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<br />.' <br /> <br />COLORADO WATER CONSERVATION BOARD <br />823 State Centennial Building <br />1313 Sherman Street <br />Denver, Colorado 80203 <br /> <br />FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: <br /> <br />GOVERNOR PROCLAIMS FLOOD AWARENESS DAY <br /> <br />Governor Richard D. Lamm has proclaimed July 31, 1981 as <br /> <br />"Flood Awareness Day" in observance of the flood disaster <br /> <br />in the Big Thompson Canyon on July 31, 1976. <br /> <br />In the afternoon and evening of July 31, 1976 extremely <br /> <br />heavy local rainfall caused the Big Thompson River to flood, <br /> <br />causing 139 deaths and $35.5 million in damages. This <br /> <br />flood, on the eve of Colorado's 100th anniversary, was <br /> <br />one of the .most tragic disasters in the history of the <br /> <br />state. <br /> <br />Governor Lamm, by proclaiming this anniversary day as <br />"Flood Awareness Day," is calling attention to the lessons <br />learned in the Big Thompson Flood experience that apply <br />to many other areas in Colorado. Although the Big Thomp- <br />son Flood was a rare event in a relatively small area, the <br />f~ood history of Colorado indicates that major floods have <br />occurred in other parts of the state in the past and floods <br />can be expected to occur in the future. ~ragic loss of life <br />.____~d prop'~r1:Y. dama9'e will continue as a result of flooding. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />lA' <br /> <br />---.-.< <br /> <br />A comprehensive program of floodplain management can serve <br />to minimize the devastating effects Of future flooding on <br />the citizens of our state. Such flOOdplain management' . <br />programs are being implemented by many local governments <br />throughout the state with the assistance of the Colorado <br />Water Conservation Board. <br /> <br />For more information on flOOdplain management programs, <br />contact Larry Lang at the Colorado Water Conservation <br />BOard at 866-3441. <br /> <br />.-.,. - .-.- <br /> <br />...-.'~ <br />