Consider This from NPR Flooding is common in Texas Hill Country. This was different
Rapid Guadalupe River Flood
- The Guadalupe River rose 26 feet in less than an hour, trapping residents unexpectedly.
- People like Ryan Dale and Melvin Harris lost homes and possessions, with some friends not surviving.
Kerrville Community Unites
- The community around Kerrville, Texas, is reeling but pulling together with signs like "Kerrville Strong."
- Volunteers clear debris and help search for survivors as hope remains among locals.
How Climate Change Supercharged Texas Floods Beyond Normal Levels
The Texas Hill Country experienced one of the worst floods in generations, with the Guadalupe River rising 26 feet in less than an hour — an extraordinary event even for a region used to flooding.
Climate change played a role by making the atmosphere warmer, which causes it to hold and dump about 20% more moisture in heavy rainstorms compared to the 1950s. This leads to more frequent and extreme rainfall events.
As Rebecca Hersher from NPR's Climate Desk explains, the flooding damage has increased substantially, with about one-third of inland flood damage in the last 30 years attributable to human-caused climate change, amounting to over $80 billion extra.
Updated rainfall data and investment in flood warning systems are critical for saving lives and adapting to these changing weather patterns.