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E8 GAZETTE TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, MAY 28, 1989 Pemft# fir Peff Da -in Do- Jam, Da.te, Origin: sea Map D b5ldlatxpl/ Ions, af a I- __4MEM_r=_1M Origh Powerful updrafts In severe thunderstorms can drive cloud =o a height of 50,000 feet, well above the maximum al jetliner routes. Powerful upper level winds deform the mature thunderhead top al of commercial Ire r C into its characteristic anvil shape. cll� ion of. a C F7 I 5 m beating it now. The water is notoriety because the offending creek under my feet." flooded sparsely populated areas. Creation of a CloUdburst Those were the last words An average of 200 pec, le in th H ;+.A I transmitted by the Western Union telegraph operator in Pueblo at 9:10 during the stormy Friday night of June 3, 1921. By the time telegraph contact was re-established with Pueblo the following morning, flood waters were beginning to recede from the V e n States die each year from floods, according to Champ Clark in "Floods". This fatality count for most years exceeds the number of deaths from any other natural disaster. "The flash flood has become the most dangerous weather phenomena of them all," said George P. ron ange for spawning severe thun- destroyed, and the cost of reconstruction derstorms, according to meteorologists. Updrafts caused -, % �, !"3 1 Updraft's caused was estimated at $ 10 million ($56 million L And the area is drained by streams that air-mass collision ti b I h in 1989 dollars). pass through much of El Paso County. with Palmer Div[ Solar ea,ng a aIrr*0 t Other metropolitan areas in the state The diagram at right shows how those ele- and the Front Rang' III 11 -1 . also have been victimized by flash floods. Oka , i-saiiiiiiif - ments come together to increase the likeli- 7 -a- & air mass condenses at, While the flood danger seems remote 'RA r"; IA. yt this point, forming Colorado Springs was hit by major flooding hood of flash flooding. Water vapor in rising in 1935 on Memorial Day. Floods struck Denver in 1965. The Big Thompson food during the present dry spell, it is important R the cloud base in 1976 killed 140 residents and campers to remember this country's worst drought, in a river canyon west of Loveland. Many the Dust Bowl of the 1930s, was followed other extraordinary floods have gained little in 1935 by Colorado Sprin worst flood. I r i��Y� 1 if AL/17 777 Who is in danger? Simply put, the danger of flash flood threatens every resident of El Paso County. Although living in, or adjacent to, a flood plain increases the odds that you and your Property will be a casualty of a flash flood, most El Paso County residents come in contact with a flood plain every day of their lives. Many work in businesses located in flood-prone areas. Thousands more pass through one or more flood plains every day on their way to work or school, or to go shopping. Although the odds of being killed in a flood are small, a major flood can still ad versely affect a large number of people. Public utilities, including electricity, gas, water and sewage service can be interrupted. The area water supplies can be contaminated for days. Transportation networks can be crippled if major highways and bridges are washed away. Xk 7 1 Key Streams or normally dry stream beds Major highways Threatened conventional housing and trailer parks Reservoirs expected to cause fatalities should the clain fail Warning system stream gauges Mo �� ,,� Ilk 1f��,� � I��•�i, �,�� : , j;� I) I �� I � � I�I • �� I � � I V 4, 4, 7 I I �rl_T jj ki r I iv .1 �Tir T Ware, r wl"111" 11, 1, 1 1 'it" I 'I Jill f V the A,kar feet" Ir n C 7 rinoS J Down eyenne ... ... .... ... a l Ofuntalin, 4 Pe PrC 94 I W ate- Warning system rain gauges Note. Map elevations exaggerated 10 emphasize ze topography. Residential areas threatened are based on N ...... Regional Building Department flood-plain maps. These Fou&alln maps do 1701 all residential arms of El Paso Cwnty. 7 I5_ A Upper Fountain Creek flash flood 'Q This east-west flowing section of Fountain Manitou Springs p Creek began its notorious flood history by threat avervi destroying the fledgling Colorado City in 1864. Densely populated Manitou Springs, which damage makes Camp Creek one of the All traffic to points west of Colorado Springs crowds the banks of Fountain Creek and its most dangerous streams in Colorado Springs. Lower Fountain Creek tributary, Ruxton Creek, faces one of the with high stream banks. Its widest flood plain. flows along this broad flood plain. west of downtown Colorado Springs, is only a In 1983, the federal government called Flood-control measures are under study as biggest threats in El Paso County from a (21 Shooks Run half-mile across. This area, a residential Fountain Creek one of the two most part of a Fountain Valley beautification project. high-velocity flood. The town is located at the dangerous streams in Colorado. Nearly all Significant flooding. 1864, 1882, 1894, 1902, convergence of several steep, narrow canyons In 1885, a rainfall of 16 inches in one hour at neighborhood rebuilt largely as a commercial 1921, 1932, 1940, 1947 and 1964. draining a large mountainous area. Many present-day Union Boulevard and Austin Bluffs district after 1935, still encompasses many water draining the western part at El Paso picturesque and historic buildings adjacent to Parkway drove Shooks Run out of its banks, homes at risk. Although the stream channel County eventually flows into its streambed hanging over, or straddling stream channels killing one person. The creek continues to was artificially deepened and widened after Fountain Creek, characterized by b Cheyenne Creek would surely be washed away during a major threaten heavily populated areas in central 1935, officials still consider Monument Creek plains and numerous tributaries with G Colorado Springs. Over $7 million has been the greatest flood threat to Colorado Springs. road fl;;;d flood. Complicating the relief effort from such a historically large flows, has the potential to Cheyenne Creek, considered the most flood is the expectation that all major roads spent so far on flood control. Significant Develop ment in its watershed upstream devastate large areas of the county, including dangerous stream in Colorado Springs in continually increases the flood potential. Stratmoor Valley, the Southmoor Addition, terms of total population threatened, flows leading into town would be severed. flooding: 1885, 1886, 1921 and 1922. Significant flooding: 1864, 1885, 1886, 193E Significant flooding: 1882, 1894, 1902, 192 1, G Fountain and strearnside portions of Colorado through the residential area along Cheyenne 1940, 1947 and 1964. Monument Creek and 1965. Springs. Development in Colorado Springs Road and the commercial and residential continually increases the flood threat. district along South Nevada Avenue south of C In 1935, this stream acquired the dubious Templeton Gap floodway "o, Fountain Creek was a major factor in the 1921 Fountain Creek. Cheyenne Creek last flooded G Camp reek distinction of spawning Colorado Springs' G Pueblo flood and destroyed a residential area on Aug. 8, 1983, following a severe This stream threatens neighborhoods on both most devastating flood. It killed four people This artificial floodway, completed in 1949 at south of downtown Colorado Springs in 1935. thunderstorm that dumped 6 inches of rain in sides of a conspicuous concrete ditch that and caused $1.7 million in property damage. cost of $1.2 million, was built in response to Significant flooding: 1878, 1885, 1894, 1921, three hours. Significant flooding: 1965 and runs down the middle of 31 st Street. The Fed by numerous tributaries, Monument Creek several floods originating in the Templeton 1932, 1935 and 1965. 1983. potential for loss of life and heavy property flows through an unusually pronounced valley Gap area. Its ability to contain a future flood 22983 ---------- greatest devastation ever experienced by a do Flood crest F1 tM during If Cressman, head of I I 1. Moisture condenses 2. If updrafts in the 3. The - city in Colorado. 1921 Pueblo flood the National West her Service from 1970 to in cooler upper-air levels. thundercloud are moving mist and added moist air are carried The high-water 25 1979. When the air becomes faster than 17 mph, upward again. Steps 1,2 mark in downtown Pueblo, reached at 20 0 0 0 c Just as f fault lines saturated, the water failing raindrops particles begin to fall, disintegrate into mist and 3 are repeated until the thundercloud midnight, exceeded 15 : . . :. .- make California vul- nerable to periodic coalescing into raindrops. before leaving the cloud. becomes supersaturated. A 12 feet. The death union Ave. bridge. Lev shaking, Colorado toll in Pueblo and downs tream at La �10 topography and dan- Z gerous, recurring i Junta hit 156; another 147 were e 5 - Normal river level 'street In to downtown weather patterns in late spring and ------ 0 early reported missing. Not included in O z % summer combine to the count set the stage for fire- were transients and undocumented aliens 'uent flash floods. An J 71 living in the hardest. Flood profile of the Arkansas River In Pueblo at the time area north of Colorado ........ ------- V�;. 0 of the 1921 flood . Springs is hit poor sections of Pueblo. More than 500 e re + D buildings th F unsurpassed along ron ange for spawning severe thun- destroyed, and the cost of reconstruction derstorms, according to meteorologists. Updrafts caused -, % �, !"3 1 Updraft's caused was estimated at $ 10 million ($56 million L And the area is drained by streams that air-mass collision ti b I h in 1989 dollars). pass through much of El Paso County. with Palmer Div[ Solar ea,ng a aIrr*0 t Other metropolitan areas in the state The diagram at right shows how those ele- and the Front Rang' III 11 -1 . also have been victimized by flash floods. Oka , i-saiiiiiiif - ments come together to increase the likeli- 7 -a- & air mass condenses at, While the flood danger seems remote 'RA r"; IA. yt this point, forming Colorado Springs was hit by major flooding hood of flash flooding. Water vapor in rising in 1935 on Memorial Day. Floods struck Denver in 1965. The Big Thompson food during the present dry spell, it is important R the cloud base in 1976 killed 140 residents and campers to remember this country's worst drought, in a river canyon west of Loveland. Many the Dust Bowl of the 1930s, was followed other extraordinary floods have gained little in 1935 by Colorado Sprin worst flood. I r i��Y� 1 if AL/17 777 Who is in danger? Simply put, the danger of flash flood threatens every resident of El Paso County. Although living in, or adjacent to, a flood plain increases the odds that you and your Property will be a casualty of a flash flood, most El Paso County residents come in contact with a flood plain every day of their lives. Many work in businesses located in flood-prone areas. Thousands more pass through one or more flood plains every day on their way to work or school, or to go shopping. Although the odds of being killed in a flood are small, a major flood can still ad versely affect a large number of people. Public utilities, including electricity, gas, water and sewage service can be interrupted. The area water supplies can be contaminated for days. Transportation networks can be crippled if major highways and bridges are washed away. Xk 7 1 Key Streams or normally dry stream beds Major highways Threatened conventional housing and trailer parks Reservoirs expected to cause fatalities should the clain fail Warning system stream gauges Mo �� ,,� Ilk 1f��,� � I��•�i, �,�� : , j;� I) I �� I � � I�I • �� I � � I V 4, 4, 7 I I �rl_T jj ki r I iv .1 �Tir T Ware, r wl"111" 11, 1, 1 1 'it" I 'I Jill f V the A,kar feet" Ir n C 7 rinoS J Down eyenne ... ... .... ... a l Ofuntalin, 4 Pe PrC 94 I W ate- Warning system rain gauges Note. Map elevations exaggerated 10 emphasize ze topography. Residential areas threatened are based on N ...... Regional Building Department flood-plain maps. These Fou&alln maps do 1701 all residential arms of El Paso Cwnty. 7 I5_ A Upper Fountain Creek flash flood 'Q This east-west flowing section of Fountain Manitou Springs p Creek began its notorious flood history by threat avervi destroying the fledgling Colorado City in 1864. Densely populated Manitou Springs, which damage makes Camp Creek one of the All traffic to points west of Colorado Springs crowds the banks of Fountain Creek and its most dangerous streams in Colorado Springs. Lower Fountain Creek tributary, Ruxton Creek, faces one of the with high stream banks. Its widest flood plain. flows along this broad flood plain. west of downtown Colorado Springs, is only a In 1983, the federal government called Flood-control measures are under study as biggest threats in El Paso County from a (21 Shooks Run half-mile across. This area, a residential Fountain Creek one of the two most part of a Fountain Valley beautification project. high-velocity flood. The town is located at the dangerous streams in Colorado. Nearly all Significant flooding. 1864, 1882, 1894, 1902, convergence of several steep, narrow canyons In 1885, a rainfall of 16 inches in one hour at neighborhood rebuilt largely as a commercial 1921, 1932, 1940, 1947 and 1964. draining a large mountainous area. Many present-day Union Boulevard and Austin Bluffs district after 1935, still encompasses many water draining the western part at El Paso picturesque and historic buildings adjacent to Parkway drove Shooks Run out of its banks, homes at risk. Although the stream channel County eventually flows into its streambed hanging over, or straddling stream channels killing one person. The creek continues to was artificially deepened and widened after Fountain Creek, characterized by b Cheyenne Creek would surely be washed away during a major threaten heavily populated areas in central 1935, officials still consider Monument Creek plains and numerous tributaries with G Colorado Springs. Over $7 million has been the greatest flood threat to Colorado Springs. road fl;;;d flood. Complicating the relief effort from such a historically large flows, has the potential to Cheyenne Creek, considered the most flood is the expectation that all major roads spent so far on flood control. Significant Develop ment in its watershed upstream devastate large areas of the county, including dangerous stream in Colorado Springs in continually increases the flood potential. Stratmoor Valley, the Southmoor Addition, terms of total population threatened, flows leading into town would be severed. flooding: 1885, 1886, 1921 and 1922. Significant flooding: 1864, 1885, 1886, 193E Significant flooding: 1882, 1894, 1902, 192 1, G Fountain and strearnside portions of Colorado through the residential area along Cheyenne 1940, 1947 and 1964. Monument Creek and 1965. Springs. Development in Colorado Springs Road and the commercial and residential continually increases the flood threat. district along South Nevada Avenue south of C In 1935, this stream acquired the dubious Templeton Gap floodway "o, Fountain Creek was a major factor in the 1921 Fountain Creek. Cheyenne Creek last flooded G Camp reek distinction of spawning Colorado Springs' G Pueblo flood and destroyed a residential area on Aug. 8, 1983, following a severe This stream threatens neighborhoods on both most devastating flood. It killed four people This artificial floodway, completed in 1949 at south of downtown Colorado Springs in 1935. thunderstorm that dumped 6 inches of rain in sides of a conspicuous concrete ditch that and caused $1.7 million in property damage. cost of $1.2 million, was built in response to Significant flooding: 1878, 1885, 1894, 1921, three hours. Significant flooding: 1965 and runs down the middle of 31 st Street. The Fed by numerous tributaries, Monument Creek several floods originating in the Templeton 1932, 1935 and 1965. 1983. potential for loss of life and heavy property flows through an unusually pronounced valley Gap area. Its ability to contain a future flood 22983 ----------