THE WATER COOLER FROM FACEBOOK. COM/STATESMAN
An American-Statesman editorial this week argues that historic flooding in Hays County should be a call to various county municipalities to take a hard look at the flood control measures and evaluate whether they are appropriate for such a fast-growing area. “Newcomers to the fast-growing region may not be familiar with the Blanco River’s propensity to spill its banks, claiming property and lives; however, longtime residents know well the tragic potential of ‘flash flood alley.’”
Ray O’Neal: It’s simple. Rivers flood. If you want to have a picturesque riverbank home, you are rolling the dice. Same thing with coastal property. Hurricanes can and will happen. You better build a strong house. It’s not a tragedy out of the blue; it’s a calculated risk.
Justin Williams: It’s completely sad that it takes human lives to encourage change and common sense in this society we live in today. Yet, we still allow folks to build in areas that may or will flood. Something must be done to address these issues before more lives are put in danger.
Ralph Tracy: Many states and counties have this thing called flood control. Yes, it was built by engineers and took money and it works! Pay some experienced and knowledgeable engineers to do it and cut down on floods and save lives. Look at at all the lives lost and the damage done every year.
Tam Thompson: Not a whole lot you can do unless you want the government to overstep its authority — as they increasingly love to do — and start telling people they can’t live in a 100-year flood plain. Or increase the costs of flood insurance. Hays County does the best it can without unduly burdening the taxpayers.
Tim Starry: There is no such thing as flood control. The best you can hope for is to make the flood go someplace else, but that takes a lot of engineering and money.
Kelly Davis Appice: Where I grew up had major floods. When people rebuilt, they built up — so only cars at most would be affected. Some houses had just the garage and living room downstairs and everything else on the second floor.
Hays Atkins: Keep it in perspective. This is the flood of record — at least 10 feet above the previous record from nearly 100 years ago. Most years the Blanco is a trickle. The answer isn’t some grand flood-control scheme. It is as easy as not re-builiding in the affected area.