Texas Flood: A Grim Reminder That Fate Can Be Crueler Than Voldemort

The River Ran Red (With Mud Not Blood… Mostly)

Right gather 'round you lot. Harry Potter here reporting from...well not Hogwarts. Think more 'flooded Texas,' less 'charming castle.' This past week has been darker than a Dementor's kiss for the folks in central Texas. A flash flood – think of it as a really REALLY powerful Aguamenti spell gone horribly wrong – has turned the Guadalupe River into something out of a horror film. We're talking 96 souls lost many of them young witches and wizards in training at a summer camp. It's enough to make even Moaning Myrtle blush at the water levels.

Camp Mystic: More Like Camp… Tragic

This Camp Mystic place… sounds less like a fun getaway and more like a magnet for misfortune. Twenty seven campers and counselors gone! Makes you think You Know Who had a hand in it doesn't it? But no apparently it was just Mother Nature throwing a right temper tantrum. They're still searching for survivors but honestly after three days in that muck it's looking grimmer than Snape's potions class on a Monday morning. The director Richard Eastland sounds like he went out a hero saving as many kids as he could it reminds me of what Professor Snape did for me. A true Gryffindor move that.

Blame Game: It's Not Quidditch But People Are Still Pointing Fingers

Of course now everyone's got their wands out pointing fingers faster than you can say 'Accio Blame!' Seems the local officials were warned about the possibility of a flash flood but didn't exactly jump to action. No early warning sirens? That's like going into a duel without your wand! The Lieutenant Governor is now promising to 'step up' and pay for a warning system. Bit late isn't it? Reminds me of Fudge after Voldemort returned – all talk no trousers.

Drones Down: Even the Tech is Having a Bad Day

And because things weren't bad enough even the search efforts are having trouble! Some drone got a bit too curious and decided to play chicken with a helicopter. The helicopter had to make an emergency landing. Honestly you'd think they were being targeted by a rogue Bludger or something! No one was hurt thankfully but it just goes to show: even in a disaster the universe still has a sense of humor... a rather dark one mind you.

Climate Change: Voldemort's New Weapon?

Now here's the real kicker. Some pointy headed scientists are saying climate change is making these extreme weather events more common. Apparently warmer temperatures mean more intense rain and floods. Makes you wonder if Voldemort's evil schemes included messing with the weather. He always did have a flair for the dramatic. 'Climate change loads the dice toward more frequent and more intense floods,' one boffin said. Sounds like a prophecy from Trelawney doesn't it?

A Million Galleons for a Siren: Penny Wise Pound Foolish?

And the final nail in the coffin? Turns out these officials considered installing a flood warning system *eight years ago* but dropped it because it was too expensive. A million galleons...er dollars... down the drain. Talk about being penny wise and pound foolish! Seems like a small price to pay for saving lives eh? Makes you think: sometimes the real monsters aren't the ones with wands but the ones with wallets.