A Note of Concern For Joyorchids and Pilot

[Pilot]

Originally Posted by Joyorchid

You'll appreciate this Ryan: on Thursday I saw 2 fellas kayaking in the swollen Boulder creek. I hope they made it out alive!

Not. Surprised. At. All. Lol

Well got two inches of rain today in 30 mins. It has nowhere to go, even here in Parker.

[Joyorchid]

Are you guys OK there, Ryan?

[dries666]

I sincerely hope u guys are ok over there and that the damage is minimal! until yesterday I was on vacation in New Mexico and then Arizona, we had some violent thunderstorms on the I-40 right before the flooding in boulder happened... We saw the news footage of Colorado and it just was aweful... we were glad that we could lift of to home again since they predicted a flooding of the rio grande river in Albuquerque the night before we left, but we were able to get home safely. We wish great strength for everyone who had some form of damage or loss from this weird weather!!!

greetings,
Dries

[Joyorchid]

Thanks, Dries.

Update: Boulder county has officially been declared a disaster zone, which will enable many whose homes were destroyed to qualify for aid. The weather man says the skys will clear today, but as I type it is still raining at my house.

Today, I will go into Boulder to do some volunteer work, checking in on the health and safety of many neighbors and friends. I am grateful that my family is safe and dry, but there are so many who are not. Hundreds of people are still on the unaccounted for list.

I appreciate all your support!

[MattWoelfsen]

Joy, you are a hero! Please take good care of yourself and your safety when you go out there and help less fortunate neighbors.

[Joyorchid]

Thanks, Matt! I will be careful.

If anyone would like to donate, there is a list of reputable organizations who are arranging for supplies, etc. Home

[rangiku]

Joy and Pilot, are Broomfield and Greeley in the disaster zone as well?

[Pilot]

Originally Posted by rangiku

Joy and Pilot, are Broomfield and Greeley in the disaster zone as well?

I believe Broomfield is in boulder county so yes. Greeley is likely to be as well. Three rivers converge there and all three tore through their mountain and foothill communities many times over their regular flow size.

To give perspective, Colorado, arguably even the mountains, is a near-desert environment. Boulder and other areas received anywhere from a half to a full years worth of rain in four days. The Big Thompson flash flooded in the late 70s, taking many lives and this river typically flows at about 75 to 80 cubic feet per second. At its peak last week it was flowing above the maximum reading, which means it exceeded 1500 cfs. That's 20 times its normal size. Another view, normal depth is roughly 1 to 2 feet. Last week it peaked at 9, and only because it overflows its banks at 9 feet.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - now Free

[Joyorchid]

Originally Posted by rangiku

Joy and Pilot, are Broomfield and Greeley in the disaster zone as well?

Ryan is right, Broomfield is in Boulder county, but Greeley is in Weld county. They will likely be included at some point in the disaster zone, as all 3 major creeks/rivers (Boulder, St Vrain and the Big Thompson) converge into the South Platte river system that ultimately has put the Greeley area under 6 ft of water. Entire neighborhoods are lakes there at the moment.

How's your house, Ryan?

[Bud]

Your arid land does not absorb water that fast so I can imagine flash floods of that magnitude with water trapped and nowhere to go but accumulate in the valley.
As long as you and your family have your health and still alive....that is enough to be thankful for.