AUGUST 22, 2025 CLIMATE CHANGE GROUNDCOVER NEWS Emergency preparedness for extreme weather, natural disasters On July 4, 2025, there were many headlines and a lot of news over the print, broadcast and social media. In my opinion, the most significant news of the day was the devastating Texas Hill Country floods which took the lives of 108 people in Kerr Country – 71 adults and 37 children. Most of the children who died in the flood were staying for the summer at Camp Mystic. The adults who lost their lives were parents, staff, vacationers and counselors. Some estimates show that overall, 137 residents of Central Texas died from that flood. Local ABC News affiliate, KSAT of San Antonio, shared the following viewpoints from Hill Country residents: “Residents, campers and vacationers along the Guadalupe River have said that they were caught off guard and had no warning when the rainfall began, eventually dropping around 12 inches of rain in the county. Kerr Country does not have a warning system along the river.” KSAT reporters continued, “Since July 4, KSAT has reported extensively on the floodwaters severity, often through data, graphics, maps and visualizations to help answer the question, Why was the Hill Country Flood so deadly?” Major natural disasters and record flooding in the US Google AI noted that “2025 has been marked by significant natural disasters with some events setting new records and highlighting the increasing impact of climate change.” The summer of 2025 has been described by the mass media as the “summer of flash flooding.” The National Weather Service (NWS) “has issued over 3,600 flash flood warnings in 2025, so far surpassing previous records for this period since 1986. This is likely to exceed the yearly average of around 4,000 warnings soon.” • New Mexico: “Extreme flooding in Ruidoso killed three people on July 8, exacerbated by burn scars from 2024 wildfires.” • New Jersey and New York: “Flash flooding on July 14 resulted in two deaths and numerous water rescues, disrupting transportation systems.” • West Virginia: “In June, major flooding on the Tug Fork and Bluestone Rivers caused evacuations, road damage, and at least three deaths. Google AI also suggested the following contributing factors to extreme weather events and flooding disasters: • Excessive water vapor and weaker WILL SHAKESPEARE Groundcover vendor No. 258 Graphic shared by KSAT News visualizing the flood growth over time. jet stream • Saturated soil: “Parts of the central and eastern US have received at least 50% more precipitation than normal from mid-April to mid-July, leading to saturated soils and increased runoff.” • Surface characteristics: “Steep slopes, urban areas and sparse vegetation contribute to rapid runoff and heightened flood risk.” • Many climate scientists have said that there is a climate change connection to the “increased intensity and frequency of flooding …” Many politicians disagree. Emergency preparedness for Washtenaw County and beyond KSAT in Texas noted that people in Hill Country and around the state are seeking answers to the question: “Why was the Hill Country flood so deadly?” This question is beyond the narrow confines of the Lone Star State and Central Texas. Some folks in Michigan and Washtenaw are asking if we are ready to prevent the worst consequences of severe weather events and natural disasters with our Emergency Preparedness Plans. We can do a better job of planning for the acts of God and Nature. We can prevent myopia at the watershed across the United States and globally by having a knowledge of the potential problems in a given area, and also improvements in the warning systems. We are lucky in the state of Michigan and in Washtenaw County. The most severe weather event in the state of Michigan which cost many lives and properties was the June 8, 1953 natural disaster in Flint. It was noted that 116 residents of Flint and suburban Beecher township died. Injuries were estimated to be 844 people, and property damage was in millions. In Washtenaw County, we have experienced a few tornadoes. However, they have not been very catastrophic. There were ice storms in 2021 and a major tornado in Dexter in 2023. The Washtenaw County Sheriff’s office is the main planner and coordinator of the county-wide emergency preparedness. It is high time this office started to have public hearings in order to maximize citizen participation and community input on the decisions to keep residents safe and secure during emergencies. They need to consider different scenarios regarding emergency response. Conclusion What happened in Kerr County, Texas on July 4 may not occur in Washtenaw County because of differences in topography, geography and history. Although recently there was major flash flooding in the midwest region, mostly in Wisconsin and Nebraska, and approximately four inches of rain poured down in the city of Milwaukee within one hour, the magnitude of the Texas case is not likely to be replicated in Washtenaw County. The extreme weather event which took place in the Hill Country was devastating not only to the people in Texas but also across the country. Parents who sent their children to camps were terrified by flash floods affecting where Camper's belongings sit on the ground following flooding on the Guadalupe River, at Camp Mystic, Hunt, Texas, July 7. REUTERS/Marco Bello Sheriff Alyshia Dyer. The Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office plans and coordinates countywide community preparedness. The flooded Guadalupe River destroyed many homes, roads and town infrastructure. their children were. Some parents in Washtenaw County have been asking, “Is my local government ready for this kind of extreme weather event?” Among the lessons learned from Katrina and from other hurricanes is that, according to people who are experts in this sort of disaster, their deadliness is preventable. This is where citizen input will make a difference — communication with the people and communication which involves early warning signs and systems are desperately needed. We also need to make use of recent technology to make it easy for people to act in advance of extreme weather. 11
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