[EAS] Kerrville and Ruidoso

[Kelly Alford]

An interesting piece of data that not much of the media seems to mention, is
that similar flooding occurred in Kerryville back in 1978 and again in 1987.
So, all this talk about one hundred year flooding, or most recently from the
President; "five hundred" year flooding, seems like an attempt at white
washing over the actual history of this region.  Camp Mystic went through
those floods back in 78 and 87 too, it was just that flooding hadn't
occurred in the middle of the night, as in this case, so the camp was easily
evacuated.  Was this particular flash flood more intense than prior years?
Maybe so, but to claim flash flooding is unusual in this region is just
plain false.

I was corresponding with someone who used to camp in that area over the
years.  He was telling me that the area where Camp Mystic is located is very
remote, including marginal cell coverage (one bar or less). Because of
distance and topography, radio and TV stations don't cover well in the area
where Camp Mystic is located either.

Bottom line is: All the finger pointing and revisionist history isn't going
to change this incredibly sad result.  The management of Camp Mystic knew
flash flooding was a possibility from prior years.  But I suspect, thoughts
of installing early-warning systems were overruled likely by cost and
maintenance, considering the camp had been successfully evacuated in similar
weather events.
             

-----Original Message-----
From: EAS [mailto:eas-bounces at radiolists.net] On Behalf Of Clay Freinwald

When you arrange to have people, much less young children, sleeping in a -
known flood zone- 
These leaders should be more concerned about potential danger.
I suspect they never gave it a thought

Sounds like another loss of life that could have been avoided had certain
people done their jobs.

I read where they did not wish to spend the money on warning sirens - That's
a lot of BS to those whose love-ones lost their life.

I also read that IPAWS was not used that would have sent an alert to every
cell phone.    
(of course, you cannot force users to not turn off alerting)    But at least
the camp should have had 
1- A function Cellphone
2- A functioning NOAA Weather Radio 

Unfortunately, loss prevention is not a high priority with many

My $02 from MY Soap-Box

Very Old Guy

Clay Freinwald

-----Original Message-----
From: EAS eas-bounces at radiolists.net> On Behalf Of Adrienne Abbott

> "Sirens are a way to wake people up."

Somebody has to push the button for the siren to sound. The probably that
would be the same person who would issue an EAS activation or send a WEA
message. 

And while people will hear the siren, it won't tell them the threat or
location or action to take. People unfamiliar with the area aren't likely to
know what a siren at oh-dark-hundred means, even if it sounds in the middle
of a Texas-style thunderstorm. Would they be likely to look for more
information? From their cell phone? From radio or TV? From other campers?
How would they know it's for that creek next to their tent? How long would
they mill around in the rain before going back to bed? When would
Situational Awareness kick in and someone realise that water in the creek
they can't see is rising? 

People not only need to hear a specific warning message, they need to
understand that it's meant specifically for them. 

Did the camp counselors who sent the girls back to bed have any way of
knowing that the creek through their campground was rising? Did any of them
think that maybe they should look outside the cabin and see if anything was
happening? Would having a siren sound make someone look at creek? 

Adrienne

> On Jul 12, 2025, at 2:51 pm, Bill Ruck ruck at lns.com> wrote:
> 
> Warning!  Bill is getting up on his soap box.
> 
> I've recently explained to too many people that the NWS has had for
decades an effective functioning weather warning system.  Special receivers
that unmute have been available to the public for a very long time.  Check C
Crane.
> 
> But most do not have these receivers.  In a flash flood area they should
be mandatory especially for groups.

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