It’s not a huge problem – yet. But in disasters, there often seems to be the potential for a secondary disaster: the flood after the flood, if you will, of onlookers, gawkers, the curious. Let’s just call ’em what they are: Disaster Rubberneckers.
Actually, it’s a phenom that already has a name: Disaster Tourism. Seriously. There’s even a weird and random Wiki entry for it.
While the Texas flood sites are not at the point of organized tour buses, the type that have become an industry in post-Katrina New Orleans (I can’t help but think of that scene in Treme, where the Indians are chanting to send off a deceased member of the tribes and are interrupted by a Katrina tour bus), disaster tourism, or at least pesky sightseers, has become a thing, and local social media has been rife this week with Central Texans begging folks who don’t need to be in the thick of the wreckage to stay home – especially in the case of the more remote small towns, where traffic is already touch-and-go with washed-out bridges and rain-soaked low-water crossings.
(However, and especially regarding the places hardest hit, there will be a moment when these municipalities will need your true tourist dollar to help get them back on their feet. We’ll pull together a Summer Fun post about all that later in the season, after local officials give the word.)
Even in Austin, during the dramatic surge of Shoal Creek, as city rescue workers were scrambling against time and current to save the dude clutching a pole for dear life at House Park, a row of people stood along the overpass to watch. Sure, if someone, or some gathering group, is not in the way of first responders, what’s the problem? While the upside is that a crowd is bearing witness to some heart-bursting heroism, the downside is that the gathering throng is potentially blocking essential personnel and gear from getting in – or worse, becoming victims in need of rescue or care.
“If you plan to come help,” said Kristi Wyatt, director of communications & intergovernmental relations for the city of San Marcos, “We have a volunteer center set up where we can sign people up and send them to assignments that best help the needs at present.” A centralized volunteer center can help insure that efforts are not duplicated, she explained.
“But if you are coming down, be prepared. Safety first.” she implored. Wear appropriate boots, gear, and make sure you are up-to-date on your tetanus shot. “Please don’t come down and add to the demand.”
Basically, the crisis version of “Don’t be that guy.”
Your best bet is to sign in at a local relief-effort hub, according to Texas Conservation Corps, which is organizing volunteer centers inthe aftermath. Find details at VolunteerTX.org. The two largest down south are:
Volunteer Reception Center (VRC) – Wimberley
Open and accepting volunteers in Wimberley at:
Cypress Creek Church
211 Stillwater, Wimberley, TX 78676
512/715-4134
Open 8am-5pm, daily
wimberleyresponse@gmail.com
Volunteer Reception Center (VRC) – San Marcos
Open and accepting volunteers in San Marcos at:
Old Fish Hatchery (San Marcos Plaza Park)
206 N. C M Allen Parkway, San Marcos, TX 78666
512/753-2320
Open 8am-5pm, daily
sanmarcosVRC2015@gmail.com
For Austin assistance rendering, see the Austin Flood 2015 Facebook page and check our “Flood of Relief” post. We’ll launch an update later today with even more opportunities to not be a tourist.
This article appears in May 29 • 2015.