Flood, heavy rain, and dam failure:

Although the San Antonio area generally receives up to 30 inches of rainfall a year, the local joke is that it all falls at one time.  Twice in the past ten years San Antonio has experienced what the meteorologist termed as a 500 year rain – between 15 - 24 inches within a 24 hour period.  Both of these rain falls led to widespread flooding, loss of property, and loss of life.

Recent storms produced large volumes of runoff, and as many as four flood peaks were recorded at each of many stream flow gauging stations in the Brazos, Colorado, and Guadalupe River Basins.  Record flood stages occurred at sites on the Medina River, San Antonio River, Sabinal River, and Nueces River.  For the first time since it filled in 1968, Canyon Lake (northeast of San Antonio) poured over its spillway, adding to the flooding in the Guadalupe River.  Emergency managers also were concerned about the 90-year-old dam at Medina Lake (west of San Antonio).  Medina Lake topped its spillway and rose to within 18 inches of the top of the dam.  Areas downstream from the dam were evacuated as a precaution to the fear of dam failure.  Water diverted around the spillway at Canyon Lake and formed a new geological canyon downstream from the dam which is now a focus of study by local geologist and universities.

Fortunately the San Antonio Campus is situated far away from the any of the dams in the area so the threat of a dam failure affecting the campus itself is remote, however a number of staff, faculty and students live in the potential threat areas. 

Most likely the threats to the campus site are heavy rain and flooding.  The apartment complex located off of Randolph Boulevard across from the campus was constructed in such a manner that the entrance roads to that complex form a channel for water to run off in a fashion resembling a river onto Randolph Boulevard.  As such it pools on the roadway and becomes a hazard to vehicle and pedestrian traffic.  That same water must then go someplace, so it moves downhill and the campus is located downhill from that roadway.  As such the campus collects or funnels an enormous amount of water runoff into the drainage system behind the campus buildings.  Even greater amounts of water runoff occur on the access road just north of O’Connor Road.  The access road and even Interstate 35 have been closed several times due to the large amount of runoff from the Lowe’s parking lot and adjacent areas.

Students, faculty, and staff, must exercise care when driving in and around the campus since the runoff from heavy rains does create a hazard.  The roadways leading to the campus have many low areas where water will pool as well.

Water runoff from the roof of the building is also a cause for concern, because there are a few spots where the water pouring out the drainage down spouts runs several inches deep and creates a hazard to anyone attempting to enter or leave the building.

Action

If there is severe weather during the normal work day, the senior member of the Crisis Management Team available on site at the time will decide whether or not to evacuate the building, send the staff home, and cancel classes or to seek shelter in-place.

If there is severe weather after normal work hours, the senior member of the Crisis Management Team available on site at the time of the power failure or the Security Guard will decide whether or not to evacuate the building and cancel classes or have everyone seek shelter in-place for safety.  In the absence of the Security Guard any instructor on site can make that determination.

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