History warned of Central Texas Guadalupe River flood
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The Guadalupe River has risen to catastrophic levels in the same area three times in the past century, impacting camps and campers each time.
A major flood event also struck the Texas Hill Country in July of 1987 after a series of 17 thunderstorms moved slowly, in succession, over the headwaters of the Guadalupe River in Kerr County. Anywhere from 5 to 10 inches of rain fell on the flood-prone areas, now deemed “Flash Flood Alley,” according to a National Weather Service report.
For many, Friday’s flood brought back memories of an eerily similar tragedy, when the Guadalupe River swelled in 1987, killing 10 North Texas teenagers. Those victims, along with more than 33 others who were injured, were trying to escape a Hill Country summer camp when a wall of water washed over them.
The region of Texas where flash flooding killed more than 90 people -- including dozens of campers -- is known for its tendency to experience flood emergencies.
Teens at the Pot O’ Gold Christian Camp near Comfort, Texas, were swamped by a wall of water as they tried to escape.
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The Texas Tribune on MSNHills, rivers and rocky terrain: Why the Hill Country keeps floodingWhen storms roll in, water rushes downhill fast, gaining speed and force as it moves — often with deadly results.
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The Guadalupe River in Texas surged 26 feet in just 45 minutes. It caught everyone off guard - What began as a routine flood developed into a deadly disaster, with the death toll now in triple digits