<p>I’m thinking about friends and relatives in Colorado, and know that many CCers may be affected. Your flooding is all over our news. </p>
<p>Any insights from someone actually there?</p>
<p>Thanks for checking on us! I’m in Boulder, and we’ve had water in the basement (and a leak in the roof.) We think the water in the basement, which has ranged from about two inches to a high of 9 inches, has taken out our hot water heater, and maybe our furnace and freezer. We found out that we did NOT have a working sump pump, but my husband went out and managed to buy perhaps the last one in town. The sump pump is working, but during the really heavy periods of rain, it gets behind. I was able to get all my art work out of the basement, but lost count of the number of times I climbed the stairs–my legs are killing me today!</p>
<p>We are far enough from Boulder Creek that we aren’t in the same type of danger that many others are experiencing.</p>
<p>My son is also in Boulder, but luckily in a second floor apartment in the east side of town. Power only went out for a short period of time on Wed night. The main road he lives on is closed to the east of him, and intermittently closed to the west, depending on road flooding. He doesn’t have a car so relies on buses, which may or may not be running. </p>
<p>He said he has never seen so much rain.</p>
<p>shyparentalunit, I’m glad you saved your artwork, and am so sorry about your hot water heater, furnace and freezer. You and martharap’s son and all others are in my thoughts.</p>
<p>My grandmother used to live in a wonderful retirement home, Frasier Meadows Manor (a retirement home on Ponca Place). It is very near a pond but I can’t remember the distance from Boulder Creek. Does anyone know how the Manor might be faring?</p>
<p>Long ago CU alum - glad to here those in Boulder are alright. I was there during the Big Thompson flood, but before that we use to sunbath all the time on the big boulders along Boulder Creek (I lived up the canyon on Magnolia.) Never again after that - no matter how beautiful the weather.</p>
<p>I’m in central Denver where the heavy rains turned our lawn (and the grass in our zillion parks) emerald green, unusual for this time of year. There was flooding along the eastern section of the main ‘drag’ (the infamous Colfax) but otherwise most of the flooding was is in the south/eastern suburbs; the HEAVY damage is in the foothills, in areas ravaged by a fire a few years ago, and now prone to mudslides. </p>
<p>Climate change folks told us weather patterns will get more extreme - and they have. At least the east coast has been spared - so far - from hurricanes.</p>
<p>
The same kind of thing occurs all the time - it happened when I lived in Colorado over 40 years ago. It happened for centuries before and it’ll happen for centuries from now as well.</p>
<p>I don’t want this to turn to the old climate change debate but extreme weather actually happens all the time and always has and always will. The climate has never ‘not changed’ - it always has been changing and always will.</p>
<p>I wish the people affected by the flooding the best and hope it’s settled down for a while.</p>
<p>I choose to believe the scientific community rather than an anonymous internet poster.</p>
<p><a href=“http://news.sciencemag.org/climate/2013/09/half-extreme-weather-impacted-climate-change[/url]\[url]http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2013/0906/New-research-pins-some-extreme-weather-events-on-climate-change\[/url]”>http://news.sciencemag.org/climate/2013/09/half-extreme-weather-impacted-climate-change\http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2013/0906/New-research-pins-some-extreme-weather-events-on-climate-change\</a>
<a href=“National Geographic”>National Geographic;
<p>It’s getting better, well at least in my area. Many school districts, including mine, canceled school today. The damage was heavy in the Boulder/Northern CO region.</p>
<p>My nephew and his family in Longmont were evacuated yesterday. They live near a creek. Family friends in their late 70s/early 80s were evacuated in Lyons. They may lose a lot, because last they heard, their house had several feet of water. Thank goodness for Facebook updates! And yes, this is climate change in action.</p>
<p>Praying for all our friends and former neighbors.</p>
<p>Finally heard from my friend in Longmont. She is fine, happy for a day off work, and situated away from the river that is causing problems. Biking around Longmont was sobering. We talked about how events sound dire on national news and are in certain locations during disasters, yet most are minimally affected. Lyons does sound like quite a mess, as does Boulder creek area.</p>
<p>Shyparental unit, glad you got your artwork up and out. Hope insurance will cover appliances and so on.</p>
<p>Calla1, Frasier Meadows Manor is about a mile from my house, and about two miles from Boulder Creek. Many people in that neighborhood have water in their basements. Martharap, I bet your son lives very close to me!</p>
<p>I am very sorry to hear that, shyparentalunit. The basement of the Manor is filled with beautiful antique furniture left behind from residents who have passed. (I guess items that the family doesn’t want. They have a regular sale). </p>
<p>My uncle lives in northwest Boulder and I have heard his basement is flooded as well.</p>
<p>You are all in my thoughts and prayers for safety and an end to the deluge.</p>
<p>Update: I just talked with my uncle in northwest Boulder. He said that many people on his street had finished their basements with bathrooms, carpeting, bedrooms, etc. Many of those had sewage back up through the toilets and they have 5 - 6 feet of sewage in their basements.</p>
<p>Our family and house is fine. But CO property damage has been devastating and impacting many areas. Luckily there was limited human impact (3 confirmed deaths at this point). I did read about one injury at CU - broken ankle playing slip and slide in the mud… but you can chalk that up to teen judgement. </p>
<p>MANY towns had heavy rains of 10 to 14 inches this week. That in the range of total annual precip for an entire year, including melted snow. So it’s been categorized as a “100 year flood” (1% chance of it each year)… or even in some places a “500 year flood”. If you want to see news and videos, google 9news or news7.</p>
<p>Our older friends’ house in Lyons was not lost, though it there was flooding. They are safe with friends. Don’t know what their next step will be, because the damage overall in Lyons sounds devastating. My evacuated nephew’s house in Longmont (a block from Left Hand Creek) was miraculously not flooded, though many in their neighborhood were. Residents still aren’t allowed back in, and the National Guard is posted there.</p>
<p>Check this video of Longmont: <a href=“Longmont Westbound Lefthand - Aerial Footage 9/13/13 - YouTube”>Longmont Westbound Lefthand - Aerial Footage 9/13/13 - YouTube;
<p>Calla, I just heard from a friend whose mother lives at Frasier Meadows that a section housing assisted living was hit with a four foot wall of water on Thursday, and that part may have to be completely rebuilt. The residents were evacuated safely, but have had to be moved to other facilities across the area.</p>