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<br />multiple losses (increased possibility of bereavement overload); ambiguity of the loss
<br />(inability to predict actual magnitude of loss or likely outcome); disenfranchisement of
<br />the bereaved (larger society's not fully understanding significance ofloss or individuals
<br />"right" to grieve).
<br />
<br />Another issue to reflect on relates to a subset of our community. There is a fairly new
<br />specialty area in the study of grief, called traumatic grief. There are certain situations
<br />where the loss is so overwhelming that there is cross cutting of post-traumatic stress
<br />disorder, as well as a grief response. When there is an intermingling ofsuch events as
<br />water rising, currents rushing and flames encircling - as there were for persons in the
<br />mobile home park and for the emergency personnel - there is an element ofthe
<br />"horrific"- an element we would hope human being should not have to deal with. I
<br />believe, then, that some of our community members will be impacted differently than
<br />many of us; I would suspect that many are actually now dealing with something a long
<br />the lines of post-traumatic stress disorder.
<br />
<br />It is important to understand that there are two sides of grief, I want to stress, that for all
<br />the pain and anguish that many have experienced as a result of their grief, there are also
<br />positive outcomes of losses and of the ensuing grief experiences. These may include a
<br />stronger sense of community, re-designed buildings, and much more, Regardless" of
<br />the many positive outcomes that will develop as a result of the flood, there will continue
<br />to be much emotional pain. Ongoing support is absolutely needed. For without this
<br />support, many important members of our community may ultimately feel
<br />disenfranchised from those that they feel simply do not understand their experience, or -
<br />worse yet- do not seem to care.
<br />
<br />Lessons from the Past
<br />
<br />Fort Collins is susceptible to flooding from the Cache La Poudre River, Spring Creek,
<br />Dry Creek, Fossil Creek and Boxelder Creek. In addition, flooding in the urban areas
<br />often occurs from localized thunderstorms and irrigation canals overflowing, Some the
<br />most notable past floods in Fort Collins' history include 1864, 1891, 1902, 1904,1938,
<br />195 I, 1977, and 1992. In fact, the original settlement, a military post called Camp
<br />Collins, was moved a few miles from its location near Laporte to our present city site
<br />after the flood of 1864. Two people died during the 1904 flood, Spring Creek
<br />experienced considerable flooding as a result of the 1951 event.
<br />
<br />A review of floods presented by Wayne Charlie (1997) at the conference covered the
<br />floods of1902, 1938, 1951, and 1997, In addition, there had been several minor floods
<br />with enough water to flood some CSU buildings. In 1902, about 6,2 inches of rain fell in
<br />48 hours between September 20th and the 21 't. The City had a significant amount of
<br />damage, but the campus had few buildings and did not suffer much. By 1938, however,
<br />the campus had become more vulnerable, and on September 2-3,1938,4.6 inches ofrain
<br />in about 48 hours caused five buildings on the Oval to flood, with 10 to 11 feet of water
<br />in the Heating Plant. The Library, which was then: located on the Oval in what is now the
<br />Music Building, had 5 feet of water in the basement and books damaged, In 1951, on
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