The extent of the Guadeloupe River tragedy in Texas is still unfolding. More than 100 dead, and almost 200 more are missing. As usual, the loudmouths in the democrat party are blaming it on President Trump, and budget cuts to the National Weather Service, (NWS) which haven’t taken effect yet. While the stupidity of their reaction to this tragedy is obvious, who is to blame for the loss of life is not quite so clear.

The Constitution doesn’t require the federal government to warn citizens of impending adverse weather conditions, but the government created the NWS, which actually does an excellent job of monitoring and forecasting the weather. The NWS was aware of the likelihood of floods along the Guadeloupe River, and it issued flood watches and warnings well in advance of the rapidly rising water. Those who had NOAA Weather Radios would have been well aware of the approaching menace. 

The weather radio alert system has its roots in the 1950s. It has been growing and improving ever since and was essentially fully implemented in the 1990s. Already the news media has begun to criticize local officials for failure to warn the people about the increasing probability of severe flooding, but there’s already a much more efficient system in place to do that. 

Anyone who lives in a flood plain and doesn’t have a weather radio is a fool, and any business owner, especially a campground operator, along a flood-prone river without one is irresponsible. If more people along the Guadeloupe River had these low cost warning devices there would have been little or no loss of life. I believe business owners and residents are most responsible for the tragic loss of life. If your life isn’t worth the cost of a weather radio then it might come to a sudden unexpected end, and it’s partially your own fault. But when your negligence results in the deaths of many of your employees and guests, you should be prosecuted. Weather radios should be required, like clearly marked exits.