|
<br />,
<br />
<br />Ie,
<br />,
<br />
<br />rTI1'.".."(.e(\r.~;.:~':~:'f' '"1'0:" ;;'0" d" ," ',:; ';);;~'~h1
<br />j:'l .. . ,;,:'; " ,,' ,:'; ',/('~~,:,<!
<br />Memories
<br />stay vivid
<br />
<br />
<br />, '
<br />
<br />Lamm-says, tr~ge'dy
<br />could'ha.ppen'agair) "1
<br />
<br />,-
<br />
<br />'1-'
<br />
<br />t'
<br />
<br />.' ByBllCltYORB
<br />I BIG THOMPSON' CANYON-standing
<br />. besldo the peaceful,fiowing Big Thompson
<br />: River, Colorado Gov. Richard Lamm 10-
<br />o day told about 80 people that, the
<br />'devastating flood of 1976 could, happen'.
<br />'again. 'j ,.".
<br />Lamm spoke ata memorial service
<br />commemorating the 197&' Big Thompson"
<br />flood that killed 139 persons. Five victims
<br />have never been recovered.
<br />Lamm spoke iii Viestenz.Smith Park,
<br />, eight miles west, of Loveland. Tbo park
<br />, was destroyed in the flood, then rebuilt. .
<br />i Lamm proclaimed today tha li."St, Col-
<br />'oradoFloodAwarenessDay to ca1l atten- '
<br />tIon to paSt floods in Colorado,the p0ten-
<br />tial for future flood disasters, and to honor
<br />, those wbodiedin the 19'16 flood.
<br />, Lamm spoke about the many "unsung
<br />; storles of heroism," and thanked those
<br />. who belped after the disaster for the "in- ,
<br />domiDalable spirit of rebuilding, prevail-
<br />ing, and enduring."
<br />He also said it is time to apologi2e on
<br />. behalf of the government "that never
<br />works as fast as it could with cleaning up,"
<br />But be said there were "00 apologies for
<br />the loca1 sheriff, county c:ommissionecs,
<br />and other local government officials wbo
<br />were here on that moriIing."
<br />However, he said be felt the most impor-
<br />tant messag~ of today's cenneony was
<br />"the whole fact that it can happen again."
<br />He said there are still too many areas in
<br />Colorado that have the potential for"
<br />flooding. .
<br />There need to be more fiood-plain',
<br />studies, he said, but added that about half
<br />the potential flood plaiDs have already
<br />been studied.
<br />~'~~addit!.ooal flood !'~ n~.lo_~_
<br />
<br />1
<br />
<br />deliniated. We continue to allow people to'
<br />move into danger." "
<br />He also said there needs to be more
<br />awareness of flood problems throughout
<br />Colorado.
<br />"Once the tragedy bas happened, we'
<br />tend all too often to go back to busln8$S as
<br />usuaL Tbot can be afatalmlstake."
<br />Also on band for today's ceremony were
<br />the Larimer County commissioners, as
<br />well as Warren Wolaver, who was a com-
<br />: missionerat the time of the flood. '
<br />County Commissioner, Nona Thayer'
<br />echoed Lamm's concern for addiUonal'
<br />awareness and the Importance of flood-.
<br />plain safety. She said, '~We must not sl.dke '
<br />our resolve to make this a safer place,
<br />, through flood plain study and flood plain
<br />insurance. . ., . ",
<br />She also said that one of the lessons of.
<br />the 19'16 flood was the need to "work to
<br />make sure that relief and restoraUon can'
<br />occurmore rapidly.
<br />Harry Tregent, Estes Park mayor, com-
<br />mended Gov. Lamm and Highway Depart-
<br />ment' Coomlissioner Dwight Bower for
<br />'lheil' reconstruction efforts. He said be
<br />hopes the flood and loss of life would not be
<br />in vain, but that P89p!e could learn the
<br />lessons of the flood and its ability to hap-
<br />pen again. '
<br />Reg KeIrnes, who was in the canyon at
<br />the time of the flood, represented the
<br />residents who tried to reconstruct theiI'
<br />lives. He said that he is concerned about
<br />the visitors who might not know the area,
<br />and said be felt these concerns needed to
<br />be addressed,
<br />Also on hand were Loveland Mayor
<br />Harold Kester, Red Cross represenlaUves,
<br />and Bill McDonald, of the Colorado Slate
<br />W~ter Conservancy Board.
<br />
<br />r.
<br />
|