Recent rainfall in the area was intense, but the threat of imminent flooding never arose, according to DeWitt County Emergency Management and Floodplain Coordinator Billy Jordan.
“We’re always worried about a system stalling,” Jordan said. “The ones that came through dumped a significant amount of water, but they didn’t stall.”
TheNationalWeather Service reported localized downpours of up to three inches of rain during thunderstorms in mid-April, and flash flooding warnings were issued in Yorktown and Cuero. Jordan said that the large number of waterways in the region require constant surveillance during inclement weather by emergency management officials to ensure that residents are alerted if the danger of flooding arises. County, state and federal officials stay in constant communication to be able to manage such a crisis if one develops, he said.
DeWitt County consults with Guadalupe Blanco River Authority and San Antonio River Authority to stay abreast of how weather conditions affect local waterways.
“It’s a humbling experience to see what can develop,” Jordan said. “Mother Nature is very interesting. The calm waters of Guadalupe River can turn dangerous. We don’t want to be caught off guard.”
Jordan said in De-Witt County there are river and stream gauges that are monitored during stormy weather. Flooding upstream to the north must also be monitored, he added.
“The skies can be sunny here, but if it is flooding up there, it is going to come down here,” Jordan said.
Jordan said officials gathered in Victoria for the 25th Annual Midcoast Hurricane and Disaster Conference at the Victoria Community Center April 15-16 and flooding was one of the topics discussed by a group of first responders. The history of flooding in the area also was outlined, he said.
The Flood of 1998 almost 20 years ago was one of the worst and led to DeWitt County residents calling for development of a long-term plan for safety and resilience. Drainage improvements are needed, residents said.
Jordan noted that DeWitt County has developed a Hazard Mitigation Plan that still must be approved by FEMA. More river and stream gauges are included in the plan.
