Consider This from NPR

Flooding is common in Texas Hill Country. This was different

13 snips
Jul 7, 2025
Survivors share chilling accounts of a rapid flood that rose 26 feet in mere minutes, leaving devastation in its wake. The podcast delves into the community's urgent search and rescue efforts and their remarkable resilience. It highlights the role of climate change in intensifying extreme weather, revealing a 20% increase in heavy rainfall since the 1950s. With property damage exceeding $80 billion, discussions center on the urgent need for improved flood management strategies and the lasting impact of geography on natural disasters.
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ANECDOTE

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.
ANECDOTE

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.
INSIGHT

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.

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