Flood Alley: The History of a Texas Region Frequently Prone to Catastrophic Flooding

The area of ​​Texas where a terrible flood recently occurred, which took the lives of more than 100 people, including more than two dozen children vacationing at a camp, has long been known. Dangerous floods have occurred here before, writes ABC News.

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While local and state officials in Texas said they were caught off guard by the scale of the flooding, the region is indeed prone to extreme flooding, said Marshall Shepherd, director of the University of Georgia's atmospheric science program and a former president of the American Meteorological Society.

The rolling hills of south-central Texas, known as the Texas Hill Country, are often referred to colloquially as Flash Flood Alley because the area's weather conditions and topography contribute to fast, dangerous flooding, according to the Texas Water Resources Institute (TWRI).

On the subject: Texas suffers monstrous flooding, killing over 80 people

The alley is considered one of the most flash flood-prone areas in the United States due to steep slopes, thin soil, and regular heavy rainfall.

The alley stretches from Dallas to San Antonio, including the Colorado and Guadalupe River basins, said Carlos Javier Martinez, a senior climate scientist with the Union of Concerned Scientists' climate and energy program.

According to the Guadalupe Blanco River Authority, the Guadalupe River basin is one of the three most dangerous in the United States for flash flooding.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), river channel data dating back to the 19th century show that major floods have occurred throughout much of the Guadalupe River basin.

One reason the region is so susceptible to flooding is that the Gulf of Mexico is a constant source of moist air, which provides high rainfall intensity. In addition, moist air from the Pacific Ocean (often in the form of monsoon moisture) and cool air masses from the north often collide in the region, causing extreme rainfall.

Some counties, like Hunt and Kerr, sit on floodplains between high, rocky hills that channel rainfall directly into rivers and streams. During the latest disaster, torrents of rainwater flowed into the Guadalupe River, causing it to rise rapidly.

The rocky terrain is particularly conducive to flash flooding, notes the Texas Water Resources Institute. The region's clay soils make matters worse: They don't absorb water well and, when saturated, contribute to heavy runoff.

“The shallow soil layer prevents rainfall from being effectively absorbed, so when heavy rains occur, water quickly runs off and ends up in river basins, making surrounding communities extremely vulnerable to flooding,” explains Martinez.

According to him, floods in this area have occurred almost every decade over the past 100 years.

Flood of July 1987: death of holidaymakers near the town of Comfort

One of the most famous floods occurred on July 16-17, 1987 in the Comfort, Texas area.

According to the National Weather Service (NWS), late on July 16, thunderstorms moved slowly across the region, dumping 5 to 10 inches (12 to 25 cm) of rain on the upper Guadalupe River basin. The water rose sharply and rushed downstream through the towns of Ingram, Hunt (near Camp Mystic), Kerrville, and eventually into Comfort.

Campers and staff at the Pot O' Gold Christian camp were unable to evacuate and were swept away by the floodwaters. According to the NWS, 10 children were killed and 33 were injured.

Summer 1978: Tropical Storm Amelia

In July and August 1978, Tropical Storm Amelia caused severe flooding. It made landfall near Corpus Christi and then moved inland, causing heavy rains in south-central Texas from July 30 to August 5.

The town of Medina, about 30 kilometers south of Camp Mystic, received up to 1,2 meters of rain during the storm, according to the NWS.

The storm killed 33 people and caused about $110 million in damage.

September 1921 years

The remnants of a hurricane that struck eastern Mexico brought heavy rains to southern Texas from Sept. 8 to 10, including the cities of San Antonio and Austin.

About 40 inches (102 cm) of rain fell near Thrall, 19 inches (48 cm) in Austin and 15 inches (38 cm) in San Antonio. There were 215 deaths, including 159 along the Little and San Gabriel rivers and 51 in San Antonio.

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Deadly flooding was the result of a 'worst-case scenario'

Last weekend, Shepherd noted, the combination of heavy rains, weather conditions, terrain and drought conditions created a "worst-case scenario" for the region.

The Guadalupe River near Mystic Camp rose 26 feet (about 8 meters) in less than an hour, according to the NWS.

The catastrophic flood killed at least 94 people, more than two dozen of whom were campers and counselors at Camp Mystic, a Christian girls' camp located on the river's banks.

As of July 7, at least 11 children were still missing.

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