Friday, September 7, 2012

Time Travel For Friday...!

Today we are going to travel back to San Antonio for the flash flood of 1921!

Texas isn't normally known for having a lot of flash floods, especially floods of this magnitude! However, this was a bad one by any standard. I suppose that some important lessons were learned from this disaster, and the proper precautions were taken to prevent a repeat event.

Sep 7, 1921:
Flash flood hits San Antonio

The San Antonio River floods on this day in 1921, killing 51 people and causing millions of dollars in damages. The flood was caused by some of the heaviest rainfall ever recorded in Texas.

The San Antonio River winds through southwest Texas, an area that is generally dry. However, on September 7, a storm stalled over the town of Taylor and dumped an astounding 23.11 inches of rain on the area in less than a day. It was the heaviest single day of rainfall in the state to that time.

The immense amount of rain quickly overwhelmed the river. Taylor is located 30 miles upstream from San Antonio, so the resulting flash flood went barreling toward the city. Most of the victims were trapped in their cars by the surprise flood and drowned. Five to 10 feet of water submerged the city's streets, delaying an evacuation.

The city was under water for nearly a week following the flood. The flood was responsible for at least $5 million in damages in the then-small city. In the aftermath, San Antonio embarked on a 10-year overhaul of its levee system.

In this year of extreme weather, maybe we can look back at some disasters like this one and double check on the preparations against them. At least, that would be my suggestion, ya know?

How about coffee on the patio this morning? I have some brownies left that I'll share!

8 comments:

Phyllis (N/W Jersey) said...

It is truly amazing the damage water can do. A couple inches of rain here turns our streams into rivers.
Brownies are wonderful - save me two!

Sunnybrook Farm said...

The experts have a hundred year flood water level around here and I have seen it over the mark twice and heard of a 3rd time just before I was born along with a 4th about 20 years before that. I think we need to rethink the name or the line. People still build along the water no matter what you tell them or call the line, most seem to have a lot of money, they must know something that I don't.

linda m said...

With all the crazy weather we have been having this year people should be prepared for just about anything. Get that emergency kit ready and stocked. I'll have a brownie this morning; I need a chocolate fix.

JO said...

I have been watching the weather channel lately for lack of anything else of interest. They had one about floods caused by hurricanes or just a flood caused by relentless rains. These go as far back to when they were able to film or just take pictures of te after math. The devastation is horrible.

I love brownies of course its chocolate :) chocolate and coffee yum

Sixbears said...

Floods like that make me glad I'm in the mountains. At least the water can drain away.

Dizzy-Dick said...

Flash floods are terrible. In Pennsylvania a flash flood came down through the valley of Brady's Bend and devastated it. It pulled a baby out of the mother's hands and was never found. I remember that well.

HermitJim said...

Hey Phyllis...
Unfortunately, this Winter is shaping up to be as bad as the Summer as far as extreme weather.

I remember when we had our house flooded when I was a kid and how devastating that was! We had hardwood floors and replacing them was a real mess!

Doesn't take much to ruin your day, that's for sure!

Thanks so much for coming over today!


Hey Sunnybrook...
Some folks just don't seem to utilize common sense when it comes to where they build.

You see the same thing on the Texas coast!

Thanks for coming over today!


Hey Linda...
If folks haven't learned by now, they never will!

Prepare for the worst and hope for the best! We know it can happen at any time!

Thanks for dropping by today!


Hey JoJo...
You can find out some interesting history about the weather on the Weather Channel. I only hope we are learning something from our past!

I'll save ya a brownie, sweetie!

Thanks for coming by today!


Hey Sixbears...
Being on the high ground certainly has it's advantages, that's for sure!

Drainage has always been the biggest problem here in Houston.

Thanks, my friend, for coming over this morning!


Hey Dizzy...
We are so lucky that we are not prone to flash floods like some places.

The force of fast moving water is overlooked by so many folks and they often pay the price!

Thanks, buddy, for coming over today!



Dizzy-Dick said...

Yes, the force of hydraulic power is irresistible.