Flood Preparedness

Are You Prepared For The Next Flood?

Hurricane Katrina reminds us again that we also need to be prepared for flooding in our area. 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 HERE or go by GBRA at 933 East Court Street in Seguin to pick up printed copies. These contain critical information to help you safeguard your property and your family. More information is available by clicking on the link at the bottom of this page.

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) at 10,000 CFS and wailing tone (goes up and down) at 20,000 CFS; (tested every Saturday around Noon).

• Online weather alerts—sign up with www.EmergencyEmail.org to receive automatic E-mail weather alerts;

• Flow rates for the Guadalupe—monitor on www.gbra.org, or www.usgs.gov, or www.srh.noaa.gov;
• Communication—with neighbors and other area residents.

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.