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<br />were awesome, according to witnesses. <br /> <br />Another storm ce II dumped j ts watar upon the upper ,reaches of <br />Cherry Creek, southeast of Denver. That flood a I so swept <br />away bridges, buildings, and other structures in its path <br />before baing stopped by Cherry Creek Dam. Other storm cells, <br />plus rain in Denver and its environs soon had local drainage <br />channels choked with water and debris. <br /> <br />l3y late afternoon, flood warnings were out as frightening <br />reports came in from upstream on the South Platte and Plum <br />Creek. The flood crest moved on. 3y nightfall It was <br />washing away bridges, homes, trai lers, cars, and taking human <br />I ives In Denver and Its suburbs. Shortly before midnight the <br />flood crest was we II out of the river banks and sweep I n9 <br />across the lOW-lying business and Industrial districts. It <br />moved through a startled, disbelieving city, as major bridges <br />seemed to dissolve Into the water as it lapped at the main <br />spans. For the next several hours the flood's irresistible <br />power churned its way downstream with slowly diminishing <br />havoc, leaving behind a soggy, mud-choked scene of wreckage <br />and human misery. <br /> <br />I n retrospect, the flood was a pred I ctab 1 e natura I even!. <br />The property damage was entirely due to human activities and <br />construction in geologically and hydrologically def inable <br />hazard areas. S i nee the flood, Chatf i e I d Dam has been bu II t <br />at the confluence of the South Platte River and Plum Creek <br />south of Denver. It is designed to hold back flood waters, <br />should a simi lar Incident occur. However, it wi II not <br />protect property upstream. dear Creek Dam, on a principal <br />stream feed I n9 I nto the South Platte River in the Denver <br />metropol itan area, also has been bul It to provide protection <br />to the developed downstream flood plains. <br /> <br />8 <br />