. You are always paying for it and it is never being used. But not being used doesn't mean not needed. Every family that lost a child in that flood would have had no problem in hind sight cutting their own checks to pay for the alarms that would have saved those girls lives.

But instead, the desire to save money cost those families their children. All to save what in the end was just a few bucks.

That's the problem though; people have a horrible track record of understanding that even when an alarm is not in the alarm state, it's still being "used" for the peace of mind provided by its existence.

It is "used" to make this fundamentally dangerous area safe enough to live in

 

[ideologyhunter]

Who made the body count? Can't Trump get this person fired?

 

[GenesisNemesis]

MAGAts are on social media trying to blame the "local" NPR station for not sending broadcast alerts. The problem is the "local" NPR station is in San Antonio and the signal doesn't reach Kerrville.

...because Christian camps listen to NPR at 1 AM?

I thought NPR was fake news and shouldn't be trusted.

 

[Loren Pechtel]

That's the problem though; people have a horrible track record of understanding that even when an alarm is not in the alarm state, it's still being "used" for the peace of mind provided by its existence.

It is "used" to make this fundamentally dangerous area safe enough to live in

Exactly. Just because you never "use" something doesn't mean you don't need it. I've never used a fire extinguisher outside a training environment, I have never used my locator beacon, I have never used my inReach other than testing the link. When I got started in the outdoors it was always never go alone. Now, in most situations I would put more trust in my electronics than in the average hiker around here.