Five straight years of record heat, sporadic rainfall and divided leadership has Corpus Christi in danger of becoming the first U.S. city to run short of water.
Only rain — lots of it — can keep the coastal city from that grim fate.
kAmp446DD:3=6 D@FC46D @7 D9@CE\E6C> H2E6C[ :?4=F5:?8 ?6H=J 5C:==65 H6==D[ 92G6 2=C625J 366? E2AA65] p 4@?EC@G6CD:2= 56D2=:?2E:@? A=2?E H:E9 E96 23:=:EJ E@ 7:=E6C D62H2E6C — C6;64E65 =2DE J62C @G6C 4@DE 2?5 6?G:C@?>6?E2= 4@?46C?D — 😀 324< @? E96 E23=6 3FE J62CD 2H2J 7C@> AC@5F4:?8] qF:=5:?8 2 ?6H =2<6\D:K6 C6D6CG@:C 😀 2?@E96C @AE:@?[ 3FE E92E H@F=5 E2<6 6G6? =@?86C]k^Am
kAmr@CAFD r9C:DE: 😀 3C24:?8 7@C 56>2?5 E@ 6I4665 H2E6C DFAA=:6D 3J ?6IE DF>>6C[ =62G:?8 72C E@@ =:EE=6 E:>6 E@ 5@586 2 4C:D:D 3J 3F:=5:?8 ?6H :?7C2DECF4EFC6[ D2:5 z6??6E9 s66D[ 2 H2E6C C6D@FC46D 6?8:?66C 32D65 😕 u@CE (@CE9]k^Am
kAmpE E9:D A@:?E[ 96 D2:5[ “E96 @?=J E9:?8 E92E J@F 4@F=5 5@ 😀 DE@A FD:?8 H2E6C]”k^Am
kAmr:EJ =6256CD 2C6 =67E D62C49:?8 7@C H2JD E@ 56=2J[ ?@E 2G@:5[ E96 =@@>:?8 6>6C86?4J E9C@F89 4@?D6CG2E:@? 677@CED[ DF49 2D >2?52E@CJ H2E6C C6DEC:4E:@?D 2?5 9:896C 766D 7@C 6I4665:?8 =:>:ED]k^Am
kAm|2J@C !2F=6EE6 vF2;2C5@ D2:5 AC6A2C:?8 7@C E96 ?6IE DE286 @7 E96 H2E6C 6>6C86?4J 92D 366? 2 5:77:4F=E 32=2?4:?8 24E @7 E9:?<:?8 =@?8\E6C> 7@C E96 4:EJ[ 4@==23@C2E:?8 H:E9 2 5:G:565 4@F?4:= 2?5 >2:?E2:?:?8 ECFDE H:E9 E96 4@>>F?:EJ]k^Am
kAm“(2E6C D64FC:EJ 27764ED 6G6CJE9:?8 — 8C@HE9[ AF3=:4 D276EJ[ ;@3D[ :?5FDECJ[ 9@FD:?8 — 2== @7 :E[ 2?5 :E 2== H6:89D @? >6[” D96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm#6D:56?ED 92G6 6IAC6DD65 8C@H:?8 7CFDEC2E:@? H:E9 E96 4:EJ’D =6256CD[ ?@E:?8 56=2J65 564:D:@?D @? D6EE:?8 6>6C86?4J H2E6C C6DEC:4E:@?D 2?5 9@H E@ 6?7@C46 E96>] r@F?4:= >6>36CD 2=D@ H:== 5632E6 ?6IE H66< H96E96C E@ >@G6 7@CH2C5 @? 3F:=5:?8 2 56D2=:?2E:@? A=2?E E92E E96J C6;64E65 ?:?6 >@?E9D 28@]k^Am
kAm“%96C6’D DE:== E:>6 7@C J@F 8FJD E@ EFC? E9:?8D 2C@F?5[ E@ H@C< E@86E96C[ 2D 92C5 2D E92E >2J D66>[ 2?5 E@ 4@>6 FA H:E9 D@>6 8@@5 D@=FE:@?D 7@C H6 E96 A6@A=6 3642FD6 C:89E ?@H[ J@F’C6 72:=:?8 2E E96 E2D<[” C6D:56?E $FDJ $2=52?2 E@=5 E96 r:EJ r@F?4:= 62C=:6C E9:D >@?E9]k^Am
kAmvF2;2C5@ D2:5 “A6@A=6 2C6 =@@<:?8 7@C 46CE2:?EJ]”k^Am
kAm“%96J H2?E E@ @H E96:C =6256CD9:A 2?5 6=64E65 @77:4:2=D 2C6 H@C<:?8 E@86E96C E@ >2<6 E9@F89E7F=[ 564:D:G6 564:D:@?D E92E >@G6 @FC 4@>>F?:EJ 7@CH2C5[” vF2;2C5@ 4@?E:?F65] “(9:=6 E96C6 92G6 366? 5:776C:?8 A6CDA64E:G6D @? 4@F?4:=[ x 36=:6G6 :E’D :>A@CE2?E E92E H6 C6>2:? 7@4FD65 @? 7:?5:?8 4@>>@? 8C@F?5 2?5 56=:G6C:?8 =@?8\E6C> D@=FE:@?D 7@C @FC C6D:56?ED]”k^Am
kAmv:??J rC@DD[ G:46 AC6D:56?E @7 25G@424J 7@C &?:E65 r@CAFD r9C:DE: r92>36C @7 r@>>6C46[ D2:5 E96 4:EJ’D 3FD:?6DD 4@>>F?:EJ 😀 @? 6586[ H2:E:?8 7@C 4:EJ =6256CD E@ D6E 2 82>6 A=2?] “%96J 92G6 E@ 7:?2=:K6 E96 5C@F89E C6DEC:4E:@?D[ 2?5 E96C6’D 2 =@E @7 F?H:==:?8?6DD E@ >2<6 2 4@?4C6E6 A=2?[” D96 D2:5]k^Am
kAmrC@DD D2:5 3FD:?6DD6D[ H@CC:65 C6DEC:4E:@?D 4@F=5 7C66K6 E96 =@42= 64@?@>J[ H2?E E@ AC6A2C6 7@C >2?52E@CJ H2E6C =:>:ED E92E 4:EJ =6256CD 92G6 366? 5632E:?8 7@C ?62C=J 92=7 2 J62C]k^Am
kAm“tG6CJ3@5J’D 8@:?8 E@ 36 :>A24E65 😕 H2JD E92E H6 2C6 ;FDE 368:??:?8 E@ :>28:?6[” D96 D2:5]k^Am
kAmt?24E:?8 @C5:?2?46D 2?5 A@=:4:6D C6DEC:4E:?8 H2E6C FD6 2C6 2>@?8 E96 4:EJ’D 76H C6>2:?:?8 E@@=D E@ D=@H E96 =@@>:?8 6>6C86?4J[ D2:5 s66D[ H9@ 92D c_ J62CD @7 6IA6C:6?46 4@?DF=E:?8 23@FE H2E6C :?7C2DECF4EFC6 AC@;64ED 24C@DD E96 DE2E6] “%96 @?=J E9:?8 E96J 42? 5@ :?G@=G6D 2 82G6= 3642FD6 2E E9:D A@:?E[ E96J 42?’E 5@ 2?JE9:?8 H:E9 2 D9@G6=[” 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm#6D:56?ED 2?5 3FD:?6DD6D 92G6 2=C625J 366? =:G:?8 F?56C H2E6C C6DEC:4E:@?D D:?46 a_ac 2D EH@ >2:? C6D6CG@:CD 5H:?5=65 E@ AF55=6D] w@>6@H?6CD 92G6 C65F465 E96:C H2E6C FD6 3J 23@FE adT 😕 E96 =2DE 4@FA=6 >@?E9D[ =2C86=J 3J =:>:E:?8 42C H2D9:?8 2?5 @FE5@@C H2E6C:?8] p== H:== 36 2D<65 E@ 4FE 324< 6G6? >@C6 :7 E96 ?6IE 4C:D:D A@:?E 2CC:G6D[ 2D AC@;64E65[ 😕 s646>36C — E9@F89 C646?E C2:?D 4@F=5 AFD9 E92E E:AA:?8 A@:?E :?E@ a_af]k^Am
kAm“*@F 9@A6 7@C C2:? 3FE 😕 E96 >62?E:>6[ x 36=:6G6 E96J C62==J 5@ 92G6 E@ E2<6 5C2DE:4 24E:@?[” s66D D2:5 @7 r@CAFD r9C:DE:’D =6256CD] “%96J’C6 8@:?8 E@ 92G6 E@ 4FCE2:= FD286 3642FD6 E92E’D E96 @?=J E9:?8 E96J 42? 5@ C:89E ?@H]”k^Am
kAmy2CC@5 #6J?@=5D[ 2 H2E6C C6D@FC46D 6?8:?66C 😕 w@@5 r@F?EJ H9@ 7@4FD6D @? F?56C8C@F?5 AC@;64ED[ D2:5 3F:=5:?8 H2E6C :?7C2DECF4EFC6 😀 2 D=@H AC@46DD E92E 42? D@>6E:>6D E2<6 564256D]k^Am
kAm“(:E9 E:>6 J@F 42? 3F:=5 DEF77 — J@F 42? 5C:== H6==D[ J@F 42? 5@ 56D2=:?2E:@?[ J@F 42? 5@ A:A6=:?6 AC@;64ED — 3FE 6G6CJ D:?8=6 @?6 @7 E9@D6 E2<6D J62CD[” D2:5 #6J?@=5D[ H9@ H@C
kAm}6IE %F6D52J[ E96 r:EJ r@F?4:= 😀 6IA64E65 E@ G@E6 @? 9@H E@ 6?7@C46 adT >2?52E@CJ 4FED 😕 H2E6C FD6 :7 E96 4:EJ 564=2C6D 2 {6G6= ` 6>6C86?4J — E96 A@:?E H96? r@CAFD r9C:DE: 😀 D:I >@?E9D 2H2J 7C@> 72==:?8 D9@CE @7 >66E:?8 56>2?5] ~:= C67:?6C:6D 2?5 A6EC@496>:42= A=2?ED[ 2>@?8 E96 =2C86DE H2E6C FD6CD 😕 E96 C68:@?[ H@F=5 36 2D<65 E@ 4@?D6CG6 2E E96 D2>6 adT C2E6 2D C6D:56?ED 2?5 =@42= 3FD:?6DD6D]k^Am
kAmr@CAFD r9C:DE: 😀 9@>6 E@ E96 !@CE @7 r@CAFD r9:DE: 2?5 @?6 @7 E96 ?2E:@?’D =2C86DE :?5FDEC:2= 4@CC:5@CD[ :?4=F5:?8 4CF56 @:= C67:?6C:6D DF49 2D ‘2=6C@ #67:?:?8 2?5 u=:?E w:==D #6D@FC46D] %@86E96C[ C@F89=J a_ =2C86 :?5FDEC:2= 4@>A2?:6D >2<6 FA 2C@F?5 e_T @7 E96 4:EJ’D H2E6C 56>2?5[ =@42= @77:4:2=D D2J]k^Am
kAmr@>A=:42E:?8 4@?D6CG2E:@? 677@CED 😀 2 5C@F89E DFC492C86 6I6>AE:@? AC@8C2> E92E r:EJ |2?286C !6E6C +2?@?: 92D 42==65 2? :?DFC2?46 AC@8C2>] pC@F?5 2 5@K6? :?5FDEC:2= 4@>A2?:6D @AE65 E@ A2J 2? 255:E:@?2= 766 E@ E96:C H2E6C 3:== — b` 46?ED 7@C 6G6CJ `[___ 82==@?D — E@ 2G@:5 255:E:@?2= 766D 5FC:?8 2 H2E6C 4C:D:D]k^Am
kAmxD236= pC2:K2[ 4@\7@F?56C @7 u@C E96 vC62E6C v@@5[ 2 8C@FA E92E @AA@D6D 2 56D2=:?2E:@? A=2?E E92E H@F=5 5:D492C86 D2=EJ 3C:?6 :?E@ E96 r@CAFD r9C:DE: q2J[ D2:5 E96 4:EJ :D?’E @FE @7 @AE:@?D] “xE’D ;FDE ?@E H:==:?8 E@ 6?E6CE2:? 2== E96 @AE:@?D[” D96 D2:5]k^Am
kAms6DA:E6 :?5FDECJ 36:?8 E96 =2C86DE 4@?DF>6C[ 4:EJ 4@?D6CG2E:@? >62DFC6D 92G6 =2C86=J E2C86E65 C6D:56?ED — :?4=F5:?8 2AA62=D 7@C D9@CE6C D9@H6CD 2?5 EFC?:?8 @77 72F46ED H9:=6 3CFD9:?8 E66E9] pC2:K2 D2:5 C6DEC:4E:?8 :?5FDECJ’D H2E6C FD286 “:D 2? @3G:@FD D@=FE:@?[ 3FE E92E’D ?@E D@>6E9:?8 6?E6CE2:?65 2E 2==]”k^Am
kAm“#286 😀 ?@E 2 DEC@?8 6?@F89 H@C5 E@ 42AEFC6 9@H x 766=[” pC2:K2 D2:5] “xE 3=@HD >J >:?5 E92E H6’C6 >@C6 4@?46C?65 H:E9 :?5FDECJ’D AC@7:ED 2?5 D:?8=6\FD6 A=2DE:4D 2?5 ;6E 7F6= E92? 46?E6C:?8 E96 ?665D @7 E96 4@>>F?:EJ 2?5 6?G:C@?>6?E]”k^Am
kAms:D4FDD:@?D 2>@?8 r@CAFD r9C:DE: =6256CD 😕 E96 A2DE 76H >@?E9D 92G6 >@DE=J 72==6? :?E@ EH@ 3F4<6EDi 8C66?=:89E:?8 677@CED E@ DEC62>=:?6 D9@CE\E6C> H2E6C DFAA=:6D[ DF49 2D D4C2>3=:?8 E@ 5C:== >@C6 E92? 2 5@K6? H6==D[ 2?5 AC6A2C:?8 7@C >2?52E@CJ =:>:ED 2?5 9:896C DFC492C86D]k^Am
kAm%96 DE2<6D 2C6 6G6? 9:896C 3642FD6 r@CAFD r9C:DE:’D H2E6C 492==6?86D 92G6 2 =2C86 C:AA=6 67764E] x? 255:E:@? E@ E96 4:EJ’D 3FD:?6DD6D 2?5 b`g[___ C6D:56?ED[ :ED H2E6C DJDE6> D6CG6D >@C6 E92? a__[___ @E96C 4FDE@>6CD 24C@DD D6G6? 4@F?E:6D] %96 4:E:6D @7 p=:46[ q66G:==6 2?5 |2E9:D 2C6 H9@=6D2=6 4FDE@>6CD @7 E96 4:EJ’D H2E6C 2?5 2C6 2=D@ 9FCCJ:?8 E@ 5C:== E96:C H2J @FE @7 2 4C:D:D]k^Am
kAm}:4< (:?<6=>2??[ 49:67 @A6C2E:?8 @77:46C 2E r@CAFD r9C:DE: (2E6C[ D2:5 E96 4:EJ 92D :56?E:7:65 H6==D 2?5 @E96C D9@CE\E6C> D@FC46D E92E “46CE2:?=J 96=A65 3FJ FD D@>6 E:>6” H9:=6 @E96C 677@CED 4@?E:?F6 E@ 5:G6CD:7J 2?5 DE23:=:K6 E96 =@?8\E6C> H2E6C DFAA=J]k^Am
kAm~? %F6D52J[ E96 r:EJ r@F?4:= H:== 5:D4FDD E96 H2E6C 56A2CE>6?E’D AC@A@D2= E@ C6G:G6 E96 x??6C w2C3@C s6D2=:?2E:@? !C@;64E[ H9:49 42? AC@G:56 FA E@ `_ >:==:@? 82==@?D @7 5C:?<:?8 H2E6C 2 52J] qFE E96 D@@?6DE :E 4@F=5 56=:G6C H2E6C[ :7 2AAC@G65[ H@F=5 36 =2E6 a_ah] %96 4:EJ 😀 2=D@ 4@?D:56C:?8 56D2=:?2E:@? A=2?E AC@A@D2=D 7C@> EH@ AC:G2E6 4@>A2?:6D[ p)t wa~ 2?5 pBF2E649]k^Am
kAm%96 4:EJ 😀 2=D@ :?G6DE:?8 😕 H2DE6H2E6C C64J4=:?8[ 2? S“ >:==:@? AC@;64E E92E 4@F=5 AC@5F46 FA E@ `e >:==:@? 82==@?D 2 52J 7@C @FE5@@C FD6[ DF49 2D 8@=7 4@FCD6D 2?5 A2C@?E9[ E96 4:EJ 2AAC@G65 2 4@?EC24E@C E@ H@C< @? E92E DJDE6>[ 3FE ;FDE e_T @7 E96 56D:8? 😀 4@>A=6E6 D@ 72C[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 4:EJ >2?286C’D =2E6DE H2E6C >6>@]k^Am
kAm~? 2 EJA:42= DF>>6C 52J[ r@CAFD r9C:DE:’D DJDE6> AC@G:56D 23@FE `b_ >:==:@? 82==@?D @7 H2E6C[ (:?<6=>2?? D2:5]k^Am
kAmr:EJ =6256CD 8@E D@>6 A@D:E:G6 ?6HD 😕 >:5\|2J H96? 962GJ C2:?72== AFD965 AC@;64E:@?D @7 2 {6G6= ` 6>6C86?4J 324< 3J E9C66 >@?E9D[ 7C@> $6AE6>36C E@ s646>36C] |@C6 8@@5 ?6HD 2CC:G65 E9:D H66< 27E6C C2:?D 4@?E:?F65 E@ C67:== 2C62 C6D6CG@:CD[ =:<6=J 56=2J:?8 2? 6>6C86?4J 564=2C2E:@? :?E@ 62C=J a_af — E9@F89 E92E 56E6C>:?2E:@? H@?’E 36 >256 F?E:= yF?6 ab] k^Am
kAm“(6’C6 H@C<:?8 E@H2C5D 6G6CJ 52J E@ AFD9 E92E 52E6 @FE 2?5 6G6?EF2==J E2<6 E92E 52E6 4@>A=6E6=J @77 E96 E23=6[” (:?<6=>2?? D2:5]k^Am
kAmp?5C6H r@AA:?[ rt~ @7 #2?493@E |@?:E@C:?8 $@=FE:@?D[ 2 4@>A2?J E92E 96=AD C2?496CD EC24< E96:C H2E6C FD286[ D2:5 r@CAFD r9C:DE:’D D:EF2E:@? D9@F=5 D6CG6 2D 2 H2C?:?8 7@C E96 C6DE @7 E96 DE2E6]k^Am
kAm“w@H >2?J >@C6 r@CAFD6D 2C6 4@>:?8 😕 E96 ?6IE 76H J62CDn” 2D<65 r@AA:?[ 32D65 😕 u@CE (@CE9]k^Am
kAmtG6? 27E6C `a J62CD 😕 E96 H2E6C >2?286>6?E 3FD:?6DD6D[ r@AA:? D2:5[ r@CAFD r9C:DE:’D D:EF2E:@? DE:== D9@4]k^Am
kAm“(6’G6 8@E 2 =2C86 4:EJ 😕 2 7:CDE H@C=5 4@F?ECJ — 2C8F23=J[ E96 >@DE DF446DD7F= 7:CDE H@C=5 4@F?ECJ @? E96 A=2?6E — 2?5 :E’D CF??:?8 @FE @7 H2E6C[” 96 D2:5] “x E9:?< H92E :E 9:89=:89ED 😀 E96 :>A6C2E:G6 7@C FD E@ 36EE6C >2?286 2?5 BF2?E:7J H2E6C]”k^Am