The Wimberley, Texas Floods of 2015
On Saturday, May 23rd, 2015 through early Sunday morning, heavy rain fell in Wimberley, TX, leading to an unparalleled rise in the Blanco river on Memorial Day weekend. The flood waters destroyed 350 homes and claimed 13 lives.
The Blanco river runs through the heart of “Flash Flood Alley” — one of the most flash flood prone parts of the country. “Protecting Wimberley’s 2,600 year-round residents was one thing. But virtually overnight each spring, the town’s population tripled. These vacationers did not know the river’s savage unpredictability,” Texas Monthly shared. Additionally, “typical good advice during a flood is to stay put. Don’t go driving around, as that’s usually how people are washed into rivers and killed,” wrote Wide Open Country. “Since most floods aren’t flash floods, evacuating during flooding flies in the face of all safety advice Texans usually receive, so most were reluctant to leave their homes.”
The National Weather Service predicted 1–4 inches of rain and 6 inches in some spots. 13 inches of rain fell. The Blanco river was expected to rise 17 feet. The National Weather Service office was monitoring the readings from the lone gauge on the Blanco river in Wimberley. In just one hour, from 10:45pm to 11:45 pm — it rose nearly 20 feet. At 12:56am on May 24th, it was at an unprecedented 39 feet and was still rising. The Blanco River rose to 40.21 feet record before it washed away the flood gauge.
“For forecasters, predicting flash flooding isn’t like working hurricanes, which shift and swell for weeks before landfall. Flash flood thunderstorms form dangerously fast, usually over a matter of hours,” wrote Jamie Thompson.
The rapid rise of the water, which occurred at nightfall, made rescues extremely difficult — if not impossible. The lack of understanding of the magnitude of the coming storm and the small town’s limited resources left it unprepared to handle such a catastrophe and the unceasing calls for rescue and pleads for help it received throughout the night.
“The state needs better weather data collection — more rain and river gauges, particularly in smaller towns, forecasters say.” — Texas Monthly
In December of 2015, Governor Greg Abbott transferred $6.8 million from a state disaster contingency fund for more stream gauges and better floodplain management across the state. “Steve Thurber, Wimberley’s then-mayor, asked the Texas Water Development Board for more gauges for his town. Without them, every storm is full of uncertainty, he said. ‘It’s time for the guessing game to end,’” Texas Monthly shared. “Human memories are short, scientists say, and people don’t comprehend the power of water.”
