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<br />INTRODUCTION <br /> <br />) <br /> <br />Summary <br /> <br />On the night of July 12, 1996, a thunderstorm occurred in the vicinity of the community of Buffalo <br />Creek, Colorado. The storm produced heavy rainfall and hail over a short period of time. Major <br />flood flows occurred along Sand Draw, Buffalo Creek, the North Fork of the South Platte River <br />(North Fork) below its confluence with Buffalo Creek, and several other tributary streams in the <br />area. Two lives were lost as a direct result of the flooding. Roads, bridges, water lines, and other <br />utility lines were damaged or destroyed. Numerous homes, outbuildings, and vehicles were <br />damaged or destroyed as well. A large quantity of sediment and debris was carried from the <br />watershed and deposited along the affected stream reaches. Although the geographic area affected <br />was smaller than in some other floods, the Buffalo Creek flood event was truly a disaster. Given <br />the magnitude and quick onslaught of the flood flows, it is nothing short of a miracle that more <br />people weren't killed or injured. <br /> <br />Post-Flood Coordination <br /> <br />Many entities are participating in post-flood activities in some capacity. These entities include, but <br />are not limited to, the U.S. Geological Survey, National Weather Service, U.S. Forest Service, <br />Federal Emergency Management Agency, Colorado Water Conservation Board, Colorado <br />Geological Survey, Colorado Department of Local Affairs, Colorado Office of Emergency <br />Management, , the, Jefferson County, the Urban Drainage and Flood Control District, private <br />meteorologists and engineering consultants, and private utility companies. <br /> <br />Information within this report has been compiled from some of the above sources and from <br />newspaper articles and conversations with local residents. This report is intended to be preliminary <br />in nature. The information provided herein will be updated as more detailed and accurate <br />information becomes available. A final report that documents all aspects of the flood will be <br />published at some point in the future. <br /> <br />Purpose or This Report <br /> <br />The purpose of this report is to document the flooding of July 12, 1996 in a preliminary sense. The <br />documentation will provide area residents, other affected by the flooding, and agencies and entities <br />involved in post-flood study and mitigation with basic information about the flooding and its <br />impacts. In addition, the report will contribute to preliminary decisions about recovery and <br />mitigation. <br /> <br />1 <br />