Colorado Flooding: 3 Dead, Homes Evacuated, Drivers Stranded

By: Sean Breslin

Published: September 12,2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

Heavy rains and scarring from recent wildfires sent walls of water crashing down mountainsides early Thursday in Colorado, cutting off mountain towns, forcing the University of Colorado to cancel classes, and leaving at least three people dead.
Boulder County was hit hardest, with up to 6 inches of rain falling over 12 hours. But flooding was reported all along the Front Range, from Colorado Springs to north of Fort Collins.
"A slow-moving area of low pressure over the Rockies combined with a moist, southerly flow at all levels of the atmosphere will keep the threat of locally heavy rain and flooding in place into the weekend," said weather.com meteorologist Chris Dolce.
(MORE: Live, Real-Time Updates on This Dangerous Situation)
Since the rain began falling on Monday, Boulder has received 9.61 inches of rain through Thursday afternoon, according to weather.com senior meteorologist Jon Erdman. That three-day period exceeds the monthly record of 9.59 inches, set in May 1995.
Boulder Office of Emergency Management spokeswoman Gabrielle Boerkircher said many roads were blocked and volunteers were trying to help stranded people until emergency crews could arrive.
Boerkircher told The Associated Press one person was killed when a structure collapsed in the tiny town of Jamestown. Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle said another person was also found dead in northern Boulder.
"We're trying to get to Jamestown," Boerkircher said of a mountain community northwest of Boulder. "A lot of towns need assistance, and we cannot get through."
(MORE: How the Colorado Flooding Event Happened)
Two other structures in the area were also damaged and may have collapsed.
To the south, Colorado Springs spokeswoman Kim Melchor said police conducting flood patrols found a body in Fountain Creek on the west side of the city early Thursday.

Radar rainfall estimate over northern Colorado triggering major flash flooding in Boulder and Lyons, Colo.

"We're concerned about hypothermia, we're concerned about injury, we're concerned about all those things, and yet we're unable to get to folks," said Joe Pelle, Boulder County Sheriff. "Through no fault of any rescuer or any rescue agency; it's just completely unaccessible."
The flood waters triggered mudslides and have damaged or washed away at least three buildings in the mountains. They've also caused three cars to plunge into rushing water after a road collapsed in suburban Denver.
Flooded roadways and abandoned cars were also reported in Aurora late Thursday morning. Numerous cars were abandoned on I-70 and I-225 near Aurora as water rescues occurred, according to the Aurora Sentinel.
The National Weather Service warned of an "extremely dangerous and life-threatening situation" throughout the region as the flooding forced people from their homes, canceled classes and led to mudslides and rockslides in some areas. The town of Lyons remained cut off due to flood waters late Thursday morning, NWS Boulder reported.
"Move to higher ground now. Act quickly to protect your life," the Weather Service warned in numerous bulletins that went out throughout the morning.
(MORE: When Will the Flooding Subside?)
"We're very concerned that land is continually unstable and water is going to keep coming down through the canyon," said Boulder EMA spokesman Andrew Bart. "We're also very concerned that there are definitely people trapped."
The Weather Service said that county officials reported some homes had collapsed in Jamestown, where dozens of people live, according to a report by the The Denver Post. The town's residents were also being advised to boil their water, as it may be contaminated.
Near Lyons, about 2 feet of water was standing on U.S. Highway 36 as a normally shallow creek known for trout fishing flooded its banks.

“Move to higher ground now. Act quickly to protect your life.”

National Weather Service bulletin

At least one earthen dam gave way southeast of Estes Park, the gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park, and water levels could rise downstream as authorities release more water to keep more dams from giving way.
A National Guard helicopter requested to help pull people from their homes hasn't been able to take off because of fog and low cloud cover throughout the area.
Flash flood warnings were issued for multiple counties in the region, including Jamestown and the Fourmile wildfire burn area.
Flash flood emergencies were also issued downstream from the Front Range mountain areas, including Fort Lupton, Dacono, Plateville and other farming areas as debris piled up near bridges.
An evacuation center for the mountain residents has been sent up in nearby Nederland, officials said.
Meanwhile, hundreds of students in residences at the University of Colorado in Boulder were evacuated and classes were canceled Thursday and Friday because of the flooding. Approximately 25 percent of buildings on the campus suffered some form of water damage, according to Ryan Huff, Public Information Officer for the City of Boulder.
Mudslides and rockslides were reported in several areas, with parts of U.S. 6, Boulder Canyon, Colorado 14 and U.S. 287 all reporting problems and temporary blockages during the evening Lefthand Canyon was reported blocked by one of the many slides.
Boulder police dispatchers were receiving calls of flooded homes and streets and submerged cars.

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User submitted photo of heavy rains in northern Colorado. The National Weather Service declared a flash flood emergency in the area on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2013. (Photo courtesy of 9News.com/KUSA-TV)