Earth watch Report - Extreme Weather - Flash Floods
The
overflowing St. Vrain River swamps a structure and a piece of heavy
machinery following overnight flash flooding, one mile east of Lyons,
Colo., Thursday, Sept. 12, 2013.Heavy rains and scarring from recent
wildfires sent walls of water crashing down mountainsides early Thursday
in Colorado, cutting off mountain towns.
At least three people are reported dead.
At least three people are reported dead.
CREDIT: AP Photo/Brennan Linsley
A
roadway in Lafayette, Colo., collapsed, sending three vehicles into the
water. Emergency crews managed to rescue the three drivers.
CREDIT: CBS News
| 13.09.2013 | Flash Flood | USA | State of Colorado, [Boulder County] |  |  |
| Description | |
| Days of heavy rains caused flash flooding in Colorado's Boulder County early Thursday that has flooded streets, triggered mudslides, prompted evacuations, and left one person dead. The National Weather Service issued a flash flood emergency for the county and northwest Jefferson County, while a mandatory evacuation order was in effect for the tiny community of Jamestown and the Fourmile area. "The rains have been sitting over that area," Boulder Office of Emergency Management spokeswoman Gabrielle Boerkircher said. Hundreds of university students living near a creek in the city of Boulder have also been evacuated. 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 Denver Post. Boerkircher told The Associated Press that one person was killed when a structure collapsed in Jamestown, but that she didn't have any other details because rescuers haven't reached the scene. She also couldn't confirm that any other buildings had collapsed. "There are mudslides prohibiting us from getting to that area," she said. The office said there have been no other reports of any deaths or injuries. An evacuation center for the mountain residents has been sent up in nearby Nederland, officials said. Meanwhile, about 400 students at the University of Colorado housing in Boulder were evacuated and classes canceled Thursday because of the flooding, Boekircher said. "We've asked people in low-lying areas all through the county to evacuate," said Andrew Barth, another Emergency Management spokesman. In addition to the two counties where there were flood emergencies, the Weather Service posted flash flood warnings for parts of Broomfield, Adams, Weld, Larimer, and El Paso counties. 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, the Denver Post said. Lefthand Canyon was reported blocked by one of the many slides. The Weather Service said early Thursday that more than four inches of rain had fallen in some areas since noon Wednesday. Boulder police dispatchers were receiving calls of flooding basements and homes and of flooded streets and submerged cars. Authorities said the flooding has made many Boulder streets impassable. |
| 14.09.2013 | Extreme Weather | USA | State of Colorado, [Aurora, Denver] |  | |
| Description | |
| Days of heavy rains caused flash flooding in Colorado's Boulder County early Thursday that has flooded streets, triggered mudslides, prompted evacuations, and left one person dead. The National Weather Service issued a flash flood emergency for the county and northwest Jefferson County, while a mandatory evacuation order was in effect for the tiny community of Jamestown and the Fourmile area. "The rains have been sitting over that area," Boulder Office of Emergency Management spokeswoman Gabrielle Boerkircher said. Hundreds of university students living near a creek in the city of Boulder have also been evacuated. 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 Denver Post. Boerkircher told The Associated Press that one person was killed when a structure collapsed in Jamestown, but that she didn't have any other details because rescuers haven't reached the scene. She also couldn't confirm that any other buildings had collapsed. "There are mudslides prohibiting us from getting to that area," she said. The office said there have been no other reports of any deaths or injuries. An evacuation center for the mountain residents has been sent up in nearby Nederland, officials said. Meanwhile, about 400 students at the University of Colorado housing in Boulder were evacuated and classes canceled Thursday because of the flooding, Boekircher said. "We've asked people in low-lying areas all through the county to evacuate," said Andrew Barth, another Emergency Management spokesman. In addition to the two counties where there were flood emergencies, the Weather Service posted flash flood warnings for parts of Broomfield, Adams, Weld, Larimer, and El Paso counties. 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, the Denver Post said. Lefthand Canyon was reported blocked by one of the many slides. The Weather Service said early Thursday that more than four inches of rain had fallen in some areas since noon Wednesday. Boulder police dispatchers were receiving calls of flooding basements and homes and of flooded streets and submerged cars. Authorities said the flooding has made many Boulder streets impassable. |
Rescuers to flooded residents: Stay behind at your own peril
National Guard helicopters and truck convoys carried the admonition into paralyzed canyon communities where thousands of stranded residents were eager to escape the Rocky Mountain foothills. But not everybody was willing to go. Dozens of people in the isolated community of Jamestown wanted to stay to watch over their homes.
Authorities made clear that residents who chose not to leave might not get another chance for a while.
Flash flooding swamps Colorado
Special education teacher Brian Shultz, 38, was torn about leaving his Jamestown home.
"I was thinking about staying. I could have lasted at least a year. I have a lot of training in wilderness survival," he said, adding that he probably had enough beer to last the whole time.
As he sat outside a makeshift shelter at a high school, Shultz floated the idea of walking back into the funky mountain town.
"If we hike back, I would stay there and just live. I'd rather be at our own house than staying at some other people's houses," he said.
His wife, Meagan Harrington, gave him a wry smile. About 10 of their neighbors declined to evacuate, she said.
"They said they wouldn't force you, but it was strongly encouraged," she said.
When will Colo. see relief from rain and flooding?
Colorado towns cut off by record floods
"At least all of our stuff's there and will be there when we get back. The people right by the river, their houses were washed away. Other people thought their houses were going to be OK, and then they started to go. It's just really devastating."
Across the foothills, rescuers made progress against the floodwaters. But they were still unable to go up many narrow canyon roads that were either underwater or washed out.
On Saturday, the surge of water reached the plains east of the mountains, cutting off more communities and diverting some rescue operations.
Four people have been confirmed dead since the harrowing floods began Wednesday. And hundreds of others have not been heard from in the flood zone, which has grown to cover portions of an area nearly the size of Connecticut.
Some of those who are unaccounted for may be stranded or injured. Others might have gotten out but not yet contacted friends and relatives, officials said.
Police expected to find more bodies as the full scope of damage emerges.
Destruction
on Gold Run Creek north of Boulder, Colo., is seen in the aftermath of
flooding in the area Sept. 13, 2013, in this picture provided by Earth
Vision Trust.
/ AP Photo/Earth Vision Trust Read More and Watch Video Here
...
Boulder Area Calls for Thousands More to Evacuate Amid Flooding
The late-night reports from Boulder and the village of Eldorado Springs came as rescuers struggled to reach dozens of people cut off by flooding in Colorado mountain communities, while residents in the Denver area and other downstream communities were warned to stay off flooded streets.
The towns of Lyons, Jamestown and others in the Rocky Mountain foothills have been isolated by flooding and without power or telephone since rain hanging over the region all week intensified late Wednesday and early Thursday.
At least three people were killed and another was missing, and numerous people were forced to seek shelter up and down Colorado's populated Front Range.
Late Thursday night, Boulder city officials said they sent a notice to head to higher ground to about 4,000 people living along Boulder Creek around the mouth of Boulder Canyon after 11 p.m. MDT, according to a report in Boulder's Daily Camera newspaper.
Boulder County spokesman James Burrus told The Associated Press that about 8,000 telephone numbers with the message to evacuate were called, but officials aren't sure how many individuals that represented.
Read More and Watch Video Here
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