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<br /> <br />Land Use <br /> <br />The only potential land use which is Isafe' Is open space. <br /> <br />Case History <br /> <br />On the late evening and night of July 31-August I, 1976, one <br />of the worst natur31 disasters In Colorado history roared <br />savagely down the narrow canyon of the Big Thompson River <br />east of Rocky Mountain National Park. Spawned by 10 to 12 <br />inches of rainfall from a violent cloudburst, the mountain <br />torrent rapidly demol ished nearly everything In Its path <br />including the canyon highway, bridges, homes, cabins, and <br />commercial buildings. At least 135 men, women, and children <br />perished. The velocity of the foaming, surging walls of <br />muddy. debris-laden water combined with the fading light and <br />then darkness to thwart effective warnings. Dozens of people <br />barely escaped with their lives. Property damage and <br />reconstruction costs were estimated to be In excess of $50 <br />mill ion over the score of miles most Impacted by the torrent. <br /> <br /> <br />The Big Thompson River Canyon from just west of Loveland is <br />pictured after the flood of July 31-August 1, 1976. The <br />flood water was 20 feet deep through this section and had <br />sufficient force to completely remove any evidence of what <br />was a major road to Estes Park. <br /> <br />11 <br />