John Collins

Past: journalist; PIO for @SCFR10. Now: work for int'l software company. On the side: help w/ social media & volunteer FF/EMT in Central TX. Personal account.

[John Collins @joco_pio]

@MissAshes92 What do you use for the distribution list?

[John Collins @joco_pio]

@MissAshes92 Flew that route multiple times. My preferred itinerary.

[John Collins @joco_pio]

@MissAshes92 I attended one in Fairfax Co. before moving to TX. It was excellent. Would have been prior to 2015, though, so your point stands.

[John Collins @joco_pio]

@thanhsthoughts Supporting you today from TX.

[John Collins @joco_pio]

@MissAshes92 @kesters2 Let me know if I can support somehow, officially or otherwise.

[John Collins @joco_pio]

@forecaster25 Fun nerdy video about the geology of Seven Bends: https://t.co/dadZQANlan

[NWS Boulder @NWSBoulder]

⚠️PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION FRIDAY⚠️

We rarely issue these, but Friday will be a Particularly Dangerous Situation regarding potential for rapid wildfire spread in and immediately adjacent to the Boulder/Jefferson County foothills. Be ready to take swift action. #COwx

[John Collins @joco_pio]

@AdamThePIO @MHause The South throwing a coat over business casual for a night on the town? Or, maybe more accurately, the middle age South redoing its wardrobe to be hip and trendy after decades of neglect?

[John Collins @joco_pio]

@WeatherAubs I've enjoyed it too. Haven't made it through all the seasons yet b/c I have to let it sit sometimes ...

[John Collins @joco_pio]

It’s 4 a.m. and you know the morning news cycle looms, and you need to put out a press release about the incident, get it on a website, email, and multiple social channels, and writing isn’t your thing.

I’m building a tool for you. Get on the waitlist: https://t.co/Klk9cWdLgk

[John Collins @joco_pio]

I was an award-winning journalist, then a #PIO, I’m a certified #FF/#EMT. In all those experiences, I saw a real gap: PIOs are often voluntold into the role and aren’t always trained communicators.

I’m building a tool for those PIOs. Get on the waitlist: https://t.co/Klk9cWdLgk

[John Collins @joco_pio]

@Kiel_Samsing Sure would be healthier than a steady diet of Fox News in the station. (Full disclosure: former newspaper editor)

[John Collins @joco_pio]

@312Will @NWSSanAntonio Saw this mentioned on The Weather Channel in my hotel in Clarksville, IN this morning.

[John Collins @joco_pio]

I was already a fan (and managed to get a P. Terry’s supper. What a class act.

[P. Terry's @pterrys]

Wow, so much love was shared by our community today - we’re at a loss for words. ❤️

Please be sure to support other local businesses that are contributing to the cause today such as:

Veracruz
Kerbey Lane Cafe
Moonshine Grill

[P. Terry's @pterrys]

Wow, so much love was shared by our community today - we’re at a loss for words. ❤️

Please be sure to support other local businesses that are contributing to the cause today such as:

Veracruz
Kerbey Lane Cafe
Moonshine Grill

[John Collins @joco_pio]

@adlaiobie @TheEyewallWx Thanks. Indeed, I linked to it in the 5th post in the thread but mentioned the @mattlanza account and not @TheEyewallWx 🤦‍♂️.

[John Collins @joco_pio]

Staying off Twitter and moving away from meteorology to geology, Philip Prince (on Twitter as @AllPhilsFault) shares a Youtube video that explains the geology behind flash flooding. https://t.co/IE76Pt15Ok

9/

[John Collins @joco_pio]

Moving off of Twitter, the Texas Tribune professionally explores if there was sufficient warning. https://t.co/N9hv2gGf1Y

8/

[John Collins @joco_pio]

The ever-helpful @capitalweather gang reiterates many of the same themes shared in this thread and assures us this was a natural event. As if we should have to say this. https://t.co/qd2zgdYnhs

7/

[Capital Weather @capitalweather]

The news surrounding the Texas floods is heart-breaking -- as at least 59 people have died and 11 girls attending a summer camp remain missing.
Some things to understand:
* The National Weather Service issued timely watches and warnings for the devastating rains that fell; although -- for these very extreme events -- it can be difficult to know in advance just how bad it will be and what area(s) will be hardest hit. River levels rose 22 feet in just a few hours.
* The National Weather Service had adequate staffing for the event although, as the New York Times reported Sunday, some recent vacancies may have led to a loss of some connections/communications between meteorologists and emergency officials.
* A key question to be explored is whether the warnings were received in some of the hardest hit areas and whether there was adequate cell service and whether people had weather radios or other ways to be notified.
* The deluge was caused torrential thunderstorms fueled by the remnant of moisture from Tropical Storm Barry, a zone of low pressure, and flow around a high pressure zone, pumping abundant moisture into area. Despite what you might see on social media, it wasn't cloud seeding, chemtrails or anything like that.
Follow The Post's live coverage for the latest...
https://t.co/xCqUyKPw4r

[John Collins @joco_pio]

Highly respected meteorologist @spann also addresses the warning process and reminds us of the importance of having a NOAA Weather Radio, which functions without need for a cell network and will not fail to get your attention: https://t.co/jF0aghAwoT

6/

[James Spann @spann]

TEXAS FLOOD: There are many questions about the tragic flash flood on the Guadalupe River late Thursday night and early Friday morning. The death toll is now over 50, including some children who were at Camp Mystic.

Here are some key points about the warning process...

*A flash flood watch was issued for Kerr County at 12:41a CT (just after midnight Thursday night). The watch mentioned isolated rain amounts of 10 inches, and stated "Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations. Creeks and streams may rise out of their banks." This followed a flash flood watch that was issued Thursday afternoon.

*A flash flood warning was issued at 1:14a CT For Kerr County, which mentioned "life threatening flash flooding of creeks, streams, and rivers".

*A flash flood "emergency" was issued at 5:34a CT for Kerr County and the Guadalupe River.

*NWS Austin/San Antonio had five on staff during the event; normally two would be on duty. Extra staffing was planned before the event started.

*This type of flash flooding on the Guadalupe River is nothing new. Similar events happened in 1998, 1978, 1935, and 1921. This year's event was related to deep moisture from a tropical system (Barry) that originated in the East Pacific and made landfall near Tampico, Tamaulipas, Mexico, on June 29.

Social scientists will do much research on this in coming months and years. In my opinion one of the primary problems is the high number of false alarms; flash flood warnings that are issued with only minor flooding involved. This is also a problem with tornadoes in many parts of the country. I am very thankful locally NWS Birmingham leads the nation in lowering the false alarm ratio.

One takeaway is the importance of having a NOAA Weather Radio at every home, business, and any place where there are large number of people gathered (like a camp on a river). I would imagine cell service is very spotty along the Guadalupe where the camps were located. NWR does not use cell service and will wake you up. The alert is very loud, and can't be missed.

Again, I ask that you keep political rhetoric off the comment section here; left wing and right wing extremists are pushing false information and narratives are not close to the truth. Now is simply the time to support families that are suffering after the tragedy.

We will have a long discussion on this event with the WeatherBrains crew tomorrow night. In addition to the audio podcast you can watch it live as well on the WB YouTube Channel: https://t.co/pEMFNVP8hl