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<br />c, <br /> <br />FLOOD HAZARDS-BUFFALO CREEK <br />(LIFf-OUT) <br /> <br />Floods and Flash Floods <br /> <br />References <br />. The Buffalo Creek Flash Flood of 1996 (Prepared by Henz Meteorological Services) <br />. Flood Insurance Rate Maps, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) <br /> <br /> <br />Hazard Analysis <br /> <br />Jefferson County bas specifically identified the Buffalo Creek and adj <br />the unincorporated area of the County. The unique high hazard areas . <br /> <br />in <br /> <br />North Fork <br /> <br />South Platte River <br /> <br />Sand Draw <br /> <br />Spring Gulch <br /> <br />with Buffalo Creek upstream to <br /> <br />From the confluence with Buffalo Creek upstream to <br />headwaters <br /> <br />From the confluence with the South Platte River <br />upstream to headwaIeIs <br /> <br />ted in southern foothills of Jefferson County about 35 miles southwest of downtown Denver. <br />uffalo Creek is about 6,634 feet but it is flanked by 10,421 ft Green Mountain to the south, <br />west-southwest and 11 ,977 ft. Windy Peak to the west. The average elevation of the watershed <br />Buffalo Creek basin extends roughly IS miles to the southwest from the town of Buffalo Creek and <br />es wide. The basin covers about 47 square miles of drainage area <br /> <br />The town of Buffalo Creek, Colorado suffered a deadly flash flood on the night of July 12, 1996. The flash flood killed two <br />residents and produced several million dollars of damage to the area. The flash flood followed a massive forest fire on May <br />18, 1996, which burned 12,000 acres of nearby forest land. The most serious flood damages were to"public infrastructure, <br />specifically roads, bridges, water lines and other utilities. The Community Center in Buffalo Creek and the fire station for the <br />North FOlk Fire Protection District were destroyed <br /> <br />Although structural damages to private residences were relatively minimal, the destruction of the water main that provided <br />domestic water to most of the community was destroyed, creating a significant hardship for many families and individuals. <br />