As sad as this story is, I’m struggling to figure out why this is something that I should know
this post was submitted on 09 Jul 2025
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You Should Know
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People should know and have evidence on hand that policy and budget decisions directly effect lives.
This is another lesson available, we are individuals that are part of communities which can learn from this lesson vicariously.
This community had a conversation that ended with a vote, where people chose not to pay more taxes and to not figure out the minutia of how to run the system effectively - nor did they receive a grant from above levels of government - nor did they determine a local low cost solution - and because of that people were swept away in a flash flood they had no clue was coming like countless times in history and prehistory.
There will always be a balance between safety and budget, just as with all other qualities, and its a constant difficulty always filled with consequences wherever the decisions made land.
But some consequences are easier to bare than others.
The next time this community thinks about floods and what to do about them they're perspective will likely shift with the weight of the dead bodies left in the debris field, and it should be hoped that other communities who know this news understand that too.
The effort and cost of government is for our collective benefit, because the world is rough, and by working and sacrificing together we can make it easier if we choose to.
This article adds to the story and make you think about the decisions you and your community are making.
This lemmy according to the description is for "all the things that make your life easier". As sad as it may be I really don't gain anything from learning a random place on the other side of the world made bad policy decisions.
You learn to make better policy decisions in your community. You learn that one in a thousand occurrences do actually happen and are worth planning for on a community scale.
It’s my own country, and I would be happier if I could un-know this.
Yeah, I'm not even in that country, I'm not sure how it's relevant to us all.
Many countries have corrupt governments sadly, it sucks, and I wish them the best in however they fight their internal societal enemies.
The NYT wants you to think this instead of how eliminating our safety nets is already devastating and going to make this worse. Basically, they want you to blame the local government, not the federal government. So the YSK should be replaced with "We want you to think" or WWYTT
Both are bad, sure you can see that? No one is ONLY blaming the local government, BOTH failed these people
$1 million to save all those lives is way too much. That's almost 0.00025% of an Elon Musk
America, as a country, would sooner sacrifice a million children than tax a billionaire to support safety nets like flood warning systems
flood warning systems are often simple networks of rain gauges or stream gauges that are triggered when rain or floodwaters exceed a certain level.
The gauges can then be used to warn those at risk of flooding, whether by text message, which may not be effective in areas with spotty cellphone service; notifications broadcast on TV and radio; or sometimes through a series of sirens.
It doesn't seem like a basic solution should even cost nearly that much.
This stuff is out in the middle of nowhere and has to survive outside in a harsh climate without utilities or proper road access.
Even then I don't see why something like this wouldn't work. If not, you could spend 100x more money and still be nowhere close to a million.
Those can’t build and install themselves…
Also we’re talking about a life-critical system here. What kind of testing and certification are offered by this software. What about the assembly of the hardware? That process needs oversight as well, it only takes one bad seal for this sensor to fail right at the moment when it should be saving lives. How will the networking be done? How does that network perform in extreme weather? That needs to be tested in-situ for life-critical equipment.
I could go on…
Also we’re talking about a life-critical system here. What kind of testing and certification are offered by this software. What about the assembly of the hardware?
All irrelevant if the alternative is nothing at all. If the barrier is a million dollars being too expensive, get someone with moderate technical skills to spend a few weeks doing their best setting something up, it will still be an improvement.
The US anytime their citizens need something: Ugh, bit WHO is going to pay for it!?
The US when any CEO twists his financial dick: Have you ever seen what a billion dollars in a suit case looms like?
They spent it on a giant wall they were trying to build at the border to save them from dangerous people looking for jobs.
You know how Republicans hate "woke"?
It makes sense. If you wake up and just look at results, you see what their priorities get you.
It's as if Texas officials deserve to drown to death. Oh well, that's rightwingers for you
Start holding decision maker accountable...
This 2008 type issue... If "leadership" fails, it has to be punished
I'm sure FEMA will....