Washington Week: Student Voices (O)

Storm system moves northeast, Central Texas towns left damaged
By Nick Georgiou
The University Star (Texas State U.-San Marcos)
07/11/2007

(U-WIRE) SAN MARCOS, Texas — Last summer, Central Texas experienced severe drought conditions. This year, the opposite happened.

"For about 40 days now, there's been some type of significant rainfall across some part of the state," said Mark Lenz, National Weather Service meteorologist.

Lenz said an upper level trough of low pressure "meandered" over the state, and when mixed with the moisture, it produced an abundance of rainfall. The upper level trough had nowhere to go because of high pressure to the east and west.

The constant rain and subsequent flooding left in its wake at least 15 deaths, including a 6-year-old boy whose body was found Friday. Property damage is expected to be in the hundreds of millions of dollars.

The problem was compounded because, for the first time since 1957, five of the state's major river basins were at flood stage. Many other rivers, lakes, reservoirs and creeks were filled to their banks. With these conditions, it took only one or two inches of rain to cause flash flooding.

"Recent storms have devastated the communities in Central and North Texas, sadly taking lives, homes and livelihoods," said Texas Gov. Rick Perry in a news release. "State resources and volunteer organizations are on site providing assistance, and we will continue to work with local officials in addressing the needs of these devastated communities."

Perry issued a disaster declaration for 37 Central Texas counties June 27, which enables residents to apply for various kinds of assistance. Hays County was not included as it managed to escape the brunt of the storms.

"We've been wet, there are puddles everywhere, but we haven't seen the rises of the creeks and rivers that other folks have been seeing," said Dan O'Leary, San Marcos city manager.

While June is the second wettest month in Central Texas, with an average of about 3 inches of rain, more than six times that amount fell on Marble Falls - in less than 10 hours - causing extensive flooding and property damage. For about a week, more than 1,200 homes were without water and the storm was estimated to have cost $118 million in damages.

Christina Laine, public information officer for the city of Marble Falls, said about 12 homes were destroyed and approximately 108 residences were affected in one way or another.

"We're pretty much in the cleanup stage," Laine said. "Red Cross has closed down their disaster system center."

She said the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Food and Drug Administration toured the area, and the city is awaiting damage assessment reports.

The storm system has now moved to the east, but the puddles and standing water left behind pose another threat to Texans because of the expected outbreak of mosquitoes and the possible spread of malaria.

"We've been in these situations before in the past," O'Leary said. "We know that several days after it stops raining, we suddenly begin to see mosquito problems and we're expecting that a little bit here."

The city is recommending residents try to limit the amount of mosquitoes by getting rid of standing water.

According to a city of San Marcos news release, "With heavy rains and recent flooding in parts of Texas, the Texas Department of State Health Services recommends that people take precautions to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes. All standing water is a possible breeding source for illness-causing mosquitoes. As little as two tablespoons of water is all it takes."

To combat the mosquito problem, the state health services department suggests using mosquito repellent, making sure doors and windows are properly sealed, mowing the lawn and draining standing water around the home.

Eliminating standing water is one of the more effective ways of combating the mosquito problem because it gets rid of the larvae, according to the city of San Marcos Web site. As of Monday, chances for scattered and isolated thunderstorms in parts of Texas are in the forecast through next week.

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