This
flood incident took place less than 25 miles from one the highest
recorded rainfall rates in the world.
Neither Brushy Creek, nor the bridge is marked in any way. And,
other than guardrails, this creek is basically imperceptible
to approaching drivers. This woman was rescued after hanging
on to a tree for more than an hour in the rushing water. The
bodies of the two other motorists were found the following day,
one 6 and a half miles downstream.
The
majority of flood-related deaths are caused by people attempting
to drive through moving water. This interactive segment explains
the most common ways people die in these situations.
Texas
is prone to extremely heavy rains and flooding with half of
the world record rainfall rates (48 hours or less). Central
Texas (known as Flash Flood Alley) is particularly vulnerable
because storms stall out along the Balcones escarpment.
This
building site had previously been devastated by flood. The new
owner worked with the City of Austin to flood-proof the structure.
The first line of defense is a 4 foot rubber membrane that was
tied into the foundation as it was rebuilt. The glass in the
store front is reinforced to prevent breakage. And the electrical
systems were elevated for obvious reasons. Another touch is
a cable surrounding the parking lot to keep floating cars from
washing into Shoal Creek, a major problem in past floods.
The
Lower Colorado River Authority and the Central Texas "Christmas
Flood" of 1991
The
dramatic “Christmas Flood” of 1991 highlighted how
LCRA manages the Colorado River and Highland Lake system during
major flood events. This was a major event that impacted hundreds
of homeowners along the watershed. Lake Travis, which had to
perform its job as a flood storage area, was hit particulary
hard. During such floods, LCRA directs river operations from
its headquarters, where careful monitoring dictates a quick
and judicious response in the operation of the dams.
