Episode 11: Does our past help us prepare for the next 100 year flood?
If Texas summers bring severe droughts, then what happens when the skies finally open up? It turns out the answer is flash floods—and a lot of water. But before you assume our infrastructure is completely safe, these extreme weather events might actually be the most important, undervalued challenge keeping engineers on their toes across the state of Texas.
In this episode of Launchpad, host John Elizondo sits down with Dr. Marcio Giacomoni, a civil and environmental engineering professor at the University of Texas at San Antonio. As a dedicated water resources researcher, Dr. Giacomoni’s passion for urban hydrology sheds a vital light on a looming environmental and structural crisis, revealing that historical "100-year flood" benchmarks are shifting rapidly. Because our climate and city footprints are altering the natural hydrological cycle, modern infrastructure must evolve to protect both lives and local water quality.
But the conversation goes far deeper than just rain. Dr. Giacomoni unpacks the fascinating world of civil engineering, explaining how widely misunderstood systems—from massive subterranean flood control tunnels under the city to hidden limestone topography—provide a massive safety service completely for free. Tune in to learn why Bexar County remains a national leader in flood fatalities, what shocking data his team discovered (and didn't discover) while testing urban runoff pollutants in the Edwards Aquifer, and how your heavy pickup truck's tires might actually turn into floating buoys the next time you encounter a low water crossing.
00:00 – Podcast Intro & Guest Teaser
00:39 – Episode Overview: "Preparing for the next 100-year flood"
01:02 – Introducing Dr. Marcio Giacomoni and his journey from Brazil to Texas
02:55 – Defining Flash Flood Alley: Topography, geology, and moisture
05:52 – The sloping geology of San Antonio and early flood control history
06:21 – Olmos Dam, reservoirs, and the engineering behind the San Antonio River Walk
06:48 – Subterranean flood control tunnels: Diverting catastrophic storms under downtown
08:31 – Testing the 1998 flood and keeping the River Walk alive during severe droughts
10:35 – Firsthand survival: Dr. Giacomoni's experience in the July 4th Hill Country flood
12:50 – Redefining the "100-Year Flood" and managing return periods in engineering
14:00 – State alert systems, meteorological models, and why cell service fails during disasters
17:14 – Climate change, Hurricane Harvey, and how infrastructure design limits are shifting
19:22 – The Edwards Aquifer: How concrete alters the natural hydrological cycle
22:01 – Tracking pollutants: Suspended solids, heavy metals, and surprising parking lot runoff data
24:24 – Final safety advice: FEMA floodplain maps and the buoy myth of big truck tires at low water crossings
27:22 – Stay connected with UT San Antonio
About Our Guest:
Dr. Marcio Giacomoni is an expert in civil and environmental engineering, water resources, and urban hydrology. His research focuses on stormwater management, flood control optimization, and the sustainability of water resources in rapidly developing environments. His efforts aim to design resilient public infrastructure and protect vital regional ecosystems like the Edwards Aquifer.
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About UT San Antonio
The University of Texas at San Antonio (UT San Antonio) is a nationally recognized, top-tier public research university that unites the power of higher education, biomedical discovery and healthcare within one visionary institution. As the third-largest research university in Texas and a Carnegie R1-designated institution, UT San Antonio is a model of access and excellence – advancing knowledge, social mobility and public health across South Texas and beyond.
