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<br />Sununary of Flooding in Colorado <br /> <br />1981 <br /> <br />, <br /> <br />From May through August, as is the yearly circumstance, Colorado <br />experienced at least 12 damaging floods with the loss of two lives and <br />extensive property damage. <br />The first major flood Qccurred in late May in Wray, Colorado,loc- <br />ated in the eastern high plains area of the state. From May 12-18 a total <br />of 3.63 inches of rain fell. By Monday, May 18, roads were nearly impass- <br />able due to mud and the local school had to be closed. <br />Ten days later, the Fort Morgan area 60 miles east of Denver was hit <br />by half-inch hail and up to three inches of rain. Farmers suffered the <br />most damage to small grain and hay crops, with some land standing one foot <br />deep in water. <br />The other major flooding event during the month of May occurred in <br />Colorado Springs on May 28. Sand Creek rose one foot in three minutes and <br />rushing water washed out a bridge. A car \O(as on the bridge as it broke <br />up and its occupants plunged to the creek bottom escaping with minor injuries. <br />Flooding continued as a series of violent thunderstorms buffeted the <br />Front Range and eastern plains on June 3. Westminster, Adams County, Milliken, <br />and Sterling were all hard hit. Many residents in Westminster and Adams <br />County had flooded basements. Milliken received up to 2 inches of rain in <br />twenty minutes. Five businesses and 10 homes were flooded. . <br />an July 2, the Silver Cliff Christian Youth Camp near Nathrop was hit <br />by heavy thunderstorms. Camp buildings were filled with mud and some youths <br />were washed out of their cabins. No serious injuries were reported, however. <br />Two trairunen in southern Colorado weren't so lucky the following day <br />July 3. Both lost their lives as a flash flood washed out the railroad <br />bridge over Frijole Creek near Trinchera, Colorado. <br />an July 14, the town of Glenwood Springs experienced heavy rains that <br />resulted in a rash of mudslides. Houses and roa:ls were inundated. PrOPllrty <br />damage was extensive. <br />Ouray, Colorado experienced heavy rains in mid-July and debris clogged <br />many of the towns flumes. Consequently, roads and homes suffered heavy flood- <br />ing damage. <br />Farm and ranch lands in and around Montrose, Colorado suffered heavy <br />damage due to thunderstorm-induced flooding. <br />Heavy rains and subsequent flooding broke the Trindad main water <br />pipeline on August 10 and the towns water supply problems that were to <br />last more than a month began. <br /> <br />f, <br /> <br />, <br />