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<br />. Denve'The Denver Post: July ao. 2006 -Page4c
<br />, Circulation: 306,000 dolly, 801.000Sundoy . Continued from 'Pogo 1c
<br />
<br />lJ "';-4
<br />
<br />4t THI!;DJ?NY1!R. PosT *
<br />
<br />
<br />I DENVER & TIlE WFST I
<br />
<br />~ . I 1_. 18. I . I . I . r._1
<br />
<br />A deadly downpour
<br />
<br />In thCCtliiy cVCllfng.m Jufy 31.1976. wann.moIst air p.lSlWlQ up
<br />tit(!: &on! R~.colllded with <<4d ufrom Canada.aeatiflg a
<br />stoon systet\l that $\ailed twer the upper readitS of the Big
<br />Thnlllf)SOll canyon. Between 630 i\Od 1030 p.m.. up to 12 h:hu
<br />01 rain fell in the ellllYOf! before the $twin system moved
<br />intu Wyomlng. The ~ of events that foHowed
<br />l~ted ill t1w worst natural disaster in COlorado'! hbtory.
<br />
<br />
<br />7....._
<br />--
<br />rising in the
<br />Olg-.....
<br />-,
<br />
<br />l'ltrougttotrt....s.torm.ontht
<br />"__"""r_lht
<br />IltaVYl<\iridlslDdgodrodcs~
<br />uprootedsmalllrM$.1hedebtis
<br />dammed up guIties but then...
<br />r...._..-..._
<br />before tbet:baked waters twn
<br />1"l!adt@d1;bt8lg~
<br />
<br />. ,,Ill. Water
<br />--
<br />--..
<br />....""""'"
<br />
<br />f..foot Uonnaffklwfor
<br />IIlM Jul)'3t210cublc
<br />~lpn"swond fettptl'R<<>nd
<br />~>s:a..'orll!bo;~ttf~~~~~lI{otNuhnl~~U.s.~s.n,
<br />
<br />144a? 418= 1385
<br />
<br />.a30PA\Y.Ittr5tltek
<br />.-__at
<br />-
<br />
<br />.......-...........
<br />fA the eroded riwrbal*
<br />aft!rtllt 1976 Rood
<br />showed that the. rMr hid
<br />l'lOt'Sftllaflooclofl9lal:
<br />JDaODiIudtforaSl*of
<br />6.6OOto lO,4(0)'NI'S.
<br />
<br />9..... Water
<br />-.--
<br />-........
<br />__01
<br />3O,l00 a..:
<br />.......-
<br />---
<br />.Mr 31.. .....
<br />isSO~r.et
<br />....-
<br />
<br />52=
<br />
<br />< CONTlUUED fROM lC
<br />
<br />FLOOD: Some bodies washed 25 miles away
<br />
<br />
<br />trce..~. homes, bQ\alden;, cus.
<br />CQlorndo'sworst IUIt~disas-
<br />ler killed 44 pcopleand caaied
<br />-Several victims up to 2$ miles
<br />~YrdY. SOlJt<:;:I$ hr~W U lot<<--
<br />state .S. while olhcrs~rc ncvR
<br /><<found.: .
<br />MemoriAls wiU be beldtoday
<br />.and Monday to llW'kthe)Oth an.
<br />ni\'crsary of lbllBjz1'hcunpson
<br />I!Il,!Q,1. '~ cabmity C'ban&cd
<br />how $de.ntists, Coloradans and
<br />~mcf&cllCy crcW$iC$pOod~ to
<br />nood~ in the $tate, leadiiig to
<br />l>ettcr undcrsbmdiog of bow
<br />~. ilOOdJ occur and bow to
<br />avoid them,
<br />;;;WhenJ thought.oC Ooodlng
<br />~or~ in Cl)fu~. ,I just
<br />thoughtma.ybeaaeekbed oyer-
<br />nQwlng."saidErik!ol..~.DOW
<br />Larimer CoUQty"s tiiDergencr
<br />l<et",J.cesCOO1'din.1tor."ADybody
<br />wh., lived thro~the -Big
<br />'l1wmpson DQW Mows what a
<br />IbshOood cau dQ."
<br />
<br />"II. v<ry violent place"
<br />
<br />A baUd of thunderstorms,
<br />only j to 10 miles. wide bQd
<br />statled for morc than three
<br />hour:> July 31 over Big Thomp-
<br />sun C.'\nyoD, dumplng u- to' 14
<br />inches. of rain thatnigbt i.D 1976.
<br />~It WIS a fIN ~teorOlogi.cal
<br />"'vent, espec:laJly CQl1l1lklering
<br />lhl.famounl and intensity of the
<br />Uirt(3U," said Robert JarreU.
<br />wl<<l. sludies paltcibydrology
<br />nudelimatl"i::bange.fortbeU.5.
<br />GeuIOgicalSu[Wl;)'.
<br />Tnt: . river quickly rOse and
<br />vcaked in .less than an bout in
<br />some .pans. Jarrett, said. catch-
<br />iog J,soo fe$ldmls and (oUrists
<br />hysurpri.sa It was tho'larscst
<br />doodslncethe:relreatolthegJa.
<br />dc~nbollt 10,.000 years., In
<br />some .:1tc:t$QftM.CilDyon.
<br />I'ttOptc trying to swimoUl'oI
<br />the.powerful c:urrellls~~
<br />mu3tunpQSSiblc odds. C<m$ickt-
<br />iDg the' amount or tt<<:s, blAAcb-
<br />es,rIlc'k:s.nhic:lsland.mwlm
<br />thc:.ware.r. J~neu said.
<br />''It iust became. very violCnt
<br />pJace.~Jauelt said. -An Olym-
<br />pic:-c:dibcl' 1Mbnmer woUldn't
<br />b.av~ stood much of. I.l diance."
<br />Many resident$, only heard
<br />-abOuUlu: ollc:omina: fIooclvia.
<br />phone 0111 from someOne: up;-
<br />stream.
<br />"About 9 p.m.. ow: (rieod.Al-
<br />ice Gill'ord called us andlUbd
<br />us bo~ the river was ~
<br />the minw:\S really coming
<br />down where she w3 at and it
<br />W/$ wa$llngtheroadout ".Barb
<br />AndCrsOllsaid.. "Af/tw minutes
<br />she called back and "aid, 'Barb
<br />'gdout.Getoutno.w"" ,
<br />ShtHllJdhcr husband Jumped
<br />in their tar with their two
<br />daugliLcn ~d. alcmgwith two
<br />ltcighbon" lie4:sded tor higher
<br />ground.
<br />l1t~ 1lood c:a~ ',3S.inlDioo
<br />In d.illUlge, deslroying .p8
<br />homct f11l.d sa.businC$$e$. 4)8 ve-
<br />hido;.btid~s., roads, and p0w-
<br />er rtUd telephone:lines.
<br />Nilnon, an emetgencyvoJ~
<br />tee:r al the unm.. reJDembcrs
<br />lrudglnginto the canyon just
<br />hours ilfl<< th~ BigThompsoD
<br />
<br />, t:~~l:;t~:'<\io~~~=
<br />':I'lw churning wiitecs had spJt
<br />
<br />AstocIMI"'-fit.....
<br />
<br />A Chinook helicopter from Fort Canon picks up Ooocl victims lnBiJThompson CanfOA lD AupstlS)76. Two An:I:Iy tMlkop-
<br />ten made thrft rapid evacuadOD. fUghts. Tho Oood 'Was Colorado', wotSt oatural41sastet. CIIasIoa m mlWoa.lo damap.
<br />
<br />...-....,............
<br />_ pcopIo dMIA'. U>e dle
<br />........ WcIDC dle porcelIlD dle
<br />IIrit pIoce. ADd oow .........
<br />wat to maJte awe tbc former
<br />0WMn - wbctber lhey 1i.'fC iD
<br />tbecUlJ'ooGrIlOt-haveaCalr
<br />....... at C<ldl sIIYu oflaod.
<br />"WloeAtlleyllrit__
<br />It. there..... UI outcrJ!bat.may-
<br />be tbe COCIDtf was moriDC; toO
<br />last." saldJoyc:e Umer,.bad of
<br />the Blc TIIompoon Caoyoo A>-
<br />.odaIioa. "AAd we be,vea't
<br />bed much from lbe councy
<br />.......
<br />
<br />SanIvIag !be lIood
<br />
<br />GiDDy I'ul1Iam. ... caIJed It
<br />bet~dc:rulse"dowa.
<br />the................
<br />Sooa after the first nbts be-
<br />PD 10. Call,. tho PuIUams' ~
<br />bopa to. rock to tIw souad 01
<br />sIwt__udspliolcrUlo
<br />wood. "A m,h1mar~.. Ghm,
<br />Po1IIIm ca1Jed ..
<br />GIDaJ aDd D.IL c:IuDs to _
<br />..... _......._1Ook
<br />_.....dowDdle ........
<br />~.the""'l'k"""''''
<br />taopd ID dle limbo of._
<br />oak tree wbae they praJOl rOt
<br />1~. Soac:ooe uw o.a.',
<br />fIu>Sob. ODd tbe7 .....
<br />wropped ID blaabb ud ...
<br />.._
<br />GiDDy I'ul1Iam. wbo Uno ID
<br />LoYeIud. ollers a simple rea-
<br />_lot -."It lIuou&b thal
<br />DlgbL '
<br />"SwYInl,' l'aIIIuo ..... . AI
<br />tome poiDt. ,our survlval lJt.
<br />__lDudthallaalllhal
<br />.....en..
<br />
<br />
<br />"*-H.~tTMo-...fW.
<br />Geogn.purE.veGruntfest, who.luelia ~-~
<br />MmdS il;l.froot ora photo-of a carmangkd. by the flood.
<br />
<br />out sedan.oshc boulders.
<br />NiIsooA bel"'" .,.u . oabd
<br />WOmaQ. from a debds pUt!. He
<br />and. other resc:u.ers fowKl.mote
<br />Ylct1riu:. many dead. almost au
<br />wtth DO docbes_OD.
<br />"I couldn't ftgum out; what in
<br />(be world were these people d0-
<br />ing OIU there without thdr
<br />c1otbcs?"'Nils$on54id.
<br />"Thcn lthit me.ltwastbewa.
<br />IQt. It was $0 strong it tore te
<br />clotbesdt;ht ofHtbeid bacb."
<br />
<br />Sam< lessOns kamed
<br />
<br />In Ute reus I"oUowIQl the
<br />fJoOd.- ead, warniDa: .systems
<br />have advanced. inclv.dJ.Qs R-
<br />verse 9llo autoJM(Cd netwotlcs
<br />of.slream.and nli.D. gauges.Dop-
<br />pier radu anda.te1Htc bnq,ery.
<br />currently. th~__~. nine
<br />"real-ttme" ~o"':P'lI'"
<br />tog stations in the upper Jlig
<br />~Riverbasin..
<br />TheOood$pumdsomeseem-
<br />iDSlr common-seme approath-
<br />
<br />au wdlThe UIlJOllhasslgDs
<br />that WiU'Il that in cue of a Oasb
<br />Rood.. people IhoWd climb to
<br />Wely.
<br />Thirty }'tats ago. .many tal.
<br />dents dkln't move: to biPcr
<br />poIlIId. Some chose to drive_
<br />tbeUc:au<<trucks toSel Dbead
<br />of the water. only to become
<br />ttapped iD.atol1ltts crypl.
<br />"'Blevcn people. 4ied that:
<br />lIlgl)twbow<<<~bylhea>
<br />scJYCSo...sald.EveCrudest.age-
<br />OIfapber who stUdieS fbsb
<br />flaoda:!ll~V~~ityofColo-
<br />racIo.~:SprillP."Sev.
<br />
<br />~~cro':;:t=
<br />
<br />went back to mciYc their car or
<br />._ to shut DJT their 5loYC."
<br />GnWtest is worded that the
<br />_ or the Big Thon>ptoa
<br />Flood haft beeIllost in other Ill'"
<br />euotColorado. TOWDIanddt.
<br />
<br />~~~~~
<br />-ousJy dose to wo-yeu flood
<br />
<br />....1l........lllIt 0.-....
<br />
<br />ADd, ud Dub ADdenon puUed
<br />tbetrdauahten (toOl bed to (lee
<br />tbe..~ ..'ll never (oqet the
<br />aobe.but mostly I woa"tforPt
<br />the-smell... BaW Anderson soU.
<br />
<br />plains lD c:aDJODI similar to BI&
<br />'Ibompooa. be ......
<br />... Bet the sease thai people
<br />want to (JiYo the BilTbompsoa
<br />some lOr! or aaqlcaI C'ClIUlOta-
<br />t:ioIl aod. IhIt tbe flood -would.
<br />onI,. bappe.o dw'e ...... WeU.
<br />that's wroag.. Grwd/at aid.
<br />
<br />Coantyw_lIood_
<br />
<br />OO"'1dals e:sIhIl:ale asOlllA' as
<br />__......U....IDBIg'Jbomp-
<br />soa. CaDyoa ~ tbc Rood
<br />ud __ Ibu abou. the
<br />..... '""""'" of...... __
<br />..Ie... cany<lG 1Ioot_.
<br />Some retidcats Idt after Ibe
<br />Oood. oa1y 10 reNmtBd Rbafld
<br />aIoDpIde aeigIIbon ...
<br />.tayod. Thcr... _ bt'
<br />the flood. ImowIDa tlley ma,
<br />bnc (0 dcpcad on eadl other
<br />.,..m.
<br />WlIeo Larlm<< County ....
<br />
<br />::r~=:r~=
<br />_ a<qWRd_........ U
<br />
<br />SUiffwnu.......,."...,"'"
<br />",rtOdwd4t~or .
<br />~.tOm.
<br />
<br />~1'llP.1J~
<br />SUH~'~'JULY~~,
<br />ll......Ybter5evelsrtraehthci'
<br />puk"lIaI~dlllo
<br />C'a1JOl:L Pull flows, c:oatbBI
<br />thnlatil.fttrrnldrjghl
<br />Wiler IewIs nIlSe 19 led...
<br />lht........_0I18........
<br />A_.....oI..., :1i
<br />""""""'8l-_'ll
<br />...__tJoi_: '1
<br />=~m:::,:=:ij
<br />.........._*'OOO:1i
<br />=:=e= :<(
<br />
<br />....1IIItl...n-w1ldCar'11tlt~....~
<br />
<br />Major floods
<br />
<br />in Colorado
<br />
<br />1904;;~wabnBfa "
<br />bridl;ttnurPl:llblo.uusingittO "
<br />__"'_01."
<br />.....~......."'-
<br />"'_14_"',
<br />1921: The ArkauI Rtwr blntib.
<br />IMnks after tint days of ....'
<br />w_.......~-....n
<br />.................100_'
<br />...............--"";
<br />_..1...,....."""".... ,:
<br />taUH $OfM vktiIm were tr..
<br />- :
<br />19>>: A dim an CIMrry CreeAi .:
<br />hied afte' heavy r.all. SI'ten pm:
<br />plediadInDetMr...._:
<br />MiS estimMed at 51 milan. '
<br />1965: Plum Creek M:l thI SUb :
<br />......___Il<n~
<br />__21_"'_ '
<br />out 2.500 honm Md 750 IMi- .:
<br />IlISH:S. TlMrew.u$S40milillllkt
<br />........"""011........... '
<br />1976<A___0lg, :
<br />
<br />~~..;:.~~:.
<br />
<br />144_""'_$355....
<br />.... .. ........ '
<br />1997:AlasflftoodWtfort~
<br />_fin_....causiao ;
<br />S200 _la""""",,",,,",
<br />2S buIdings at CG&orado state .
<br />-, ';
<br />
<br />~l'-:L -.... .
<br />~......4~
<br />"'.- .
<br />~
<br />~~~~
<br />
<br />A memoir online
<br />----'
<br />PINntz was 01 tht_1II UW
<br />"",,_oIAug.Ll"'o. ;
<br />nadr.. _..1IaI dasbu<lIcP
<br />olIlalOlg__IIo_
<br />_01___........
<br />who-.l""""""''''_ ;
<br />andlsaftermlth. !
<br />~=~~.=.
<br />for-""laplNs_ootoi
<br />'hmthtflood. ..
<br />_has_lis_
<br />::S:"'=":::J
<br />mvmle:stn:.nNstrn:~~
<br />theeanyon.YCMlc.anflndhis,*~
<br />www.demetpost:.COl:
<br />
<br />Events :
<br />SIvai1lIlltlnClriak,JI~pllnnedJ
<br />~~.:"..::.:'!'
<br />flood. "'*" booon.My 311"'''
<br />....._k...............
<br />-Canyon- :
<br />buUng,kx:atldl....eestof ..
<br />lhbind13mileswesloflhe ~
<br />=:':i~:=~
<br />
<br />._...._k....8atn.
<br />~5~ I
<br />. Th<rewil ...........-C
<br />oIth1C1l1YC1'L foIowIdbyal"lCtP-
<br />tlon..IIaI__.............
<br />, Onllondor,.~_
<br />cfecbUDn is sdIecUId far VIes-
<br />tn-&rith Pwt al1O:3O am. ......
<br />mdlot1 booths... beawaWlt at.
<br />thapatlhm12:30..... 10 2 JlJIl;
<br />oA_-"'_
<br />fortbl1ictimsollllefJood....
<br />
<br />=~~~
<br />:'ayc:...~~tt..fIood.
<br />"".we~.." \'
<br />......~.....
<br />~" trp..
<br />
<br />/lpl/L/
<br />r
<br />
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