Forget the fancy survival manuals and the jargon. Most of us think a disaster is something that happens to the guy on the news, not to us. We’re getting real about what it takes to actually stay alive when Texas weather turns mean. We're talking "Taco Watches," WWII fighter pilots, and the one simple thing you can do this month to make sure your family is ready for the unthinkable.

Because when the sirens go off, it's too late to start wondering where you put the flashlight.

Unpacking the Brazos River is a podcast by the Brazos River Authority. Share your thoughts, questions, and ideas for podcast episodes you’d like to hear about at information@brazos.org.

Host: Charlie L. Shugart, BRA assistant public information officer.

Guests: Donnie Naylor, BRA emergency manager, Dedrick Page, BRA safety trainer, and Ryan Dirker, City of Waco-McLennan County emergency management coordinator.

Intro music: Clay Sellers, BRA lab analyst.

About us:
The Brazos River Authority was created by the Texas Legislature in 1929 and was the first state agency in the United States created specifically for the purpose of developing and managing the water resources of an entire river basin. Today, the BRA's staff of 284 develop and distribute water supplies, provide water and wastewater treatment, monitor water quality, and pursue water conservation through public education programs. Although the Brazos River Authority is an agency of the State of Texas, it does not levy or collect taxes. Except for occasional governmental grants to help pay the costs of specific projects, the BRA is entirely self-supporting. The BRA maintains and operates its reservoirs and treatment systems using revenues from the customers it serves.

How cold does the water have to be to cause cold water shock? Probably not as cold as you think. We’re diving into how common mistakes can turn a great day at the lake into a tragedy, and how a simple mantra can help keep you and your loved ones safe.

Unpacking the Brazos River is a podcast by the Brazos River Authority. Share your thoughts, questions, and ideas for podcast episodes you’d like to hear about at information@brazos.org.

Host: Charlie L. Shugart, BRA assistant public information officer.

Guests: Dylan Mayfield, BRA Lake Granbury reservoir manager and Kyle Lewis, BRA Lake Granbury assistant reservoir manager/project manager

Intro music: Clay Sellers, BRA lab analyst.

About us:
The Brazos River Authority was created by the Texas Legislature in 1929 and was the first state agency in the United States created specifically for the purpose of developing and managing the water resources of an entire river basin. Today, the BRA's staff of 284 develop and distribute water supplies, provide water and wastewater treatment, monitor water quality, and pursue water conservation through public education programs. Although the Brazos River Authority is an agency of the State of Texas, it does not levy or collect taxes. Except for occasional governmental grants to help pay the costs of specific projects, the BRA is entirely self-supporting. The BRA maintains and operates its reservoirs and treatment systems using revenues from the customers it serves.

We're talking massive steel gates, legendary Texas pioneers, and why evaporation is truly Lake Limestone’s No. 1 customer. This water supply reservoir is a place where German tourists, traveling preachers, and locals all converge, but keeping this paradise protected is a full-time, hands-on job. Tune in as we hear about replacing more than 40-ton gates using a massive crane barge and dealing with unexpected 10-inch rainfall in this episode on Lake Limestone and its Sterling C. Robertson Dam.

Unpacking the Brazos River is a podcast by the Brazos River Authority. Share your thoughts, questions, and ideas for podcast episodes you’d like to hear about at information@brazos.org.

Host: Charlie L. Shugart, BRA assistant public information officer.

Guests: John Dickson, BRA regional lake operations manager, Jackie Scott, BRA assistant reservoir manager and program coordinator, and Scott Davis, BRA lake ranger sergeant.

Intro music: Clay Sellers, BRA lab analyst.

About us:
The Brazos River Authority was created by the Texas Legislature in 1929 and was the first state agency in the United States created specifically for the purpose of developing and managing the water resources of an entire river basin. Today, the BRA's staff of 284 develop and distribute water supplies, provide water and wastewater treatment, monitor water quality, and pursue water conservation through public education programs. Although the Brazos River Authority is an agency of the State of Texas, it does not levy or collect taxes. Except for occasional governmental grants to help pay the costs of specific projects, the BRA is entirely self-supporting. The BRA maintains and operates its reservoirs and treatment systems using revenues from the customers it serves.