1978 — July 30-Aug 4, Tropical Storm Amelia & remnants, Flash Flooding, TX –33-34

—  34  Blanchard tally of victims by locality breakout noted below.[1]

—  34  USGS. Major and Catastrophic Storms and Floods in Texas. “John Patton Narratives.”[2]

—  33  Coastal Zone Info. Ctr. The Disastrous Texas Flash Floods of August 1-4, 1978. X-1.[3]

—  33  Ludlum, David M. The American Weather Book. Houghton Mifflin, 1982, p. 82.

—  33  Roth, David (NWS). Texas Hurricane History. Jan 17, 2010 update, p. 55.

—  33  Schroeder, Massey, and Waddell (USGS). Floods in Central Texas, August 1978. P. 1.[4]

—  33  USGS. Summary of Significant Floods in the US, PR, and the VI, 1970-1989. 2008.

—>31  AP, Bandera. “Texas Recovering from River’s Betrayal.” The Ledger. 8-16-1978, 10A.[5]

—  31  AP, Bandera (Thompson). “Texas rivers kill 31.” Paris News, TX, 8-13-1978, p. 1.

—  29  Blanchard tally of victims identified by locality and at least one other identifier.

—  27  Nielsen-Gammon and Johnson. Texas and Oklahoma’s Greatest Hits:  April 2004.

—  26  Blanchard tally of victims identified by name.

—  25  UPI. “New Floods Sock Texas; Toll At 25.” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 8-4-1978, A10.

—>24  Drabek, Thomas E. The Human Side of Disaster. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, 2010, 52.

—  23  AP (King). “Possible flood deaths pegged at 23.” Odessa American (TX), 8-5-1978, p. 1.

—  22  Ochoa. “Medina River,” Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Society.

—  21  AP (Thompson). “Flood rages through West Texas town.” Paris News, TX, 8-4-1978, 1.

Localities breakout:

—  6  Albany, Prong Creek vicinity, Shackelford County.[6]

–Stacy Cooper, 14.[7]

–Adam Richard Ochoa, 4 months.[8]

–Wiley L. White, Jr., 51.[9]

–Varner Williamson, 62.[10]

–Brenda Wright, 23.[11]

–14  Bandera County, Aug 2. (NCC. Storm Data, V20, N8, Aug 1978, p. 21.)[12]

–2  Bandera (drowning deaths). NCC. Storm Data, V20, N8, Aug 1978, 21; CZIC, 1-5.

–1  Aug 2, Vicki Ruth Buchanan Romigh,[13] 52.[14]

 

–2  Bandera (drowning deaths). NCC. Storm Data, V20, N8, Aug 1978, 21; CZIC, 1-5.

–1  Aug 2, Vicki Ruth Buchanan Romigh,[15] 52.[16]

–8  Camp Bandina, about 2:45 CST (drowning).[17] NCC. Storm Data. 21; CZIC, 1-5.

–1  Bertha Louise Baum, 80.[18]

–1  Mrs. King Buchanan, 70.[19]

–1  David Sanchez, 11.[20]

–4  Peaceful Valley Dude Ranch (drowned). NCC. Storm Data. 8-1978, 21.[21] CZIC, 1-5

–1  L. F. “Fred” Champion, 41 of Houston.[22]

–1  Lillian Champion, 68, mother of Fred Champion.[23]

–1  Sandra Champion, wife of Fred Champion, age not given.[24]

–1  Evelyn Walker, mother of Sandra Champion.[25]

Unclear if Bandera, per se, or from Camp Bandina.

–1  Alan Ray Jones, 21.[26]

–1  Jason Skretton, 5.[27]

–1  Aug 3.[28] Arnold Ervin Watson, 44.[29]

—  8  Center Point, along Verde Creek, Kerr County, Aug 2.[30]

–1  Bonnie Lynn Bridges, 11.[31]

–1  Richard Bridges, 12.[32]

–1  Ritchie Carlson, 7.[33]

–1  Mrs. Claudia Livingston, 70.[34]

–1  Kerry McCabe, 18 months.[35]

–1  Johnny C. Pickett, 60.[36]

–1  Mrs. Johnny C. Pickett, 60.[37]

–1  Unknown to us.

—  3  Comfort, Kendall County, Aug 2.[38]

–1  Timothy Klenstein, 28.[39]

–1  Antonio (Jose) Morales, 83.[40]

–1  Mrs. Helen L. Woods, 53.[41]

—  2  Gillespie Co., U.S. Highway #290 at Spring Creek, Aug 3. Cattle truck washed off road.[42]

—  1  Morse, Hansford County, Aug 2. “…high water killed a ranch hand in Morse…”[43]

 

Narrative Information

 

CZIC: “The remnants of Tropical Storm Amelia moved inland over the south Texas             coast on Monday,  July 31.’ While heavy rains were expected as it moved across Texas, no  one foresaw the extraordinary efficiency with which the atmosphere would  dump water in two separate regions over 200 miles apart–the Hill Country  northwest of San Antonio and the Big Country area centered over Shackelford  County, near Abilene…. Over 30 inches of rain fell in the Hill Country between August 1-3 and in Shackelford County on August 3-4…These rainfall centers of over 30 inches appear to represent 80-90 percent of the probable maximum             precipitation, i.e., the maximum precipitation amount possible from an optimum combination of meteorological factors for these locations….

 

“Indeed this was an extremely rare event, but just how rare is not possible to say with confidence. The flash flooding produced by this rainfall was understandably of extraordinary magnitude.  All-time record flooding was recorded at several points.

 

“As is so often the case, the killer flash floods occurred during the early morning hours in the Hill Country. Twenty-seven people died there on August 2…Fortunately, the flash floods in the counties near Abilene peaked during the early evening of August 3 when people were up and about. Still, six people died there….” (Coastal Zone Information Center. The Disastrous Texas Flash Floods of August 1-4, 1978. March 1979, pp. 1-1-1-2).

 

Nielsen-Gammon: “August 1-4, 1978, Texas: Remnants of Hurricane Amelia drifted north across Texas, and conditions were just right for serial thunderstorm development in Albany.  Thirty inches of rain later, 27 persons were dead and $50 million in damage was recorded.”  (John Nielsen-Gammon, (TAMU), and Howard Johnson (Univ. of OK).  Texas and Oklahoma’s Greatest Hits:  The most significant weather events to strike Texas and Oklahoma (OSC Report 04-1). April 2004.)

 

Ochoa: “On August 2, 1978, what was widely termed a 500-year flood came down the Medina, an unofficial record rainfall of forty-eight inches having fallen on the North Prong in twenty-four-hours. Twenty-two lives were lost, millions of dollars of property loss or severe damage reported, and thousands of cypress and pecan trees downed. After a cleanup program by the United States Army Corps of Engineers and private contractors, strict floodplain regulations were ordered to be enforced by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. More sophisticated rainfall reporting and warning systems than those previously in place were put into effect.” (Ochoa, Ruben E. “Medina River.” Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Society.)

 

Patoski: “The rains that fell over the Hill Country on August 2, 1978…broke a severe six-week dry spell by dumping more than twenty inches of precipitation in the headwaters of the Guadalupe, Medina, and Sabinal rivers in a few hours, causing record flow rates and numerous deaths.”  (Joe Nick Patoski. “The Flash Flood,” Texas Monthly, April 1987.)

 

Roth: “July 30-August 5th, 1978 (Amelia): Tropical storm Amelia developed suddenly fifty miles off the Lower Texas coast near Brownsville…quite similar to Alice in 1954. On the next page is the exceedingly short track of this cyclone. Winds increased by mid-afternoon on the 30th. During the evening, blinding sand blew across South Padre Island, keeping all who hadn’t evacuated indoors.

 

“Even though it was a mere tropical storm, six vessels sank. The shrimper Margaret Webster broke up near the jetties of Lower Padre Island. A wave lifted the shrimper Miss Lorie Ann 30 to 40 feet into the air, tore the cabin off the ship, and dropped her hull down near the coast of Padre Island. Those inside were rescued from their predicament the next day by a Port Isabel fisherman, who busted the hull open with a sledge hammer (St. John).

 

“Corpus Christi set a new daily rainfall record on the 31st when 3.77″ of rain fell during the storm’s landfall into the Lone Star State. The tropical cyclone revived west of San Antonio as it moved into the High Plains. The interaction between the remains of Amelia and a tropical disturbance which moved across Mexico from the Pacific Ocean led to a rejuvenation of thunderstorm activity across the Hill Country and Big Country between the 1st and the 4th.

 

“Torrents of rain fell along the Balcones Escarpment. Drifting north across the Edwards Plateau, copious rains fell again near the city of Abilene. At the headwaters of the Medina River, near the town of Bluff, 46″ of rain fell from the 1st through the 4th. Albany saw 32″ of rain deluge the town. An area of 20″ of rain caused local rivers and streams to flash flood. By the 2nd, 26 people had died during the ensuing flood along the Guadelupe, Medina, and Sabinal Rivers. Before the low finally died in North Central Texas on the 5th, five inches of rain relieved areas south of the Red River, a region that had endured a drought up until that time.

 

“Seventeen counties saw severe and widespread damage, eight of which were declared flood-disaster areas. In the three counties of Bandera, Kerr, and Medina, $50 million in water damage had been incurred. In all, losses totaled $110 million. Thirty-three people perished in the great flood.” (Roth, David (NWS).  Texas Hurricane History.  Jan 17, 2010 update, p. 55.)

 

Schroeder, Massey, and Waddell (USGS): “Catastrophic floods, which resulted in millions of dollars in property damages and the loss of 33 lives, occurred in Central Texas during August 1-4, 1978, as a result of intense rainfall produced by the remnants of tropical storm Amelia. Rainfall in excess of 30 inches was unofficially reported at several locations, while the highest 24-hour amount recorded by the National Weather Service was 29.05 inches at Albany in Shackelford County.

 

“Major flooding occurred on the Medina River and tributaries above Medina Lake and on the Guadalupe River and tributaries above Canyon Lake. Minor to severe flooding occurred on the tributaries of the Nueces River, on the Clear Fork Brazos River and tributaries, and on the Llano and Pedernales Rivers, which are tributaries of the Colorado River.

 

“Peak discharges at several streamflow stations exceeded the historic peaks, and the flood magnitude and frequency data for the Guadalupe River above Canyon Lake, the Medina River near Pipe Creek, and Clear Fork Brazos River indicate that the August 1978 flood had a recurrence interval in excess of 100 years. The highest unit discharge observed during this flood

was 3,010 cubic feet per second from a 14.1-square-mile drainage area of Spring Creek, which is tributary to the Pedernales River….

 

“Seventeen counties in Central Texas sustained widespread damages from the floods associated with tropical storm Amelia (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1978). Eight of these counties (Bandera, Kendall, and Kerr Counties in south-central Texas, and Haskell, Shackelford, Stephens, Throckmorton, and Young Counties in north-central Texas) were declared flood-disaster areas by the Federal government. Ironically, Bandera, Kendall, and Kerr Counties had been declared drought-disaster areas prior to the floods.

 

“In Bandera, Kendall, and Kerr Counties, 25 people were drowned, about 150 people were injured, and property damages were estimated to be at least 50 million dollars. About 175 homes were destroyed and about 650 were damaged. About 350 businesses were destroyed or damaged. Public utilities were disrupted in much of the area and many roadways and bridges were heavily damaged. The bridge on State Highway 173 over the Medina River at Bandera, which was designed to withstand the 50-year flood, was inundated by 18 feet of water….

 

“A considerable amount of damage was also sustained in Gillespie and Kimble Counties in south-central Texas. Two people were drowned when Spring Creek inundated the bridge on State Highway 290 west of Fredericksburg…and many roadways, bridges, and farm and ranch lands were extensively damaged.

 

“In Haskell, Shackelford, Stephens, Throckmorton, and Young Counties in the Brazos River basin in north-central Texas, the flood damage was comparable to the damage in south-central Texas. Six people were drowned, four were injured, and property damages were estimated to be at least 62 million dollars. About 750 homes and 75 businesses were destroyed or damaged… and the damages to livestock, crops, and farm and ranch lands were extremely severe. In Haskell County alone, these damages were estimated to be about 30 million dollars.

 

“In the total area affected by the storm, 33 people were drowned, 154 were injured, and property damages were estimated to be more than 110 million dollars. The devastation resulting from tropical storm Amelia and the subsequent floods exceeded that of any storm in Central Texas in recent history.” (Schroeder, Massey, Waddell. Floods in Central Texas, August 1978. P. 1 & 14.)

 

USGS (Slade and Patton): “1978 – August 2, 1978 – Tropical Storm Amelia formed in the western Gulf of Mexico, southeast of Brownsville the evening hours of July 30, 1978, never was officially raised to hurricane intensity, and made landfall near Port Isabel that evening. As the system moved into the Texas Hill Country the evening of July 31, it dropped below depression intensity, a very dangerous phase in Texas flooding history. Showers and periods of heavy rain began falling west and northwest of San Antonio August 1st. Disastrous heavy rain fell the evening of Aug 1st/early morning hours of Aug 2nd.

 

“Roland Manatt, in the Rocky Creek drainage along the divide between the Medina and Guadalupe Rivers, 8 mi northwest of Medina, measured 48 in. of rain in 52 hrs. He began measuring in a vegetable can which rapidly became tiresome in the sometimes over 4 in/hr intensities. He switched to a large fruit juice can and stayed awake over 2 days and nights measuring the rain. He said he dozed off a few times and let the can overflow – so the 48 in. is to be considered a lower limit. Charles Voss, in the same area, measured 42.0 in. during the same period; Joe Ortiz 35.0 in.; Heneary Heinen 31.0 in. The National Weather Service cooperative observer, John Derry, the postmaster at Medina, measured 32.0 in. during 24 hrs ending at 7 AM Aug 2nd.

 

“This was another example of “Core Rains,” as was Hurricane Alice, and the 1921 Thrall storm. The heaviest rain was during the early morning hours at the storm center. The storm would drop a 32.5-in. center in 24 hrs near Albany in north Texas ending at 7 AM Aug 4th. During daylight hours, these tropical systems disperse into scattered thunderstorms as solar radiation heats the top of the air mass and stabilizes it. During nighttime hours, the top of the tropical air mass cools and destabilizes it. The instability entrains into a “core” at the center of the system.

 

“The Guadalupe River at Bandera crested at 46.62 ft Aug 2, 1978; 19 ft over the Hwy 173 bridge in Bandera. Disastrous flooding also passed down the Guadalupe River below Hunt to Canyon Lake. The Guadalupe River at Comfort crested at 40.90 ft, 240,000 cfs. Twenty-seven persons drowned in the Texas Hill Country [emphasis added]. Of these, only three drowned in automobiles. The others drowned in their homes or trying to rescue cattle. Nearly all were elderly (over 60) or young (under 12).

 

“One example told by Mr. Thompson, the caretaker of Camp Bandina, a Church of Christ recreational camp on the Medina River below Medina – Warnings were issued and the people left their homes beside the Medina River. A large flood wave passed through and receded. A family of four in a Volkswagen bus returned to their home to load belongings in the bus. They were loaded, in the bus and ready to leave when they noticed they didn’t have their dog. As they got out to find the dog, a second wave came down and swept all four downstream. The dog almost certainly was on the bluff watching them as they were swept downstream. In all, eight persons drowned at Camp Bandina. Many homes washed downstream at that site. Mr. Thompson participated in the search afterwards and said the only way they found some bodies was to look where buzzards were circling overhead.

 

“An additional seven people drowned in Albany [Albany is not in Texas Hill Country; emphasis added] as Hubbard Creek washed through town in the early morning hours. Many people were picked from trees and saved….” (USGS (Raymond M. Slade Jr. and John Patton). Major and Catastrophic Storms and Floods in Texas/ “John Patton Narratives.” 1-13-2013 mod.)

 

USGS: “Tropical Storm Amelia brought extremely intense rains to central Texas on August 1-4. Rainfall of more than 48 in. in 72 hours occurred northwest of the town of Medina. More than 30 of the 48 in. occurred on August 2 (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1978), setting a point rainfall record for the United States. In response to the large rainfall, significant flooding occurred in the Medina River Basin. The upstream reaches of the Guadalupe and Medina Rivers had the highest floods recorded since records began for each station in 1848 and 1880, respectively. Thirty-three deaths occurred, and the damage totals for the area were estimated at $110 million (Paulson and others, 1991[44]).” (USGS. Summary of Significant Floods in the United States, PR, and the VI, 1970-1989. 2008.)

 

Newspapers

 

Aug 4 article: “A sudden downpour spawned by the vestiges of Tropical Storm Amelia killed at least six persons in arid West Texas late Thursday night, pushing to at least 21 the number of victims left as rainstorms progressed on their watery path across the state.

 

“Raging flood waters in Albany, a town of 2,000 about 35 miles from Abilene, claimed six lives and others remained unaccounted for, the Department of Public Safety said.

 

“Weary rescue workers further to the southeast in the Central Texas Hill Country, where at least 15 persons have died, began a second day of trudging through the muddy devastation searching for persons still missing in the flood’s wake. Hundreds have been left homeless in the Hill Country, and, while official damage estimates may be weeks away, the figure is expected to run easily into the tens of millions of dollars.

 

“The National Guard arrived in Albany with boats before dawn, fearful some house roofs that sheltered stranded residents would collapse before rescue could be accomplished. At least seven inches of rain fell in the ravaged town, and neighboring Throckmorton County reported a rainfall of 17 inches. A DPS spokesman said accumulated rain water, a rising creek and the drainage system all contributed to the flood.

 

“President Carter Thursday declared Texas a major disaster area, freeing federal recovery funds for the three hardest-hit Hill Country counties — Kerr, Bandera and Kendall. Ironically, the counties were already listed as disaster areas by the Agriculture Department due to drought conditions….

 

“In West Texas, where the storms moved Thursday, U.S. Navy and Marine reserves were coordinating evacuation efforts for two low-lying areas in Abilene. Although some residents returned to their homes during the night, rising creek waters caused the areas to be evacuated again before dawn. Flash flood warnings were issued Thursday night for at least 25 West Texas counties, and some were extended until noon today. Officials reported flooding and ordered some evacuations in Callahan and Knox counties….

 

“A U.S. Geological Survey official in Virginia said the Guadalupe was flowing at 149 billion gallons a day, more than twice the previous record flow established in 1959. As a comparison, he said the Potomac River’s normal flow is 7 billion gallons a day….” (AP (Thompson). “Flood rages through West Texas town.” Paris News, TX, 8-4-1978, p. 1.)

 

Aug 5 article: “Albany, Texas (AP) — Killer rains turned the parched West Texas countryside into a giant pond Friday, leaving at least seven persons dead or missing, wrecking houses and leaving more than 100 persons homeless. The Department of Public Safety said late Friday three bodies had been recovered in Albany and four persons were missing and presumed dead.

 

“The statewide death toll from the torrential rains — spawned by the dregs of Tropical Storm Amelia — could reach 23. The DPS said 16 bodies had been recovered in the Hill Country of central Texas where more than 20 inches of rain fell earlier.

 

“In Albany, a farming community of about 2,000 located 35 miles northeast of Abilene, the rains sent normally dry creeks and gullies surging out of their banks and gushing across the rugged countryside. The Clear Fork of the Brazos River north of Albany was swollen to a two-mile width wide in the record flooding, the National Weather Service said. One Albany resident said a 20-foot wall of water roared down Hubbard Creek, which flows through the town. The torrent scattered homes, uprooted trees and wrecked automobiles. A Shackleford County deputy sheriff said six Albany residents disappeared beneath the swirling waters late Thursday night. Another man was swept from a bridge. The missing included a man and his wife whose home was carried three-quarters of a mile downstream, a DPS spokesman said. The couple has not been found….”

(AP (King). “Possible flood deaths pegged at 23.” Odessa American (TX), 8-5-1978, p. 1.)

 

Aug 13 article: “Bandera, Texas (AP) — It’s the river — the ice-clear Medina, canopied by ancient cypress trees and gurgling gently through the ruggedly beautiful Hill Country — that pumps millions of tourist dollars into scenic Bandera County each year. But the river — suddenly transformed before dawn Aug. 2 into a snarling, muddy, 50-foot wall of water — turned on Bandera during the lucrative tourist season, snapping those huge cypress canopies like matchsticks and slicing a deadly, multi-million dollar path. The frothing Medina, spurred by torrential rains from Tropical Storm Amelia which came ashore between Corpus Christi and Brownsville, rampaged at 4 a.m. through the riverfront Camp Bandina homes, built by those who had retired to the solitude of the river. Eight persons, most of them elderly retirees, died there. More than 100 children escaped injury at the church camp only a few yards away. It ripped through the Peaceful Valley Dude Ranch, which was filled to a festive summer capacity. Almost

everything but the buildings’ concrete foundations was washed away. Pieces of the ranch airplane were left twisted in a tree downstream….

 

“The next day [Aug 3], tropical rains from the same storm system bore down on the small West Texas ranching town of Albany, about 30 miles northeast of Abilene. The excessive rainfall and

bulging Hubbard Creek caused sudden floods that washed away 10 homes, damaged hundreds of others and killed at least five persons.

 

“To the northeast, one county over, the Brazos rose from its banks and inundated the west side of Graham, a town of 8,000.

 

“By the time the rivers returned to their banks a week later, at least 29 persons had died and another 10 or so were missing. More than a week later, authorities in Albany still were searching for the bodies of four other victims believed swept away and drowned. Sheriff Ben Jack Riley said they may never be found. ‘Sides of the creek caved in in several places. They could be buried under 20 feet,’ he said….

 

“In neighboring Kendall and Kerr counties, the usually placid Guadalupe River, also swelled by the 30-inch rains, came out of the limestone hills and killed 10 other persons in Center Point and Comfort….

 

“The flood in Albany hit hardest in the city’s poorest residential section, a neighborhood known as the “the Flat.” Those living in the run-down frame homes located only a few feet from Hubbard Creek who survived got out early or spent the night in trees, praying and watching boiling flood currents destroy their homes.”  (AP, Bandera, TX (Greg Thompson). “Texas rivers kill 31.” Paris News, TX, 8-13-1978, p. 1.)

 

Sources

 

Associated Press, Austin. “Death toll from flood reaches 21.” Odessa American, TX. 8-6-1978, p. 2A. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=185657337

 

Associated Press (Greg Thompson). “Flood rages through West Texas town.” Paris News, TX, 8-4-1978, p. 1. At: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=113071615&sterm

 

Associated Press, Albany (James R. King). “Possible flood deaths pegged at 23.” Odessa American (TX), 8-5-1978, p. 1. At: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=185970229&sterm

 

Associated Press, Bandera. “Texas Recovering from River’s Betrayal.” The Ledger, Lakeland, FL. 8-16-1978, p. 10A. Accessed 9-15-2014 at: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=jcUSAAAAIBAJ&sjid=CfsDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7423,4542248&dq

 

Associated Press, Bandera, TX (Greg Thompson). “Texas rivers kill 31.” Paris News, TX, 8-13-1978, p. 1. At: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=113071702&sterm=amelia

 

Associated Press, Austin. “Victims identified.” Odessa American, TX, 8-5-1978, p. 2-A. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=185657318&sterm=amelia

 

Coastal Zone Information Center. The Disastrous Texas Flash Floods of August 1-4, 1978 — A Report to the Administrator Disaster Survey Report 79-1). Charleston, SC: CZSC, Coastal Services Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, March 1979. Accessed 9-15-2014 at: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CZIC-gb1399-4-t4-u52-1979/html/CZIC-gb1399-4-t4-u52-1979.htm

 

Drabek, Thomas E. The Human Side of Disaster. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, 2010.

 

Find A Grave. “Arnold Ervin Watson.” Record created 8-3-2010. Accessed 9-15-2014 at: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=55811081

 

GenealogyBuff.com. “Miscellaneous Bandera County, Texas Obituaries.” Accessed 9-15-2014 at: http://www.genealogybuff.com/tx/tx-bandera-obits2.htm

 

Ludlum, David M. The American Weather Book. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1982.

 

National Climatic Center. Storm Data, Vol. 20, No. 8, Aug 1978. Asheville, NC: NCC, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Dept. of Commerce. Accessed 9-15-2014 at: http://www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/orders/IPS/IPS-36311B69-BA9F-402E-B19D-E36B3918003B.pdf

 

Nielsen-Gammon, John (Texas State Climatologist) and Howard Johnson (Oklahoma Climatological Survey). Texas and Oklahoma’s Greatest Hits: The most significant weather events to strike Texas and Oklahoma. Office of the State Climatologist, Texas, 2004. 8-5-2004 update. Accessed 3-27-2014 at: http://climatexas.tamu.edu/files/osc_pubs/hits.pdf

 

Ochoa, Ruben E. “Medina River.” Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Society. Accessed 11-14-2009 at: http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/MM/rnm2.html

 

Odessa American, TX. “…At least (cont. from 1A).” 8-3-1978, p. 2A. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=185657275

 

RootsWeb’s World Connect Home. “The Trail to Texas.” Accessed 9-15-2014 at: http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=bluebonnets&id=I04418

 

Roth, David (National Weather Service). Texas Hurricane History. Camp Springs, MD:  NWS.  1-17-2010 update. Accessed at  http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/research/txhur.pdf

 

Schroeder, E. E., B. C. Massey, and Kidd M. Waddell (USGS). Floods in Central Texas, August 1978 (Open-File Report 79-682). Austin, TX: United States Geological Survey. April 1979. Accessed 9-14-2014 at: http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/1979/0682/report.pdf

 

TX Gen Web. “Bremond Cemetery, Robertson County TX.” Rootsweb.ancestry.com. Accessed 9-14-2014 at: http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~txrober2/cemetery/bremond_cem.htm

 

United Press International, Albany, TX. “New Floods Sock Texas; Toll At 25.” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 8-4-1978, A10. Accessed 9-15-2014 at: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=BhshAAAAIBAJ&sjid=kFgEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4056,1113755&dq

 

United States Geological Survey (Raymond M. Slade Jr. and John Patton). Major and Catastrophic Storms and Floods in Texas (USGS Open-File Report 03-193). “John Patton Narratives.” 1-13-2013 modification. Accessed 9-15-2014 at: http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2003/ofr03-193/cd_files/USGS_Storms/patton.htm

 

United States Geological Survey. Summary of Significant Floods in the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, 1970 Through 1989 (Water-Supply Paper 2502). USGS Kansas Water Science Center, Sep 17, 2008. At: http://ks.water.usgs.gov/pubs/reports/wsp.2502.contents.html#HDR1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[1] I use the range of 33-34 in the title-line in that I am wary of the number 34 given the number of sources citing 33, even though the USGS in one of their publications uses numbers that total 34.

[2] “Twenty-seven persons drowned in the Texas Hill County….An additional seven people drowned in Albany.”

[3] “…33 people died – 27 in the Hill Country and 6 in the Big Country.” Elsewhere on the same USGS website, though, it is noted that there were 33 fatalities.

[4] On page 14 it is stated that all 33 fatalities were due to drowning.

[5] Notes that “another 10 or so were missing. The four missing victims in Albany…may never be found…”

[6] NCC. Storm Data, 20/8, Aug 1978, p. 20; AP. “Flood rages through West Texas town.” Paris News, TX, 8-4-78, 1; CZIC. The Disastrous Texas Flash Floods of August 1-4, 1978. March 1979, Table 1-1. We have seen a UPI report of nine deaths in Albany with another 12 missing. (UPI. “New Floods Sock Texas; Toll At 25.” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 8-4-1978, A10.)

[7] AP, Austin. “Death toll from flood reaches 21.” Odessa American, TX. 8-6-1978, p. 2A.

[8] AP, Austin. “Victims identified.” Odessa American, TX, 8-5-1978, 2-A.

[9] “…drowned when he and a companion were swept off a bridge [in Albany] by water.” (AP (King). “Possible flood deaths pegged at 23.” Odessa American (TX), 8-5-1978, p. 1.)

[10] AP, Austin. “Death toll from flood reaches 21.” Odessa American, TX. 8-6-1978, p. 2A.

[11] AP, Austin. “Victims identified.” Odessa American, TX, 8-5-1978, 2-A.

[12] The NCC writes that there were 25 deaths from flooding in the wake of Tropical Storm Amelia in Bandera, Kendall and Kerr Counties combined and that 14 were in Bandera County.

[13] Full name is from RootsWeb’s World Connect Home. “The Trail to Texas.” Which notes her place of death in Bandera, Bandera County.

[14] AP, Austin. “Victims identified.” Odessa American, TX, 8-5-1978, 2-A.

[15] Full name is from RootsWeb’s World Connect Home. “The Trail to Texas.” Which notes her place of death in Bandera, Bandera County.

[16] AP, Austin. “Victims identified.” Odessa American, TX, 8-5-1978, 2-A.

[17] “At Camp Bandina 8 drowning deaths occurred as residents were caught by the extremely rapid rise of water…” An AP Report notes that most of the eight drowning victims were elderly retirees. (The Ledger, 8-16-1978, 10A.)

[18] AP, Austin. “Victims identified.” Odessa American, TX, 8-5-1978, 2-A; Odessa American, TX. “…At least (cont. from 1A).” 8-3-1978, p. 2A — notes she had been camping in the area, thus our placement in Camp Bandina.

[19] AP (Thompson). “Flood rages through West Texas town.” Paris News, TX, 8-4-1978, 1; Odessa American, TX. “…At least (cont. from 1A).” 8-3-1978, p. 2A. This article notes her body was found near Bandera.

[20] AP (Thompson). “Flood rages through West Texas town.” Paris News, TX, 8-4-1978, 1. Positive identification of location of death as Camp Bandina is from obituary of David’s mother, Mary Lou Sanchez, which notes she lost her son David [aged 11] “in Camp Bandina during the flood of 1978.” GenealogyBuff.com. “Miscellaneous Bandera County, Texas Obituaries.” Accessed 9-15-2014.

[21] Writes that “4 persons drowned in a cabin near the river side.” We have seen an Associated Press account which writes that “Six sleeping Peaceful Valley guests were killed and one disappeared in the churning water. Twenty staff members and guests survived by clinging to trees or rooftops for a terrifying six hours.” (AP, Bandera. “Texas Recovering from River’s Betrayal.” The Ledger, Lakeland, FL. 8-16-1978, p. 10A.)

[22] AP, Bandera (Thompson). “Texas rivers kill 31.” Paris News, TX, 8-13-1978, p. 1.

[23] AP, Bandera (Thompson). “Texas rivers kill 31.” Paris News, TX, 8-13-1978, p. 1.

[24] AP, Bandera (Thompson). “Texas rivers kill 31.” Paris News, TX, 8-13-1978, p. 1.

[25] AP, Bandera (Thompson). “Texas rivers kill 31.” Paris News, TX, 8-13-1978, p. 1.

[26] AP (Thompson). “Flood rages through West Texas town.” Paris News, TX, 8-4-1978, 1. Age from: TX Gen Web. “Bremond Cemetery, Robertson County TX.” Rootsweb.ancestry.com. Noting that Alan Jones was from Bremond, an AP report includes his death under its “Bandera” breakout of localities where deaths took place. It is noted that his is from the official list provided by the Texas Department of Public Safety. (AP, Austin. “Death toll from flood reaches 21.” Odessa American, TX. 8-6-1978, p. 2A.)

[27] AP, Austin. “Victims identified.” Odessa American, TX, 8-5-1978, 2-A.

[28] Date of death is from: Find A Grave “Arnold Ervin Watson.” Record created 8-3-2010.

[29] AP. “Flood rages through West Texas town.” Paris News, TX, 8-4-1978, 1. Another account has his death in Bandera noting he was of Bremond. (AP, Austin. “Victims identified.” Odessa American, TX, 8-5-1978, 2A.) Also listed amongst Bandera victims in: AP. “Death toll from flood reaches 21.” Odessa American, TX. 8-6-1978, 2A.

[30] CZIC. The Disastrous Texas Flash Floods of August 1-4, 1978. March 1979, Table 1-1, “Information on Casualties,” p. 1-5. Notes “All were in or close to homes or mobile home. All were very young or 60 or over (18 months, 11, 13, 60, 64, 65, 81).” Our breakout of 7 identified fatalities shows one victim aged 7, one 70, and two aged 60, in addition to the ages identified in the CZIC. We do not show fatalities aged 64, 65 (2), or 81. See also NCC. Storm Data, V20/N8, Aug 1978, p. 21.

[31] AP (Thompson). “Flood rages through West Texas town.” Paris News, TX, 8-4-1978, 1.

[32] AP (Thompson). “Flood rages through West Texas town.” Paris News, TX, 8-4-1978, 1.

[33] AP (Thompson). “Flood rages through West Texas town.” Paris News, TX, 8-4-1978, 1.

[34] AP (Thompson). “Flood rages through West Texas town.” Paris News, TX, 8-4-1978, 1.

[35] Associated Press, Austin. “Victims identified.” Odessa American, TX, 8-5-1978, p. 2-A.

[36] AP (Thompson). “Flood rages through West Texas town.” Paris News, TX, 8-4-1978, 1.

[37] AP (Thompson). “Flood rages through West Texas town.” Paris News, TX, 8-4-1978, 1.

[38] CZIC. The Disastrous Texas Flash Floods of August 1-4, 1978. March 1979, Table 1-1, p. 1-5. Table 1-1 “Information on Casualties,” notes that “1 occurred on Highway 27 in a car; 1 died trying to save cattle in pasture; 1 in home (76 years old).” See also NCC, Storm Data, V20/N8, Aug 1978, p. 21, which writes “One person was killed on state highway 27 as the river surged over its banks. One person was drowned in his home at Comfort. The third drowning occurred as a person was swept from a pasture on Block Creek near the Guadalupe River just downstream from Comfort.”

[39] AP (Thompson). “Flood rages through West Texas town.” Paris News, TX, 8-4-1978, 1.

[40] AP (Thompson). “Flood rages through West Texas town.” Paris News, TX, 8-4-1978, 1.

[41] AP (Thompson). “Flood rages through West Texas town.” Paris News, TX, 8-4-1978, 1.

[42] CZIC. The Disastrous Texas Flash Floods of August 1-4, 1978. March 1979, Table 1-1, p. 1-5; NCC. Storm Data, V20/N8, Aug 1978, p. 21.

[43] UPI. “New Floods Sock Texas; Toll At 25.” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 8-4-1978, A10.

[44] Paulson, R.W., Chase, E.B., Roberts, R.S., and Moody, D.W., compilers, 1991, National water summary, 1988-89-Hydrologic events and floods and droughts: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 2375, 591 p.