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<br />e <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />PSQQ-3 <br /> <br />R. Denise Blanchard-Boehm, Ph.D. <br />Department of Geography <br />SOUTHWEST TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY <br />San Marcos, Texas, 786664616 <br />1-512-245-3090 <br />E-mail: RB06(qiswt.edu <br /> <br />"A Scenario for Disaster: Lessons for a University and Its Community <br />in the Aftermath of the 1998 Central Texas Flood" <br /> <br />Torrential rains fell over south and southeast Texas during the weekend of October 17-18, <br />1998, resulting in widespread property damage at three-quarters of a billion dollars and a death toll <br />of 32 people. This study analyzed the impact of this great flood on San Marcos, Texas, a community <br />of about 40,000 permanent residents, and a campus-Southwest Texas State University-with a <br />total enrollment of about 21 ,500 students. <br />On any given day, the city experiences approximately 11,000 students in dasses, and of that <br />number, over 60% are commuters. Since the storm occurred on a weekend, much of the student <br />population remained unaffected. However, one of the major objectives of this research was to gauge <br />just how severe the city's problems would have been had classes been in session. This research <br />addresses the meteorological conditions that led to the extreme flood event, the physical flood <br />processes in the San Marcos, the geodemographic areas affected by the flood, and identification of <br />several serious problems that emerged during the event. Some of the unique problems this case study <br />encountered included: <br />. All evacuation routes leading out of San Marcos, flooded and impassable. <br />. Low-lying areas in the I-35 Corridor outside San Marcos, flooded and impassble. <br />. Inadequate communication links between city and university emergency managers. <br />. Electricity outages during the flood. No warning messages received by populace. <br />. Telephone and cell phone infrastructure overloaded. <br />. Cable TV out even with return of electriciry. No warning messages received by populace. <br />. Radio stations flooded out. No transmissions. <br />. National Weather Service (NWS) flooded out Non-operable. <br />. Flood control dams overtopped. <br />. USGS flood gauges submerged at SWT, and on rivers. No satellite transmissions. Flat1ine <br />communication from the USGS. <br />. Pumpkin debris across the city from the remains of some 3,000+ pumpkins from the San <br />Marcos Historical Society's Great Pumpkin Sale located in the floodplain of the San Marcos <br />River. <br /> <br />This case study recommended the following to reduce future risk to the city, its permanent <br />population of 40,000+ and its university: <br />./ Provide for a large student population of about 11,000 on any given day. <br />./ Provide public education for the people of San Marcos to their potential risk during flooding, <br />as well as protective measures that they should adopt ahead of time. <br />./ Educate the student population to their increased risk during flood conditions. Teach more <br />about the unique topology and hydrology of the region in university curriculum. <br />./ Provide stronger linkages between university and city officials, such as the use of one agreed <br />upon radio frequency. <br />./ Do not designate public buildings in the floodplain for emergency shelter. <br />./ Do not become over-reliant on technology. <br />./ Encourage private insurance for homeowners and businesses. <br />./ Locate the annual Great Pumpkin Sale on higher ground! <br />