Rescuers can't reach people stranded by Colorado flooding

[bananas]

Source: CNN

An entire community cut off, firefighters huddled on the side of a mountain after water swept their truck away, and -- with rescue helicopters grounded -- no way to reach them.

This is the scene facing authorities Thursday in Boulder County, Colorado, in the wake of what S called a "devastating storm" that dumped more than half a foot of rain on the region during a 19-hour period.

The widespread flash flooding washed out roads, pushed dams to their limits and beyond and killed at least three people along Colorado's Rocky Mountain range, from Boulder south to Colorado Springs.

The worst of the reported damage has come in Boulder County, where the National Weather Service reported that a 20-foot wall of water roared down a mountain canyon north of the city, temporarily trapping a firefighter in a tree. Although injured, the firefighter made it to a nearby home, sheriff's Cmdr. Heidi Prentup said.

<snip>

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/12/us/flooding-colorado/?hpt=us_c2

[bananas]

1. St. Vrain River 'a few hundred feet wide' through Lyons: 500+ year flood event

Photos at the link.

http://www.timescall.com/longmont-local-news/ci_24072743/dam-break-threatens-lyons-residents-warned-go-higher

St. Vrain River 'a few hundred feet wide' through Lyons

Longmont Times-Call
POSTED: 09/12/2013 02:20:06 AM MDT | UPDATED: 27 MIN. AGO

Roads into and out of Lyons were blocked early Thursday after the St. Vrain River spilled over its banks and flooded roads in and around the town.

The Town of Lyons is "facing a 500+ year flood event," the town said on its Facebook page. It said the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment issued an advisory for residents to boil water for drinking but added the advisory was a precaution and that contamination of the drinking water system had not been detected. Water users should boil water for three minutes then let it cool.

<snip>

"It is the most unbelievable thing I've ever seen," said Sally Van Meter, who lives on a hill just outside downtown Lyons. About 10 neighbors had sought higher ground in her home Thursday morning.

Van Meter called 911 because neighbors said they heard someone calling for help. But homes she can see from her deck are completely surrounded by water and inaccessible except by boat, she said. Most of the town is submerged, including the Planet Bluegrass music festival ranch northwest of downtown, she said, adding that the St. Vrain River breached its north bank by 50 yards or more.

<snip>

[adirondacker]

13. "facing a 500+ year flood event," Another record flood event.

Tragic for the town and people who probably had no way of realizing the flood capacity. Reminiscent of VT and NY during Irene.

[leftyohiolib]

2. helicopter?

[Shampoobra]

8. grounded

"Boulder County has requested Colorado National Guard vehicles capable of fording deep water as well as rescue helicopters, which are currently grounded because of fog, low clouds and rain, he said."

[OldRedneck]

3. They are public employees

Remember . . . the firefighters and rescue personnel are overpaid, underworked public employees with fat salaries, short working hours, gold-plated health insurance, and generous pensions.

At least that's what the rightwingnutjobs tell me. They wouldn't lie, would they?

[paulrandfu]

7. Yes, and they are also takers

according to the T-bagger king rush.

[SCVDem]

4. Quick!

Call the NRA!

For the 51% who think they are gods gift on everything.

[Voice for Peace]

5. holy crap.. a 20 foot wall of water

yow

[ChairmanAgnostic]

6. The reaction here is normal, healthy, and sane.

we feel for the sufferers, those in trouble, those who lose everything.

But imagine if the vote had gone the other way, and the democrats had won the recall vote. We'd have Pat Robertson and other religious nuts claiming that the wall of water was god's way of punishing voters for supporting democrats.

What a sick, sick, sick world we live in.

[olddad56]

9. - 1000

[ChairmanAgnostic]

10. W T F ?

[Posteritatis]

12. You weren't reading the forums much after Sandy, I take it. (nt)

[ChairmanAgnostic]

14. deliberately. Nausea is never appealing.

[Uncle Joe]

11. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, bananas.