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💔 When the Water Rose: Tragedy, Truth, & Media Literacy

A close-up of a front porch partially underwater after a flood. The rising water reaches the doorstep, symbolizing how the disaster invaded the private, familiar spaces of people’s homes.
A front porch stands partially submerged after the July 2025 Texas floods. Photo by Janice Olympie.

This July 4th, many Americans lit sparklers and flipped burgers, and many others took to the parks and sidewalks to exercise their democracy. But that day, too many families in Texas lost everything.


The rains came fast - too fast. Cars were swept away. Homes collapsed. Children drowned. More than 100 lives, many of them young, were lost in what has become one of the deadliest flash floods in U.S. history.


These casualties cannot be defined by numbers. They were children. Parents. Grandparents. People who started the day thinking they were safe.


The Media Aftermath


The headlines came as fast as the floodwater. So did the takes.


Cable outlets ran the loop: “Historic Flood! Deadliest in Years!” Some blamed budget cuts. Others insisted forecasts were fine.


Redditers posted radar maps. Meta spiraled into blame. TikTok lit up with grief and conspiracy theories. Arguments exploded: conservatives accused liberals of politicizing tragedy; liberals fired back that ignoring systemic issues is a political choice.


Let’s pause. Please. Let’s pause and challenge ourselves to respond like humans.


It’s easy to mock "thoughts and prayers" - and no, they should never replace action. But grief is necessary. We ache, we gather, we honor. That makes us human.


So before I say anything else, I offer my prayers for the 28 dead children, 77 dead adults, the missing, the grieving, the broken. I am heartbroken at the scale of this loss and for the pain the survivors must be feeling.


Keeping those prayers front and center, we must also reckon with the causes. We owe that to the fallen.


Finding a Signal in the Noise


In a storm of takes, how do we find the truth?


We do more than consume headlines. We evaluate them. Just because a claim fits your belief doesn’t mean it’s true. Just because a source is trusted doesn’t mean it’s infallible.


We must learn and practice media literacy. Let's get started right now.


Lesson 1: Select Credible Sources

Media Bias Chart by AllSides™ For more information about this cross-partisan resource, visit allsides.com.
Media Bias Chart by AllSides™ For more information about this cross-partisan resource, visit allsides.com.

This morning, I read a BBC article asking: Did U.S. Government Cuts Contribute to the Texas Tragedy? I trust the BBC because they tend to lead with facts, avoid sensationalism, and maintain high editorial standards.


Yes, every source has bias. Some run on bias. Others work hard to balance it.


Don’t trust headlines alone - not from me, not from your favorite pundit. Use nonpartisan evaluations. Look deeper.


Lesson 2: Be Willing to Be Wrong


I expected the BBC to confirm my suspicion: that Trump-era attacks on public infrastructure directly led to this disaster. It didn’t.


The article - by respected journalists Ben Chu, Jake Horton, Kayla Epstein, and Marco Silva - found that:

  • Forecasts and warnings were issued with lead time.

  • Temporary seasonal staffing had been arranged.

  • There’s no direct evidence that budget cuts caused the system to fail.


The article was solid. I read it. I changed my mind. I changed my mind because being wrong isn’t shameful. Refusing to learn is. When little girls are swept up by the Llano River, truth matters more than my pride or yours.


Lesson 3: Stay Curious & Cross-Check

A colorful infographic featuring a cartoon brain holding a megaphone with the title: “Think Before You Share: Be Accurate.” Subheading: “Here’s how to share smart: I Can Always Be Accurate.” The acronym I-C-A-B-A stands for: I – Identify the source: Who released this? Are they credible? What’s their track record? C – Consider what they have to gain or lose: How might my source profit from this perspective? A – Analyze multiple sources: Cross-check. Look for corroboration, not just confirmation. B – Be willing to be wrong: You will be. Growth starts when ego steps aside. A – Amplify truth—only truth: Be a signal, not an echo. Share responsibly. Bottom text reads: “In a world where perception is reality, what goes viral can save – or cost – lives.” Byrne Alive logo and website appear in the corner.
A simple but essential media literacy reminder: I Can Always Be Accurate. When lives are on the line, pausing to be sure is smart.

We live in an age where information moves faster than understanding. It’s easy to repost outrage. It’s harder to slow down. Some of the memes have been debunked, and there are still hard questions about infrastructure, preparedness, and climate.


So cross-check your sources. Even the ones you love. Especially the ones you love. Ask: Where do they agree? What’s missing? Who benefits from this narrative? What might I be missing?


Curiosity builds trust. It makes you better. And once you’ve done that? You look up.


Lesson 4: Accept the Reality


The systems worked as intended, and that wasn't enough. Because this isn’t just about forecasts and alerts. It’s about a changing planet.


Here’s the science:

  • Warmer air holds more water. Storms drop more rain.

  • Slower-moving weather patterns make those storms linger.

  • Flash floods are increasing in frequency and power.

You can find my bibliography below. Check it out, and please apply scrutiny.


That’s climate change. Not in theory. In your neighborhood.


This isn’t about blame. Climate chaos doesn’t care who you voted for. It floods Republican homes. It uproots Democratic families. It shatters Independent lives. And I don’t want my family washed away. I don’t want that for yours, either.


So let’s ask: What are we doing about it?


Lesson 5: Understand the Stakes


This storm is a warning. It wasn't the first, and they're happening more rapidly.


The BBC appears to be right, Project 2025 and other efforts to strip public institutions haven’t fully taken effect, but they will. And when they do, future responses will be even weaker. Fewer alerts. Fewer responders. Fewer tools to adapt.


The choices we the people make now about funding, leadership, and truth will decide whether our kids survive the next storm.


Lesson 6: Do Something


The scale of this problem is overwhelming. But dismissing it - or mocking those who raise the alarm - won’t help.


Here are a few things you can do:

  • Feel the feelings. These were people. With birthdays and ice cream preferences. Don’t meme their deaths.

  • Learn the facts. Start with:

  • Ask better questions. Don’t just react. Inquire.

  • Vote. Speak. Amplify vetted voices.

  • Talk to your kids. Not in fear, but in readiness. In resilience. Even better, listen to your kids.


Final Word


When the flood comes, it doesn’t ask who you voted for. But the warnings? The roads? The help that shows up or doesn’t? - That’s all politics, policy, and climate.


Don’t pretend the storm is over just because the sky cleared.


The future is watching what we do next.




Bibliography





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