Guadalupe River Floods: Reporter Reflects on 1987 Tragedy and Current Parallels

The Guadalupe River's Deadly History

• 🌊 The Guadalupe River has a history of claiming lives, with a devastating flood in 1987 serving as a stark reminder.
• 💔 In July 1987, a massive flood breached the riverbanks, inundating camps and tragically sweeping away a bus carrying 10 children, resulting in their deaths.

Reporter's Perspective on Past and Present

• 🎙️ James Moore, who reported on the 1987 flood, now lives in Hill Country and is witnessing a similar tragedy unfold.
• 😔 He describes the current scenes as eerily similar to 1987, experiencing a form of PTSD and feeling grief for the affected families.
• ⚠️ Moore notes that while water levels are receding, the rain persists, and debris found 100 feet up in cypress trees serves as a grim reminder of past flood events.

Lessons from the 1987 Flood

• ⏰ The 1987 event occurred during daylight, and warnings were issued, yet people were still caught in the "wall of water" due to the necessity of crossing low-water areas.
• 🔍 Rescues tragically turned into recoveries, with Moore recounting the harrowing experience of discovering a body under a brush pile.
• 💔 The aftermath saw desperate parents and families searching for their children along the river for weeks.

Broader Context and Future Questions

• ⛰️ Moore also covered a tragic flood on the nearby Peternales River four years prior to the 1987 Guadalupe River flood.
• ❓ As families search for answers, hard questions are expected regarding what the state can do to address flooding in the Hill Country region.