Flash flood swift water rescues, Texas, 2005–2014
Although rainfall patterns are complex and difficult to predict, climate models suggest precipitation in Texas will occur less frequently and with greater intensity in the future. In combination with rapid population growth and development, extreme rainfall events are likely to lead to flash floods...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2017-01-01
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| Series: | Climate Risk Management |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212096316301139 |
| _version_ | 1818276444997943296 |
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| author | Vaidehi Shah Katie R. Kirsch Diana Cervantes David F. Zane Tracy Haywood Jennifer A. Horney |
| author_facet | Vaidehi Shah Katie R. Kirsch Diana Cervantes David F. Zane Tracy Haywood Jennifer A. Horney |
| author_sort | Vaidehi Shah |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Although rainfall patterns are complex and difficult to predict, climate models suggest precipitation in Texas will occur less frequently and with greater intensity in the future. In combination with rapid population growth and development, extreme rainfall events are likely to lead to flash floods and necessitate swift water rescues. Swift water rescues are used to retrieve person(s) from swift water flowing at a rate of 1 knot or greater. Data were obtained from the Texas Fire Marshal’s Office and analyzed to describe spatial and temporal characteristics of rescues. Between 2005 and 2014, 3256 swift water rescues were reported from 136 of 254 (54%) counties. Over half (54.6%, n = 1777) occurred in counties known as Flash Flood Alley, which includes Texas’ largest and fastest growing cities. Less than 1.0% (n = 18) were reported from 49 counties designated as completely rural, or with an urban population less than 2500. Increases in swift water rescues were seen between March and September and during major weather events such as tropical storms. Because county-level data was utilized and demographic data was missing in all but 2% (n = 47) of the incidents, our ability to identify populations at risk or target interventions in the future using this data is limited. Despite the frequency of flash flood events and swift water rescues in Texas, knowledge gaps persist that should be addressed through the conduct of interdisciplinary research by epidemiologists and climatologists and by disseminating evidence-based health education and safety programs, particularly in rapidly growing counties that make up Texas’ Flash Flood Alley. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T22:45:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ad9eee389ff242c99bf7fcfd1faa1c61 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2212-0963 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T22:45:45Z |
| publishDate | 2017-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Climate Risk Management |
| spelling | doaj.art-ad9eee389ff242c99bf7fcfd1faa1c612022-12-22T00:09:12ZengElsevierClimate Risk Management2212-09632017-01-0117C112010.1016/j.crm.2017.06.003Flash flood swift water rescues, Texas, 2005–2014Vaidehi Shah0Katie R. Kirsch1Diana Cervantes2David F. Zane3Tracy Haywood4Jennifer A. Horney5Waco-McLennan County Public Health District, 225 West Waco Drive, Waco, TX 76702, United StatesDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Texas A&M School of Public Health, 1266 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843, United StatesCommunity Health Preparedness, Texas Department of State Health Services, HSR 2/3, 1301 S. Bowen Rd., Ste 200, Arlington, TX 76013, United StatesCommunity Preparedness Section, Division for Regional & Local Health Services, Texas Department of State Health Services, P.O. Box 149347, Austin, TX 78714-9347, United StatesTexas Department of State Health Services, Regional and Local Health Services, 1100 West 49th, Austin, TX 78756, United StatesDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Texas A&M School of Public Health, 1266 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843, United StatesAlthough rainfall patterns are complex and difficult to predict, climate models suggest precipitation in Texas will occur less frequently and with greater intensity in the future. In combination with rapid population growth and development, extreme rainfall events are likely to lead to flash floods and necessitate swift water rescues. Swift water rescues are used to retrieve person(s) from swift water flowing at a rate of 1 knot or greater. Data were obtained from the Texas Fire Marshal’s Office and analyzed to describe spatial and temporal characteristics of rescues. Between 2005 and 2014, 3256 swift water rescues were reported from 136 of 254 (54%) counties. Over half (54.6%, n = 1777) occurred in counties known as Flash Flood Alley, which includes Texas’ largest and fastest growing cities. Less than 1.0% (n = 18) were reported from 49 counties designated as completely rural, or with an urban population less than 2500. Increases in swift water rescues were seen between March and September and during major weather events such as tropical storms. Because county-level data was utilized and demographic data was missing in all but 2% (n = 47) of the incidents, our ability to identify populations at risk or target interventions in the future using this data is limited. Despite the frequency of flash flood events and swift water rescues in Texas, knowledge gaps persist that should be addressed through the conduct of interdisciplinary research by epidemiologists and climatologists and by disseminating evidence-based health education and safety programs, particularly in rapidly growing counties that make up Texas’ Flash Flood Alley.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212096316301139Flash floodSwift waterTechnical rescuePrecipitation intensityPopulation growth |
| spellingShingle | Vaidehi Shah Katie R. Kirsch Diana Cervantes David F. Zane Tracy Haywood Jennifer A. Horney Flash flood swift water rescues, Texas, 2005–2014 Climate Risk Management Flash flood Swift water Technical rescue Precipitation intensity Population growth |
| title | Flash flood swift water rescues, Texas, 2005–2014 |
| title_full | Flash flood swift water rescues, Texas, 2005–2014 |
| title_fullStr | Flash flood swift water rescues, Texas, 2005–2014 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Flash flood swift water rescues, Texas, 2005–2014 |
| title_short | Flash flood swift water rescues, Texas, 2005–2014 |
| title_sort | flash flood swift water rescues texas 2005 2014 |
| topic | Flash flood Swift water Technical rescue Precipitation intensity Population growth |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212096316301139 |
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