Eric Tuwalski: When weather becomes a wedge issue

We have seen extensive news media coverage of the torrential flooding that took place on the Guadalupe River in Kerrville, Texas, over the Independence Day Weekend. The death toll stands at one hundred as I write this. The loss of innocent lives, including from Camp Mystic where parents and loved ones are grieving over the loss of their young daughters, is devastating. Families are heartbroken to see such promising young lives taken by the storm.

Weather in that part of Texas during the summer has long been unpredictable and intense, even in the densely populated San Antonio and Austin regions. Residents in these areas expect severe weather this time of year. I recall discussing it with two students I tutor online who live in Dallas and Houston. We even had a brief conversation about how the weather affects both our regions through local storms and power outages.

When these storms happen, we must always remember the victims and those first responders who arrive on scene to recover the precious lives of those victims. But despite the outpouring of support from families, churches, and emergency personnel, some elected officials and media figures quickly seized the moment to push political narratives unrelated to the immediate crisis. They claim a lack of personnel or cutbacks in the budgets for the National Weather Service or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is to blame, even though those agencies were already tracking the storm and issuing warnings.

These officials and pundits, sitting safely in studios far from the devastation, offer to pontificate their own self-righteousness. I recall similar reactions here in the Philadelphia region, where reports of the damage weather has in our region and right away people in power start finger-pointing at the devastation over weather that is created by human beings.  I would imagine that people are tired of political talking points and simplistic explanations that attribute every storm to pollution or climate change.

Historically, we’ve witnessed many severe storms that have worsened over time, in part due to population growth and urban sprawl. We all recently remember Hurricane Ida in 2021, which flooded neighborhoods and businesses along the Schuylkill River and impacted properties in Lower Merion Township, where I live. After such storms, we need common-sense planning, preparation, and cleanup — not political grandstanding.

Why does this matter in our region? How many people forgot about our recent storm? As long as we have no thunderstorms or power outages, most may leave their guard down and figure all is well. For starters, we must ensure our infrastructure can handle all types of weather — including winter snow and sleet.

After the recent storm, I see all these tree removal crews out picking up debris and cutting down trees and branches in the area. After the cleanup, I still see more debris and more overgrown trees that need to be removed near roads and property to prevent another tragedy from occurring with damaged power lines and traffic lights knocked out. We must do more than just react — we must prepare.

Another key step is cleaning our storm drains, which feed into local creeks and the Schuylkill River. Just last week, I saw stormwater flooding I-76 near Center City. So much for our infrastructure investments.

Why not look toward our research universities in the region that may offer advice and help engineer a better road system to prevent water build up on the roads and interstates? Dredging the Schuylkill and local creeks like Darby Creek could help prevent the flooding that becomes recurring media fodder every time a storm hits.

Government can’t do this alone. Property owners need to maintain yards and clear overgrowth. We must also prepare our homes — stocking supplies, clearing debris, and staying alert. It’s our civic duty to help one another in times of crisis.

Finally, to the media pundits and self-aggrandizing elected officials: When will you admit that your climate change script is tired and often unhelpful in moments of tragedy? We do not control the weather. These voices often do more to distract than to help. Even environmental activists who insist all storms are caused by man-made climate change offer little comfort to grieving families. Would they have the courage to say that face to face with the victims’ families — in Texas or here at home?

Eric Tuwalski, Ed.D. is the Social Studies Department Chair at Archbishop John Carroll High School.