As Texas Flood Awareness Week hits full stride, the folks at Fort Worth's Stormwater Management Division are doubling down on their message: Stormwater mitigation saves lives. The week, which runs from May 20-24, is not just a nod to preparedness but a remembrance of past tragedies, specifically the fatal flood event of April 30, 2004, which claimed the lives of 17-year-old Rosalin Guerrero and her two young children. Their car was swept away at the notorious intersection of East Butler Street and McClure Street—a painful memory that spurred the creation of the Stormwater Management Division.
The importance of their mission, "Protect People and Property from Harmful Stormwater Runoff," cannot be understated. In the aftermath of such a loss, including the lives of two-year-old Felipe Abrego and 18-month-old Jacob Abrego, Fort Worth's city leaders were compelled to action. Creating a committee that eventually founded the dedicated stormwater division in 2006, their efforts have since been geared toward preventing similar catastrophes. Allen Abrego, who lost his girlfriend and sons in the flood, was present at the dedication marking the completion of the first Capital Improvement Project aimed at mitigating flooding at that intersection, as reported by the City of Fort Worth.
The City's responsibility is not taken lightly, with ongoing efforts to educate the public about the dangers of flooding and improve the stormwater system in Fort Worth. The program does this through various key tasks: maintaining existing systems to function as intended, constructing projects to improve drainage and reduce erosion, warning the public of flooding and erosion hazards, and ensuring compliance with City Stormwater standards.
During this awareness week, larger reflections on past flood events are top of mind. Gov. Greg Abbott has declared the observation in honor of victims of past Memorial Day weekend flooding in Wimberley, including a "Wear Blue Wednesday" initiated by the Texas Floodplain Managers Association (TFMA). These acts of remembrance and caution highlight the real risks of unchecked stormwater, as well as the ongoing work of agencies like the Fort Worth Stormwater Management Division to keep communities safe. For more information on real-time flood warnings and city efforts, check out the Fort Worth Stormwater Division website or their real-time flood warning map.
