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.

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.

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.

Every example of repugnican mismanagement SHOULD be posted everywhere for all to see

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

They couldn’t get grant funding, so they decided to go without.