Flash floods like the one that swept through Texas are the nation’s top storm-related killer
The monstrous and rapid flood that swept the country in the hill in the Center-West Texas on Friday, killing at least 13 and leaving almost two dozen missing, was a sudden flood, the best killer linked to the storm of the country.
According to the National Weather Service, a sudden flood is a flood that begins in six hours, and often in as little as three hours, strong precipitation.
The waters go up so quickly that people are caught up in the meteorological service. Many people meet in trouble while traveling. If at home or at work, water can increase people so quickly is trapped before having time to think about escape.
This is exactly what happened to the residents along the Guadalupe river in the county of Kerr and in the surroundings after at least 10 inches (25 centimeters) spilled from the sky early Friday morning.
Thursday afternoon, the National Weather Service published flood monitoring, estimating an increase in water up to 7 inches (17 centimeters) in places. A “watch” means that conditions are favorable to a flood and people must be prepared, but dangerous conditions may not develop.
But the watch was upgraded to a flood warning overnight, an opinion that had an impact on 30,000 people. A warning is issued when the floods are imminent or occur, indicates the meteorological service.
Last year, 145 people died in sudden floods, according to the weather service. On average, over the past 30 years, floods have made 127 lives per year.
Almost half of all the deaths related to the floods involve vehicles.
Many people do not realize that a car becomes difficult to control in just 6 inches (15 centimeters) of water and can be swept in as little as 18 inches (46 centimeters). Thus, instead of finding a detour, too often, people try to cross water to sub-bassiers or other low zones.
This can happen anywhere, depending on the meteorological service, which says that “streams and normally quiet streams in your neighborhood can become torrents that rage if a high rain falls above.”
An area can be flooded even without rain – if it is downstream of a torrential rain storm and a swollen stream is headed.
