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2013 Colorado floods

April 10, 2024

The 2013 Colorado floods were a series of natural disasters occurring in the U.S. state of Colorado. Starting on September 11, 2013, a slow-moving cold front stalled over Colorado, clashing with warm humid monsoonal air from the south.[1] This resulted in heavy rain and catastrophic flooding along Colorado's Front Range from Colorado Springs north to Fort Collins. The situation intensified on September 11 and 12. Boulder County was worst hit, with 9.08 inches (231 mm) recorded September 12 and up to 18 inches (460 mm) of rain recorded by September 15,[2][3][4] which is comparable to Boulder County's average annual precipitation (20.7 inches, 525 mm).[5] This event has also been referred to as the 2013 Colorado Front Range Flood,[6][7][8] reflecting a more precise geographic extent in and along the Colorado Front Range mountains.

2013 Colorado floods
Disaster emergencies were declared by Governor John Hickenlooper in 14 counties (highlighted) in Colorado.
Meteorological history
DurationSeptember 9, 2013 – September 30, 2013
Flood
Maximum rainfall20 in (508.0 mm)
Overall effects
Fatalities8 dead, 1 missing/presumed dead
DamageEstimated over $1 billion
Areas affectedColorado, primarily the Front Range, El Paso County and Boulder County, as well as portions of metro Denver
This is an animated loop of water vapor systems over the western area of North America on September 12, 2013 as shown by the GOES-15 and GOES-13 satellites. The storm that caused the 2013 Colorado flooding was kept in a confined area over the Eastern Range of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado by these water vapor systems.

The National Weather Service's Hydrometeorological Design Studies Center stated in a document that the annual exceedance probability (AEP) for the entire rainfall event was as low as 1/1000 (0.1%) in places.[9]

The flood waters spread across a range of almost 200 miles (320 km) from north to south, affecting 17 counties.[10] Governor John Hickenlooper declared a disaster emergency on September 12, 2013, in 14 counties: Adams, Arapahoe, Broomfield, Boulder, Denver, El Paso, Fremont, Jefferson, Larimer, Logan, Morgan, Pueblo, Washington and Weld.[11] By September 15, federal emergency declarations covered those 14 counties as well as Clear Creek County.

Background edit

The state of Colorado had been experiencing varying levels of drought prior to the week of storms starting on September 9. The U.S. Drought Monitor stated that "The combination of ample Gulf and Pacific tropical moisture (in part from Tropical Storms Manuel (Pacific) and Ingrid (Gulf) which inundated Mexico), stalled frontal systems, and upsloping conditions produced the widespread rainfall [along Colorado's Front Range]."[12] This resulted in rainfall totals exceeding 20 inches in parts of Boulder County, along with numerous flash floods, property destruction and loss of life.

Historic flooding edit

Colorado has a semi-arid climate and has had a history of flash flooding. The earliest recorded flood in Boulder was the great flood of 1894 which came down Boulder Canyon. It wiped out Canyon Street, then known as Water Street, and flooded most of the downtown area. In 1965 another flood hit Colorado.[citation needed] The Big Thompson River begins around Estes Park in northern Colorado and flows east through the state into Big Thompson Canyon.[13] On July 31, 1976, the Big Thompson Flood of 1976 struck .[14][15] In the first hour alone, 8 inches of rainfall was recorded for a total of 12 inches during the first three hours.[15] The flash flooding killed 144 people and caused $35 million worth of damage in 1977 US dollar values, or roughly $140 million in 2013.[15]

Comparatively, the 2013 Flooding was caused by approximately 15 inches of rainfall over the span of a week which killed 8 people and caused $2 billion in damage.[16] The rainfall in 2013 was clearly more than that in 1976. However, the flooding was more intensive in 1976 because the rainfall that fell occurred in a much shorter time frame and caught many people off guard. In 2013, The Big Thompson River experienced peak flow rates near Loveland, CO of 4,500 CFS (127.43 cubic meters per second) before the measuring gauge was destroyed by floodwaters.[17] In 1976, the same area of the river saw peak flow rates of 31,200 cubic feet per second (883.49 cubic meters per second).[15] As a result, this is not the worst flooding Colorado has seen, but it is the heaviest rainfall Colorado has seen.[citation needed]

Impact edit

 
Colorado National Guardsmen respond to floods in Boulder County.

At least eight deaths were reported by the Colorado Office of Emergency Management, with two more missing and presumed dead and hundreds remaining unaccounted for.[18] More than 11,000 were evacuated.[10] The town of Lyons in Boulder County was isolated by the flooding of St. Vrain Creek,[19] and several earth dams along the Front Range burst or were over-topped.[20] On September 12, Boulder Creek was reported to have exceeded 5,000 cubic feet (140 m3) of water per second. Boulder Creek regularly flows around 150–200 cubic feet (4.2–5.7 m3) per second. This caused serious damage to buildings along the creek and the creek path such as Boulder High School. As of late September 13, according to the Office of Emergency Management, there were 172 people unaccounted for and at least three dead in flood areas of Boulder County.[21] By September 14, the death toll had reached five and more than 500 were unaccounted for, but not necessarily considered missing.

 
Boulder residents survey the damage on Friday, September 13.

At least 1,750 people and 300 pets have been rescued by air and ground.[22][23][24] Rescue efforts were hampered by continuing rain and a low cloud ceiling, which grounded National Guard helicopters September 15.[25]

Nearly 19,000 homes were damaged, and over 1,500 were destroyed.[26] The Colorado Department of Transportation estimates that at least 30 state highway bridges were destroyed and an additional 20 are seriously damaged, with repairs for damaged bridges and roads expected to cost many millions of dollars.[27] Miles of freight and passenger rail lines were washed out or submerged, including a section servicing Amtrak's iconic California Zephyr.[28]

Rainfall totals recorded by the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network (CoCoRaHS) from September 9–15, 2013 show significant totals in the Aurora, Boulder and Estes Park areas with several locations in the city of Boulder recording 15 to 20 inches (380 to 510 mm) of rain.[29]

Impact by county edit

  • Aurora in Arapahoe County experienced flash flooding with up to 2.27 inches (5.8 cm) of rain in a six-hour period.[30][31]
  • Rainfall over five days in Boulder County exceeded the county's annual average.[32] Three deaths have been confirmed in Boulder County.[33] Over 1,600 were evacuated, with 262 homes destroyed and nearly 300 more damaged.[34] Nearly 900 square miles (2,300 km2) were damaged by flooding.[33] Roads suffered extensive damage in Big Thompson Canyon and Buckhorn Canyon, with some sections completely washed away.[33] Maps of the flooding are available on the Boulder County Government website.[35] Jamestown experienced losses of 20% of homes and 50% of roads, with one fatality reported.[36]
  • The Denver metro area experienced more flooding in the eastern part of the county, and the city itself received 3.72 inches of rain during the flood.[37]
  • Fountain Creek in El Paso County flooded, with the municipalities of Fort Carson reporting close to 19 inches of precipitation and Colorado Springs reporting one fatality.[36][38]
  • In Jefferson County, Colorado, flooding in Coal Creek Canyon damaged Highway 72 to the point of closure, and it re-opened in November 2013.[39] The town of Evergreen had a Level 1 evacuation notice when Bear Creek (Colorado) reached a flood stage of 9 feet.[40][41]
  • Larimer County was also hit hard, with 1,120 square miles (2,900 km2) affected by flooding, and 1,500 homes and 200 businesses destroyed.[42] An additional 4,500 homes and 500 businesses were estimated to be damaged.[42] Extensive road damage in Big Thompson Canyon cut off-road access to the communities of Drake, Glen Haven, and Cedar Park.[42] Three dams also failed in the county.[42] Both U.S. Highway 36 and U.S. Highway 34, the major routes into the tourist town of Estes Park, were severely damaged.[43] Hundreds of Estes Park residents were also isolated by the destruction of sections of Fish Creek Road and all nine crossings across Fish Creek.[43] Damaged sewer lines dumped raw sewage down the creek and into the Big Thompson River.[43]
  • In Logan County the South Platte River flooded, cresting at 11.2 feet.[44] A No Flush Limited Water Use Order was in effect during the flood, and 73 miles of asphalt and dirt roads were damaged.[45]
  • In Morgan County, the communities of Goodrich, Orchard, and Weldona were placed under an immediate evacuation order the morning of September 14.[46] Floodwaters reached 13 feet high.[47]
  • Weld County, in northeast Colorado, was flooded by the overflow of the South Platte River. Flooding in Weld County affected 3,000 homes, over 350 commercial properties, and 2,377 agricultural parcels.[48] 122 bridges were damaged, and 654 lane-miles of road in Weld County were either damaged by flooding or under standing water.[48] Portions of Greeley, the county seat, were under mandatory evacuation, and whole neighborhoods in Greeley and nearby Evans were submerged after days of flooding.[46][49] The shutdown of a wastewater treatment facility in Evans put remaining residents on restrictions including not to flush their toilets, do laundry, or bathe.[50]

Economic impact edit

Lower-lying agricultural land in northeast Colorado was affected as flood waters surged down rivers and creeks, inundating fields and pastures.[25] Significant crop damage is expected from standing water that has no way to drain from fields.[25]

Hundreds of oil and gas wells were shut down in the Denver Basin, many of which were under rushing water, and reports of broken lines and storage tanks swept away by the flood waters raised concerns of contamination.[51][52] A spill from flood-damaged storage tanks in Milliken was reported September 18, which released 5,250 US gallons (19,900 L; 4,370 imp gal) of crude oil into the South Platte River.[53]

The IRS announced that it would extend filing and payment deadlines for flood victims.[54]

Hazardous impacts edit

Structures located in high risk flood zones were soon inundated. Sewage treatment plants affected by the flood waters released 20 million gallons of raw sewage as well as 150–270 million gallons of partially treated sewage, as estimated by the State health department. What resulted is higher levels of E. coli, some as high as 472–911 colonies per millimeter of water (126 colonies per millimeter of water is considered unsafe).[55] The Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) reports that oil lines and containment facilities failed and leaked a total of 1,027 barrels (viz. 43,134 gallons) of oil. The COGCC is monitoring 13 substantial leaks as of October 8, 2013.[56] The COGCC is also monitoring 17 substantial leaks of produced water, or water that is used in the refinement of oil products and is considered waste water. The COGCC reports that 26,385 gallons of such water has leaked into flood waters.[56] Over 50,000 fracking wells – a mining process utilized in the extraction of oil form the Earth – operate in the state of Colorado and 1,900 fracking wells were flooded at the peak flood levels. This number has since been reduced to around 1,300 wells. Concerns have been raised about the safety of such wells in a flood situation. The produced water from these operations sit in open pits and easily mix with flood waters and deposit toxic substances like lead or other sediments across the state.[57][58]

Ecological impacts edit

Scientific reports that show the ecological impacts of the flooding are not readily available because this is such a recent event. Past studies on the ecological impacts of flash flooding can give insight on what may happen. Temporal succession has been studied in areas that experience flash flooding regularly. In these instances, typical biological processes characteristic to the area pre-flood resume within 2–3 weeks.[59] The 2013 Colorado flooding is a more complex case because of the close contact with human society. Contamination from sewage, oil, and waste water containing toxic substances can delay natural succession processes if not alter them entirely. For example, waste water from flooded fracking wells could introduce levels of lead into a freshwater system, keeping a particular strain of algae from developing in usual successional form. The hierarchy of development is now delayed or shifted into an entirely different direction. Pollution from the floodwaters could also affect species in ways not related to succession. For example, animals relying on natural freshwater systems as a source for water can contract fatal illnesses as a result of the higher levels of E. coli bacteria in the water due to sewage leaks caused by the flooding.

Media response edit

Media such as 9News, 7News, FOX 31 and more covered the entire event for nearly the entire time it was present. The National Weather Service issued Flood and Flash Flood Warnings for all the affected areas. These warnings were complained about by residents in the hardest hit counties in the beginning, saying they were very pestering.[citation needed]

Federal aid edit

 
A rescue dog from the Federal Urban Search and Rescue task force for the floods.

President Barack Obama first declared a state of emergency for Boulder, El Paso, and Larimer counties, with an additional 12 counties added September 16: Adams, Arapahoe, Broomfield, Clear Creek, Denver, Fremont, Jefferson, Morgan, Logan, Pueblo, Washington and Weld counties. This authorized federal search and rescue teams, as well as supplies such as food, water, cots, generators, and emergency flood control measures.[60] Obama also declared a major disaster specifically for Boulder County, which provides for federal recovery assistance such as temporary housing, home repairs, and low-cost loans.[61]

On September 25, 2013, Rep. Cory Gardner (R-CO) introduced the bill To authorize the Secretary of Transportation to obligate funds for emergency relief projects arising from damage caused by severe weather events in 2013 (H.R. 3174; 113th Congress).[62] If passed, the bill would "exempt Colorado from a cap on funding, contained in Division A of Public Law 113-2 (The Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2013), from the Federal Aid Highways Emergency Relief program of $100 million per emergency incident."[63] When arguing in favor of the bill, Rep. Cory Gardner cited the statistics that the flood affected "two hundred mile-lanes of highway."[64]

The shutdown of the United States federal government from October 1–17, 2013 stopped federal relief aid funding going to recovery efforts in Colorado. The state of Colorado began paying the National Guard for continuing relief efforts until the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) could reimburse the State government at the end of the shutdown. The state hopes to be reimbursed for at least 75% of the funds.[65]

The shutdown compromise signed on October 17, 2013 includes funding for Colorado relief efforts, specifically referencing Rep. Gardner's bill H.R. 3174; 113th Congress. The cap typically set at $100 million has been raised to $450 million in light of Colorado's current conditions. It is not uncommon for this cap to be raised for disaster struck areas such as those states hit by Hurricane Sandy or Hurricane Katrina.[66]

Other aid edit

The American Red Cross, The Salvation Army, Save the Children, the United Way, the Air Land Emergency Resource Team, Boulder Flood Relief, and Helping Pets are among the organizations accepting donations on behalf of flood victims.[67][68]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ McGhee, Tom (September 12, 2013). "Colorado flood: No relief in sight as record rain falls". The Denver Post. Retrieved September 17, 2013.
  2. ^ Matt Smith; Dave Hennen (September 20, 2013). "Record rain, steep canyons fueled Colorado floods". CNN.
  3. ^ Amanda Paulson (September 13, 2013). "For Colorado's 'biblical' floods, numbers tell astonishing tale". The Christian Science Monitor.
  4. ^ Andrew Freedman (September 16, 2013). "Flood-Ravaged Boulder, Colo., Sets Annual Rainfall Record". Climate Central.
  5. ^ Average Yearly Precipitation for Colorado. Current Results. Retrieved September 19, 2013.
  6. ^ Yochum, Steven E.; Moore, Daniel S. (2013). "Colorado Front Range Flood of 2013: Peak Flow Estimates at Selected Mountain Stream Locations". doi:10.13140/2.1.2593.0242. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  7. ^ Yochum, Steven E. (2015). "Colorado Front Range Flood of 2013: Peak Flows and Flood Frequencies". doi:10.13140/rg.2.1.3439.1520. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  8. ^ Gochis, David; Schumacher, Russ; Friedrich, Katja; Doesken, Nolan; Kelsch, Matt; Sun, Juanzhen; Ikeda, Kyoko; Lindsey, Daniel; Wood, Andy (December 11, 2014). "The Great Colorado Flood of September 2013". Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. 96 (9): 1461–1487. Bibcode:2015BAMS...96.1461G. doi:10.1175/BAMS-D-13-00241.1. hdl:2117/78527. ISSN 0003-0007. S2CID 46600790.
  9. ^ (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on November 7, 2013. Retrieved January 6, 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  10. ^ a b "Colorado flood: Rebuild likely to take more than a year". 9news.com. September 16, 2013. Archived from the original on September 17, 2013. Retrieved September 16, 2013.
  11. ^ Garrison, Robert (September 13, 2013). "Governor declares disaster emergency in 14 counties". 9news.com. Archived from the original on September 16, 2013. Retrieved September 16, 2013.
  12. ^ http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/ September 17, 2013
  13. ^ NOAA. "COLORADO REMEMBERS BIG THOMPSON CANYON FLASH FLOOD OF 1976". NOAA News. NOAA. Retrieved November 13, 2013.
  14. ^ NOAA. "Big Thompson Canyon Flash Flood of July 31 – August 1, 1976: A Report to the Administrator (Natural Disaster Survey Report 76-1)" (PDF). www.nws.noaa.gov. NOAA. Retrieved November 13, 2013.
  15. ^ a b c d USGS. "1976 Big Thompson Flood, Colorado – Thirty Years Later" (PDF). USGS Publications Warehouse. USGS. Retrieved November 13, 2013.
  16. ^ Henson, Bob. "INSIDE THE COLORADO DELUGE: How much rain fell on the Front Range, and how historic was it?". AtmosNews. University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR). Retrieved November 13, 2013.
  17. ^ Lewis, Justin. "A Simple Visualization Of Selected Stream Measurements During The 2013 Colorado Flood". github.com. Retrieved November 13, 2013.
  18. ^ Shiff, Blair (September 17, 2013). "Colorado floods: Statewide fatality numbers revised". 9news.com. Archived from the original on September 18, 2013. Retrieved September 17, 2013.
  19. ^ . The Denver Post. September 12, 2013. Archived from the original on January 20, 2016. Retrieved September 17, 2013.
  20. ^ Olinger, David; Finley, Bruce (September 12, 2013). "Colorado flood: Dams break in Larimer and Adams counties; overflowing in Boulder". The Denver Post. Retrieved September 17, 2013.
  21. ^ "172 People Now Unaccounted For In Boulder County". CBS News Denver. Retrieved September 14, 2013.
  22. ^ "'We were lucky to get out': Scores of people unaccounted for in Colorado flooding". NBC News. Retrieved September 15, 2013.
  23. ^ "Colorado floods: "Unaccounted for" fluid, now totals 584". The Denver Post. September 14, 2013. Retrieved September 15, 2013.
  24. ^ Preston, Jennifer (September 15, 2013). "Video of Helicopter Rescue Crews Airlifting 85 Schoolchildren to Safety". The New York Times. Retrieved September 17, 2013.
  25. ^ a b c Coffman, Keith (September 15, 2013). "Death toll rises in Colorado floods with another feared dead". Reuters. Retrieved September 16, 2013.
  26. ^ "At least 1,000 people await rescue in Colorado county as weather snarls flood recovery efforts". Fox News Channel. September 15, 2013. Retrieved September 15, 2013.
  27. ^ Novey, Madeline (September 15, 2013). "CDOT assessing 'millions and millions' in road, bridge damage". The Coloradoan. Retrieved September 16, 2013.
  28. ^ Noon, Alison (September 18, 2013). "Amtrak, freight trains in flood zones likely out through month". The Denver Post. Retrieved September 19, 2013.
  29. ^ Petty, Daniel (September 16, 2013). "Colorado flooding 2013: Map of rain totals". Denver Post.
  30. ^ Illescas, Carlos (September 12, 2013). "Colorado flood: Some stranded Aurora residents retrieved by rafts". The Denver Post. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
  31. ^ "Timeline of Events". Colorado Flood 2013. Colorado Climate Center. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
  32. ^ Cipriano, Laurie (September 15, 2013). "Approximately 235 unaccounted for in Boulder County". 9news.com. Archived from the original on September 17, 2013. Retrieved September 17, 2013.
  33. ^ a b c Shiff, Blair (September 17, 2013). "Boulder County: Many still missing in Boulder after flooding". 9news.com. Archived from the original on September 17, 2013. Retrieved September 17, 2013.
  34. ^ Shiff, Blair (September 18, 2013). "Boulder County: Some residents could see homes as early as Thursday after the Colorado flood". 9news.com. Archived from the original on September 18, 2013. Retrieved September 18, 2013.
  35. ^ . City of Boulder Colorado. Archived from the original on October 21, 2014. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
  36. ^ a b "Timeline of Events". Colorado Flood 2013. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
  37. ^ Petty, Daniel. "Colorado Flooding 2013: Map of Rain Totals". The Denver Post. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
  38. ^ "Colorado Springs, El Paso County Assess Flood Damage: Roads, Parks, Creeks Need Work". The Gazette. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
  39. ^ "Flood Damaged Coal Creek Canyon Road Reopens". CBS Denver. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
  40. ^ "Evergreen: Downtown Streets Flooded". The Denver Post. September 13, 2013. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
  41. ^ (PDF). Elk Creek Fire Department. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 13, 2015. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
  42. ^ a b c d Shiff, Blair (September 17, 2013). "Larimer County: Thousands of homes destroyed by the flooding". 9news.com. Archived from the original on September 18, 2013. Retrieved September 18, 2013.
  43. ^ a b c Fort Collins Coloradoan (September 17, 2013). "Estes Park vows to rebound from ravages of flood". 9news.com. Archived from the original on September 18, 2013. Retrieved September 18, 2013.
  44. ^ Nicholson, Kieran (September 17, 2013). "South Platte crest Wednesday in Julesburg expected to be higher than flood of 1965". The Denver Post. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
  45. ^ "Flood update: no flush restriction still in effect". Journal-Advocate. September 20, 2013. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
  46. ^ a b Shiff, Blair (September 14, 2013). "Colorado floods: Flood waters debilitate many Colorado cities". 9news.com. Archived from the original on September 17, 2013. Retrieved September 17, 2013.
  47. ^ "Colorado flood: Evacuations begin in Morgan County". The Denver Post. September 14, 2013. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
  48. ^ a b Shiff, Blair (September 17, 2013). "Weld County: Businesses decimated by Colorado flooding". 9news.com. Archived from the original on September 17, 2013. Retrieved September 17, 2013.
  49. ^ Shiff, Blair (September 15, 2013). "Vera Gravel pits wash out force evacuations in Greeley". 9news.com. Archived from the original on September 17, 2013. Retrieved September 17, 2013.
  50. ^ Shiff, Blair (September 14, 2013). "Contaminated water floods Evans; leaves behind destruction". 9news.com. Archived from the original on September 17, 2013. Retrieved September 17, 2013.
  51. ^ Proctor, Cathy (September 16, 2013). "Colorado floods shut down hundreds of oil and gas wells; recovery will take time". Denver Business Journal. Retrieved September 16, 2013.
  52. ^ Meltzer, Erica. "Boulder County activists concerned about flooded oil, gas wells". Daily Camera. Boulder. Retrieved September 16, 2013.
  53. ^ Finley, Bruce; Parker, Ryan (September 18, 2013). "5,250 gallons of oil spills into South Platte River". The Denver Post. Retrieved September 19, 2013.
  54. ^ Hicks, L. Wayne (September 16, 2013). "Flood victims to get a break from IRS". Denver Business Journal. Retrieved September 16, 2013.
  55. ^ The Denver Post (October 8, 2013). "E. coli found in Colorado flood zones, but no oil, gas contamination Read more: E. coli found in Colorado flood zones, but no oil, gas contamination". The Denver Post. Retrieved November 14, 2013.
  56. ^ a b Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission. (PDF). COGCC 203 Flood Information. COGCC. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 3, 2013. Retrieved November 14, 2013.
  57. ^ Leber, Rebecca. "Colorado Floodwaters Cover Fracking And Oil Projects: 'We Have No Idea What Those Wells Are Leaking'". ClimateProgress.org. ThinkProgress.org. Retrieved November 14, 2013.
  58. ^ Ferner, Matt (October 8, 2013). "No Oil And Gas Pollutants In Colorado Rivers After Flood, But High Levels Of E. Coli: REPORT". The Huffington Post. Retrieved November 14, 2013.
  59. ^ Fisher, Stuart G.; et al. (1982). "Temporal Succession in a Desert Stream Ecosystem Following Flash Flooding". Ecological Monographs. 52 (1). Ecological Society of America: 93–110. doi:10.2307/2937346. JSTOR 2937346.
  60. ^ . 7NEWS. September 15, 2013. Archived from the original on September 17, 2013. Retrieved September 16, 2013.
  61. ^ "Obama signs Colo. disaster declaration". The Hill. September 15, 2013. Retrieved September 15, 2013.
  62. ^ "H.R. 3174 – All Actions". United States Congress. Retrieved September 30, 2013.
  63. ^ "CBO – H.R. 3174 – Colorado Flooding" (PDF). Congressional Budget Office. Retrieved September 30, 2013.
  64. ^ Kasperowicz, Pete (September 30, 2013). "House votes to boost funding for Colorado flood relief". The Hill. Retrieved September 30, 2013.
  65. ^ Ferner, Matt (October 1, 2013). "Colorado Will Pay National Guard For Flood Relief Efforts During Government Shutdown". The Huffington Post. Retrieved November 14, 2013.
  66. ^ Wilson, Reid. "Senate shutdown compromise includes Colorado relief". The Washington Post.
  67. ^ Grubb, Jennifer (September 19, 2013). "Helping flood-ravaged Colorado recover". CNN. Retrieved September 18, 2013.
  68. ^ Rubino, Joe. "10 weeks after flood, Jamestown is healing". Daily Camera. Retrieved February 7, 2014.

External links edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to 2013 Colorado floods.
  • The Colorado Storm and Flood of 2013:[permanent dead link] Includes photos, maps, graphs, and links, created by the NSF-supported Boulder Creek Critical Zone Observatory at the University of Colorado
  • Colorado 2013 Flood Information Map, with locations of shelters, city and county government offices, and animal shelters
  • : links to government, news, and aid agency sites
  • Denver Post: 2013 Colorado Floods
  • Colorado Flood Database (United States Geological Survey)
  • Satellite Images of the September 2013 Flood Event in Lyons, Colorado (United States Geological Survey)
  • State of Colorado website to assist flood survivors and victims with resources and information launched on October 15, 2013

April 10, 2024
2013, colorado, floods, this, article, needs, updated, please, help, update, this, article, reflect, recent, events, newly, available, information, february, 2014, were, series, natural, disasters, occurring, state, colorado, starting, september, 2013, slow, m. This article needs to be updated Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information February 2014 The 2013 Colorado floods were a series of natural disasters occurring in the U S state of Colorado Starting on September 11 2013 a slow moving cold front stalled over Colorado clashing with warm humid monsoonal air from the south 1 This resulted in heavy rain and catastrophic flooding along Colorado s Front Range from Colorado Springs north to Fort Collins The situation intensified on September 11 and 12 Boulder County was worst hit with 9 08 inches 231 mm recorded September 12 and up to 18 inches 460 mm of rain recorded by September 15 2 3 4 which is comparable to Boulder County s average annual precipitation 20 7 inches 525 mm 5 This event has also been referred to as the 2013 Colorado Front Range Flood 6 7 8 reflecting a more precise geographic extent in and along the Colorado Front Range mountains 2013 Colorado floods Disaster emergencies were declared by Governor John Hickenlooper in 14 counties highlighted in Colorado Meteorological historyDurationSeptember 9 2013 September 30 2013FloodMaximum rainfall20 in 508 0 mm Overall effectsFatalities8 dead 1 missing presumed deadDamageEstimated over 1 billionAreas affectedColorado primarily the Front Range El Paso County and Boulder County as well as portions of metro DenverThis is an animated loop of water vapor systems over the western area of North America on September 12 2013 as shown by the GOES 15 and GOES 13 satellites The storm that caused the 2013 Colorado flooding was kept in a confined area over the Eastern Range of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado by these water vapor systems The National Weather Service s Hydrometeorological Design Studies Center stated in a document that the annual exceedance probability AEP for the entire rainfall event was as low as 1 1000 0 1 in places 9 The flood waters spread across a range of almost 200 miles 320 km from north to south affecting 17 counties 10 Governor John Hickenlooper declared a disaster emergency on September 12 2013 in 14 counties Adams Arapahoe Broomfield Boulder Denver El Paso Fremont Jefferson Larimer Logan Morgan Pueblo Washington and Weld 11 By September 15 federal emergency declarations covered those 14 counties as well as Clear Creek County Contents 1 Background 2 Historic flooding 3 Impact 3 1 Impact by county 3 2 Economic impact 3 3 Hazardous impacts 3 4 Ecological impacts 3 5 Media response 4 Federal aid 4 1 Other aid 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksBackground editThe state of Colorado had been experiencing varying levels of drought prior to the week of storms starting on September 9 The U S Drought Monitor stated that The combination of ample Gulf and Pacific tropical moisture in part from Tropical Storms Manuel Pacific and Ingrid Gulf which inundated Mexico stalled frontal systems and upsloping conditions produced the widespread rainfall along Colorado s Front Range 12 This resulted in rainfall totals exceeding 20 inches in parts of Boulder County along with numerous flash floods property destruction and loss of life Historic flooding editColorado has a semi arid climate and has had a history of flash flooding The earliest recorded flood in Boulder was the great flood of 1894 which came down Boulder Canyon It wiped out Canyon Street then known as Water Street and flooded most of the downtown area In 1965 another flood hit Colorado citation needed The Big Thompson River begins around Estes Park in northern Colorado and flows east through the state into Big Thompson Canyon 13 On July 31 1976 the Big Thompson Flood of 1976 struck 14 15 In the first hour alone 8 inches of rainfall was recorded for a total of 12 inches during the first three hours 15 The flash flooding killed 144 people and caused 35 million worth of damage in 1977 US dollar values or roughly 140 million in 2013 15 Comparatively the 2013 Flooding was caused by approximately 15 inches of rainfall over the span of a week which killed 8 people and caused 2 billion in damage 16 The rainfall in 2013 was clearly more than that in 1976 However the flooding was more intensive in 1976 because the rainfall that fell occurred in a much shorter time frame and caught many people off guard In 2013 The Big Thompson River experienced peak flow rates near Loveland CO of 4 500 CFS 127 43 cubic meters per second before the measuring gauge was destroyed by floodwaters 17 In 1976 the same area of the river saw peak flow rates of 31 200 cubic feet per second 883 49 cubic meters per second 15 As a result this is not the worst flooding Colorado has seen but it is the heaviest rainfall Colorado has seen citation needed Impact edit nbsp Colorado National Guardsmen respond to floods in Boulder County At least eight deaths were reported by the Colorado Office of Emergency Management with two more missing and presumed dead and hundreds remaining unaccounted for 18 More than 11 000 were evacuated 10 The town of Lyons in Boulder County was isolated by the flooding of St Vrain Creek 19 and several earth dams along the Front Range burst or were over topped 20 On September 12 Boulder Creek was reported to have exceeded 5 000 cubic feet 140 m3 of water per second Boulder Creek regularly flows around 150 200 cubic feet 4 2 5 7 m3 per second This caused serious damage to buildings along the creek and the creek path such as Boulder High School As of late September 13 according to the Office of Emergency Management there were 172 people unaccounted for and at least three dead in flood areas of Boulder County 21 By September 14 the death toll had reached five and more than 500 were unaccounted for but not necessarily considered missing nbsp Boulder residents survey the damage on Friday September 13 At least 1 750 people and 300 pets have been rescued by air and ground 22 23 24 Rescue efforts were hampered by continuing rain and a low cloud ceiling which grounded National Guard helicopters September 15 25 Nearly 19 000 homes were damaged and over 1 500 were destroyed 26 The Colorado Department of Transportation estimates that at least 30 state highway bridges were destroyed and an additional 20 are seriously damaged with repairs for damaged bridges and roads expected to cost many millions of dollars 27 Miles of freight and passenger rail lines were washed out or submerged including a section servicing Amtrak s iconic California Zephyr 28 Rainfall totals recorded by the Community Collaborative Rain Hail and Snow Network CoCoRaHS from September 9 15 2013 show significant totals in the Aurora Boulder and Estes Park areas with several locations in the city of Boulder recording 15 to 20 inches 380 to 510 mm of rain 29 Impact by county edit This section needs expansion You can help by adding to it September 2013 Aurora in Arapahoe County experienced flash flooding with up to 2 27 inches 5 8 cm of rain in a six hour period 30 31 Rainfall over five days in Boulder County exceeded the county s annual average 32 Three deaths have been confirmed in Boulder County 33 Over 1 600 were evacuated with 262 homes destroyed and nearly 300 more damaged 34 Nearly 900 square miles 2 300 km2 were damaged by flooding 33 Roads suffered extensive damage in Big Thompson Canyon and Buckhorn Canyon with some sections completely washed away 33 Maps of the flooding are available on the Boulder County Government website 35 Jamestown experienced losses of 20 of homes and 50 of roads with one fatality reported 36 The Denver metro area experienced more flooding in the eastern part of the county and the city itself received 3 72 inches of rain during the flood 37 Fountain Creek in El Paso County flooded with the municipalities of Fort Carson reporting close to 19 inches of precipitation and Colorado Springs reporting one fatality 36 38 In Jefferson County Colorado flooding in Coal Creek Canyon damaged Highway 72 to the point of closure and it re opened in November 2013 39 The town of Evergreen had a Level 1 evacuation notice when Bear Creek Colorado reached a flood stage of 9 feet 40 41 Larimer County was also hit hard with 1 120 square miles 2 900 km2 affected by flooding and 1 500 homes and 200 businesses destroyed 42 An additional 4 500 homes and 500 businesses were estimated to be damaged 42 Extensive road damage in Big Thompson Canyon cut off road access to the communities of Drake Glen Haven and Cedar Park 42 Three dams also failed in the county 42 Both U S Highway 36 and U S Highway 34 the major routes into the tourist town of Estes Park were severely damaged 43 Hundreds of Estes Park residents were also isolated by the destruction of sections of Fish Creek Road and all nine crossings across Fish Creek 43 Damaged sewer lines dumped raw sewage down the creek and into the Big Thompson River 43 In Logan County the South Platte River flooded cresting at 11 2 feet 44 A No Flush Limited Water Use Order was in effect during the flood and 73 miles of asphalt and dirt roads were damaged 45 In Morgan County the communities of Goodrich Orchard and Weldona were placed under an immediate evacuation order the morning of September 14 46 Floodwaters reached 13 feet high 47 Weld County in northeast Colorado was flooded by the overflow of the South Platte River Flooding in Weld County affected 3 000 homes over 350 commercial properties and 2 377 agricultural parcels 48 122 bridges were damaged and 654 lane miles of road in Weld County were either damaged by flooding or under standing water 48 Portions of Greeley the county seat were under mandatory evacuation and whole neighborhoods in Greeley and nearby Evans were submerged after days of flooding 46 49 The shutdown of a wastewater treatment facility in Evans put remaining residents on restrictions including not to flush their toilets do laundry or bathe 50 Economic impact edit Lower lying agricultural land in northeast Colorado was affected as flood waters surged down rivers and creeks inundating fields and pastures 25 Significant crop damage is expected from standing water that has no way to drain from fields 25 Hundreds of oil and gas wells were shut down in the Denver Basin many of which were under rushing water and reports of broken lines and storage tanks swept away by the flood waters raised concerns of contamination 51 52 A spill from flood damaged storage tanks in Milliken was reported September 18 which released 5 250 US gallons 19 900 L 4 370 imp gal of crude oil into the South Platte River 53 The IRS announced that it would extend filing and payment deadlines for flood victims 54 Hazardous impacts edit Structures located in high risk flood zones were soon inundated Sewage treatment plants affected by the flood waters released 20 million gallons of raw sewage as well as 150 270 million gallons of partially treated sewage as estimated by the State health department What resulted is higher levels of E coli some as high as 472 911 colonies per millimeter of water 126 colonies per millimeter of water is considered unsafe 55 The Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission COGCC reports that oil lines and containment facilities failed and leaked a total of 1 027 barrels viz 43 134 gallons of oil The COGCC is monitoring 13 substantial leaks as of October 8 2013 56 The COGCC is also monitoring 17 substantial leaks of produced water or water that is used in the refinement of oil products and is considered waste water The COGCC reports that 26 385 gallons of such water has leaked into flood waters 56 Over 50 000 fracking wells a mining process utilized in the extraction of oil form the Earth operate in the state of Colorado and 1 900 fracking wells were flooded at the peak flood levels This number has since been reduced to around 1 300 wells Concerns have been raised about the safety of such wells in a flood situation The produced water from these operations sit in open pits and easily mix with flood waters and deposit toxic substances like lead or other sediments across the state 57 58 Ecological impacts edit Scientific reports that show the ecological impacts of the flooding are not readily available because this is such a recent event Past studies on the ecological impacts of flash flooding can give insight on what may happen Temporal succession has been studied in areas that experience flash flooding regularly In these instances typical biological processes characteristic to the area pre flood resume within 2 3 weeks 59 The 2013 Colorado flooding is a more complex case because of the close contact with human society Contamination from sewage oil and waste water containing toxic substances can delay natural succession processes if not alter them entirely For example waste water from flooded fracking wells could introduce levels of lead into a freshwater system keeping a particular strain of algae from developing in usual successional form The hierarchy of development is now delayed or shifted into an entirely different direction Pollution from the floodwaters could also affect species in ways not related to succession For example animals relying on natural freshwater systems as a source for water can contract fatal illnesses as a result of the higher levels of E coli bacteria in the water due to sewage leaks caused by the flooding Media response edit Media such as 9News 7News FOX 31 and more covered the entire event for nearly the entire time it was present The National Weather Service issued Flood and Flash Flood Warnings for all the affected areas These warnings were complained about by residents in the hardest hit counties in the beginning saying they were very pestering citation needed Federal aid edit nbsp A rescue dog from the Federal Urban Search and Rescue task force for the floods President Barack Obama first declared a state of emergency for Boulder El Paso and Larimer counties with an additional 12 counties added September 16 Adams Arapahoe Broomfield Clear Creek Denver Fremont Jefferson Morgan Logan Pueblo Washington and Weld counties This authorized federal search and rescue teams as well as supplies such as food water cots generators and emergency flood control measures 60 Obama also declared a major disaster specifically for Boulder County which provides for federal recovery assistance such as temporary housing home repairs and low cost loans 61 On September 25 2013 Rep Cory Gardner R CO introduced the bill To authorize the Secretary of Transportation to obligate funds for emergency relief projects arising from damage caused by severe weather events in 2013 H R 3174 113th Congress 62 If passed the bill would exempt Colorado from a cap on funding contained in Division A of Public Law 113 2 The Disaster Relief Appropriations Act 2013 from the Federal Aid Highways Emergency Relief program of 100 million per emergency incident 63 When arguing in favor of the bill Rep Cory Gardner cited the statistics that the flood affected two hundred mile lanes of highway 64 The shutdown of the United States federal government from October 1 17 2013 stopped federal relief aid funding going to recovery efforts in Colorado The state of Colorado began paying the National Guard for continuing relief efforts until the Federal Emergency Management Agency FEMA could reimburse the State government at the end of the shutdown The state hopes to be reimbursed for at least 75 of the funds 65 The shutdown compromise signed on October 17 2013 includes funding for Colorado relief efforts specifically referencing Rep Gardner s bill H R 3174 113th Congress The cap typically set at 100 million has been raised to 450 million in light of Colorado s current conditions It is not uncommon for this cap to be raised for disaster struck areas such as those states hit by Hurricane Sandy or Hurricane Katrina 66 Other aid edit The American Red Cross The Salvation Army Save the Children the United Way the Air Land Emergency Resource Team Boulder Flood Relief and Helping Pets are among the organizations accepting donations on behalf of flood victims 67 68 See also edit nbsp United States portal nbsp Colorado portalFloods in the United States before 1901 Floods in the United States 1901 2000 Floods in the United States 2001 present 2013 Alberta floods 1976 Big Thompson FloodReferences edit McGhee Tom September 12 2013 Colorado flood No relief in sight as record rain falls The Denver Post Retrieved September 17 2013 Matt Smith Dave Hennen September 20 2013 Record rain steep canyons fueled Colorado floods CNN Amanda Paulson September 13 2013 For Colorado s biblical floods numbers tell astonishing tale The Christian Science Monitor Andrew Freedman September 16 2013 Flood Ravaged Boulder Colo Sets Annual Rainfall Record Climate Central Average Yearly Precipitation for Colorado Current Results Retrieved September 19 2013 Yochum Steven E Moore Daniel S 2013 Colorado Front Range Flood of 2013 Peak Flow Estimates at Selected Mountain Stream Locations doi 10 13140 2 1 2593 0242 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Cite journal requires journal help Yochum Steven E 2015 Colorado Front Range Flood of 2013 Peak Flows and Flood Frequencies doi 10 13140 rg 2 1 3439 1520 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Cite journal requires journal help Gochis David Schumacher Russ Friedrich Katja Doesken Nolan Kelsch Matt Sun Juanzhen Ikeda Kyoko Lindsey Daniel Wood Andy December 11 2014 The Great Colorado Flood of September 2013 Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society 96 9 1461 1487 Bibcode 2015BAMS 96 1461G doi 10 1175 BAMS D 13 00241 1 hdl 2117 78527 ISSN 0003 0007 S2CID 46600790 Archived copy PDF Archived from the original PDF on November 7 2013 Retrieved January 6 2014 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint archived copy as title link a b Colorado flood Rebuild likely to take more than a year 9news com September 16 2013 Archived from the original on September 17 2013 Retrieved September 16 2013 Garrison Robert September 13 2013 Governor declares disaster emergency in 14 counties 9news com Archived from the original on September 16 2013 Retrieved September 16 2013 http droughtmonitor unl edu September 17 2013 NOAA COLORADO REMEMBERS BIG THOMPSON CANYON FLASH FLOOD OF 1976 NOAA News NOAA Retrieved November 13 2013 NOAA Big Thompson Canyon Flash Flood of July 31 August 1 1976 A Report to the Administrator Natural Disaster Survey Report 76 1 PDF www nws noaa gov NOAA Retrieved November 13 2013 a b c d USGS 1976 Big Thompson Flood Colorado Thirty Years Later PDF USGS Publications Warehouse USGS Retrieved November 13 2013 Henson Bob INSIDE THE COLORADO DELUGE How much rain fell on the Front Range and how historic was it AtmosNews University Corporation for Atmospheric Research UCAR Retrieved November 13 2013 Lewis Justin A Simple Visualization Of Selected Stream Measurements During The 2013 Colorado Flood github com Retrieved November 13 2013 Shiff Blair September 17 2013 Colorado floods Statewide fatality numbers revised 9news com Archived from the original on September 18 2013 Retrieved September 17 2013 National Guard carries evacuees from Lyons delivers supplies The Denver Post September 12 2013 Archived from the original on January 20 2016 Retrieved September 17 2013 Olinger David Finley Bruce September 12 2013 Colorado flood Dams break in Larimer and Adams counties overflowing in Boulder The Denver Post Retrieved September 17 2013 172 People Now Unaccounted For In Boulder County CBS News Denver Retrieved September 14 2013 We were lucky to get out Scores of people unaccounted for in Colorado flooding NBC News Retrieved September 15 2013 Colorado floods Unaccounted for fluid now totals 584 The Denver Post September 14 2013 Retrieved September 15 2013 Preston Jennifer September 15 2013 Video of Helicopter Rescue Crews Airlifting 85 Schoolchildren to Safety The New York Times Retrieved September 17 2013 a b c Coffman Keith September 15 2013 Death toll rises in Colorado floods with another feared dead Reuters Retrieved September 16 2013 At least 1 000 people await rescue in Colorado county as weather snarls flood recovery efforts Fox News Channel September 15 2013 Retrieved September 15 2013 Novey Madeline September 15 2013 CDOT assessing millions and millions in road bridge damage The Coloradoan Retrieved September 16 2013 Noon Alison September 18 2013 Amtrak freight trains in flood zones likely out through month The Denver Post Retrieved September 19 2013 Petty Daniel September 16 2013 Colorado flooding 2013 Map of rain totals Denver Post Illescas Carlos September 12 2013 Colorado flood Some stranded Aurora residents retrieved by rafts The Denver Post Retrieved October 21 2014 Timeline of Events Colorado Flood 2013 Colorado Climate Center Retrieved October 21 2014 Cipriano Laurie September 15 2013 Approximately 235 unaccounted for in Boulder County 9news com Archived from the original on September 17 2013 Retrieved September 17 2013 a b c Shiff Blair September 17 2013 Boulder County Many still missing in Boulder after flooding 9news com Archived from the original on September 17 2013 Retrieved September 17 2013 Shiff Blair September 18 2013 Boulder County Some residents could see homes as early as Thursday after the Colorado flood 9news com Archived from the original on September 18 2013 Retrieved September 18 2013 2013 Flood Maps City of Boulder Colorado Archived from the original on October 21 2014 Retrieved October 21 2014 a b Timeline of Events Colorado Flood 2013 Retrieved October 21 2014 Petty Daniel Colorado Flooding 2013 Map of Rain Totals The Denver Post Retrieved October 21 2014 Colorado Springs El Paso County Assess Flood Damage Roads Parks Creeks Need Work The Gazette Retrieved October 21 2014 Flood Damaged Coal Creek Canyon Road Reopens CBS Denver Retrieved October 21 2014 Evergreen Downtown Streets Flooded The Denver Post September 13 2013 Retrieved October 21 2014 Ready Set Go Jefferson County Evacuation Guide PDF Elk Creek Fire Department Archived from the original PDF on August 13 2015 Retrieved October 21 2014 a b c d Shiff Blair September 17 2013 Larimer County Thousands of homes destroyed by the flooding 9news com Archived from the original on September 18 2013 Retrieved September 18 2013 a b c Fort Collins Coloradoan September 17 2013 Estes Park vows to rebound from ravages of flood 9news com Archived from the original on September 18 2013 Retrieved September 18 2013 Nicholson Kieran September 17 2013 South Platte crest Wednesday in Julesburg expected to be higher than flood of 1965 The Denver Post Retrieved October 21 2014 Flood update no flush restriction still in effect Journal Advocate September 20 2013 Retrieved October 21 2014 a b Shiff Blair September 14 2013 Colorado floods Flood waters debilitate many Colorado cities 9news com Archived from the original on September 17 2013 Retrieved September 17 2013 Colorado flood Evacuations begin in Morgan County The Denver Post September 14 2013 Retrieved October 21 2014 a b Shiff Blair September 17 2013 Weld County Businesses decimated by Colorado flooding 9news com Archived from the original on September 17 2013 Retrieved September 17 2013 Shiff Blair September 15 2013 Vera Gravel pits wash out force evacuations in Greeley 9news com Archived from the original on September 17 2013 Retrieved September 17 2013 Shiff Blair September 14 2013 Contaminated water floods Evans leaves behind destruction 9news com Archived from the original on September 17 2013 Retrieved September 17 2013 Proctor Cathy September 16 2013 Colorado floods shut down hundreds of oil and gas wells recovery will take time Denver Business Journal Retrieved September 16 2013 Meltzer Erica Boulder County activists concerned about flooded oil gas wells Daily Camera Boulder Retrieved September 16 2013 Finley Bruce Parker Ryan September 18 2013 5 250 gallons of oil spills into South Platte River The Denver Post Retrieved September 19 2013 Hicks L Wayne September 16 2013 Flood victims to get a break from IRS Denver Business Journal Retrieved September 16 2013 The Denver Post October 8 2013 E coli found in Colorado flood zones but no oil gas contamination Read more E coli found in Colorado flood zones but no oil gas contamination The Denver Post Retrieved November 14 2013 a b Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission COGCC 2013 Flood Response PDF COGCC 203 Flood Information COGCC Archived from the original PDF on December 3 2013 Retrieved November 14 2013 Leber Rebecca Colorado Floodwaters Cover Fracking And Oil Projects We Have No Idea What Those Wells Are Leaking ClimateProgress org ThinkProgress org Retrieved November 14 2013 Ferner Matt October 8 2013 No Oil And Gas Pollutants In Colorado Rivers After Flood But High Levels Of E Coli REPORT The Huffington Post Retrieved November 14 2013 Fisher Stuart G et al 1982 Temporal Succession in a Desert Stream Ecosystem Following Flash Flooding Ecological Monographs 52 1 Ecological Society of America 93 110 doi 10 2307 2937346 JSTOR 2937346 19 000 homes destroyed or damaged by Colorado flooding state Office of Emergency Management says 7NEWS September 15 2013 Archived from the original on September 17 2013 Retrieved September 16 2013 Obama signs Colo disaster declaration The Hill September 15 2013 Retrieved September 15 2013 H R 3174 All Actions United States Congress Retrieved September 30 2013 CBO H R 3174 Colorado Flooding PDF Congressional Budget Office Retrieved September 30 2013 Kasperowicz Pete September 30 2013 House votes to boost funding for Colorado flood relief The Hill Retrieved September 30 2013 Ferner Matt October 1 2013 Colorado Will Pay National Guard For Flood Relief Efforts During Government Shutdown The Huffington Post Retrieved November 14 2013 Wilson Reid Senate shutdown compromise includes Colorado relief The Washington Post Grubb Jennifer September 19 2013 Helping flood ravaged Colorado recover CNN Retrieved September 18 2013 Rubino Joe 10 weeks after flood Jamestown is healing Daily Camera Retrieved February 7 2014 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to 2013 Colorado floods The Colorado Storm and Flood of 2013 permanent dead link Includes photos maps graphs and links created by the NSF supported Boulder Creek Critical Zone Observatory at the University of Colorado Video of flooding at Estes Park Colorado 2013 Flood Information Map with locations of shelters city and county government offices and animal shelters Crisiwiki 2013 Colorado Floods links to government news and aid agency sites Denver Post 2013 Colorado Floods KMGH TV in Denver Flood Coverage Colorado Flood Database United States Geological Survey Satellite Images of the September 2013 Flood Event in Lyons Colorado United States Geological Survey State of Colorado website to assist flood survivors and victims with resources and information launched on October 15 2013 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 2013 Colorado floods amp oldid 1164708283, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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