Flooding in Lake McQueeney


Are You Prepared for the Next Flood?

Are You Prepared For The Next Flood? Were you prepared for the Flood of June 9, 2010? The Guadalupe River provides us with beautiful surroundings and recreation, but it can also turn into a raging torrent within hours when heavy rainfalls combine with the steep terrain upstream.

Not knowing what to do can cost your life!

Are you familiar with past flooding in your neighborhood? If not, talk to your long time neighbors. The flood of 1998 is the worst we have experienced since Canyon Lake was built, but an even higher flood is still possible.

Do you have a plan for what to do when the next flash flood threatens?

Do you know what the emergency sirens mean?

Do you know how river flows in cubic feet per second (CFS) relate to flooding in your area?

Do you know where to get information during a flood event?

 

The Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority (GBRA) has prepared and recently updated the Interim Flood Preparedness Plan and a flood guide, Staying Safe. These can be downloaded These contain critical information to help you safeguard your property and your family.

Staying Safe     Flood Preparedness Plan      Lake Preparedness Chart

You must personally determine when safety precautions and even evacuations are necessary for you at your individual location. We strongly recommend that all waterfront property owners and all who are affected by high water events use multiple means of communication to keep themselves informed. These multiple sources of information include:

TV, regular and cable weather forecasts, news, crawl notices and warnings

Weather radar on multiple websites, such as on mysanantonio.com

NOAA Weather Radio weather advisories, watches and warnings

KWED, 1580 AM continuous coverage in emergencies

High Speed Call-Up System from the Guadalupe EMC: It "reads" "Emergency Call" on your caller ID; so don't hang up

Flood Sirens: steady tone (this siren rotates so listen closely) and wailing tone (goes up and down)

Flow rates for the Guadalupe: monitor on www.gbra.org, or www.cceo.org, or www.srh.noaa.gov

Communication with neighbors and other area residents who have experienced floods before.

 

Important Links

Weather Radar      GBRA      River Flow Info      NOAA ORG       Safety App

Don't depend on just one source of information, use multiple sources. The worst thing you can do is call police and fire departments, GBRA and other groups which are monitoring and providing emergency services during disasters. You will tie up their telephones and manpower, slowing down their response to those who are in immediate need of emergency assistance.

Another little known fact is that many cell phone towers are not backed up by battery power. This means that if power fails in an area, cell phone reception may also be down.

Have a high water evacuation plan in place with your family. Predetermine a meeting location should you be separated in an emergency. Don't forget your pets need a shelter also.


Regional Emergency Alert Network

The Regional Emergency Alert Network is a Mass Notification Service. This is a supplement to television and radio. You can begin registration immediately by clicking on the following link to activate service:

Activate Service

We highly recommend you follow the link, create and account and sign up for this notification system. The advantage of this system is you specify where to be notified, on your mobile number, text account, email address or home phone. This system alerts you where you specify.


How Does The Flood of 2010 Compare?

GBRA reports that the water flow at the McQueeney Dam peaked at 46,000 cfs (cubic feet per second). That places the flood level above the 2004 level, approaching the 2002 level. For comparison, the 1998 flood was over 200,000 cfs. The good news is this flood was of much shorter duration than the one in 2002. Normal water flow can range from about 200 to 5000 cfs.