Mary Stetler
Well-known member
- Joined
- Mar 11, 2025
- Messages
- 458
The week after I bought my farm our area had a '100 year flood'. The last one was in 1927 when the lake water came up about 40 streets.Photos: 47 years ago, 144 died in one of Colorado’s deadliest natural disasters - written in 2023
DENVER (KDVR) — Aug. 1 is celebrated as Colorado Day, the day it earned its statehood. But 47 years ago, ahead of the state’s 100th birthday, Colorado experienced one of its deadliest natural disasters.
On the evening of July 31, 1976, hours before Colorado’s 100th birthday, a stationary thunderstorm released a deluge of rain in the upper part of the Big Thompson River drainage.
According to the United States Geological Survey, the Big Thompson flood became one of the state’s deadliest and costliest disasters.
The National Weather Service said that an estimated 2,500 to 3,500 people drove to the area to stay in one of Colorado’s most scenic spots to celebrate 100 years of Colorado. On the afternoon of July 31, heavy rain fell over the 70-square-mile region from 6:30-11 p.m.
The heaviest rainfall, between 12 and 14 inches, fell on the western side of the canyon. Water levels rose quickly and raged through the canyon corridor, according to NWS. The flood lasted through the early morning of Aug. 1, 1976.
According to USGS, 144 people died in the flood, and many were campers staying along the river. The flood also destroyed 418 homes, 52 businesses, numerous bridges, paved and unpaved roads and power and telephone lines. U.S. 34 was washed out as 10-foot-wide boulders were carried down the river.
Damages cost an estimated $39 million.
In the days since the Big Thompson flood, USGS continues to conduct research and operate a nationwide network to help understand and predict the likelihood of floods such as this one.
According to NWS, the deadliest flood on record was in June 1921 when the Arkansas River flooded in Pueblo. Because of the swelling of the Arkansas River and Fountain Creek, the entire greater business district of Pueblo was flooded with water 10 feet deep.
While the number is uncertain, researchers estimated as many as 1,500 people died in the flood.
So, 1976 and 1921 floods. Pueblo and Big Thompson canyon are in the same state but very far apart geographically, in very different kinds of areas and in different times. Climate change?
Here’s another story on Big Thompson - written in 2016
![]()
40 years later: Scores killed in Big Thompson Flood
A year's worth of rain fell in 70 minuteswww.coloradoan.com
If anyone looks at it you should be able to read it even though it asks for a subscription.
I watched in horror as My recently purchased farm waited as the creek overflowed into my pond which rose up to my first pasture fence, which was high ground. The water did not make it to the house but I chewed my nails down to the knuckles.
This year is just keeps raining. I can't get my hay off, my garden is lost but I keep planting--this week,winter squash which likes heat and wet. My alternate hay source said he would hold hay for me but I can't pick it up yet because it is too wet to get to his storage barn. It is last year's hay which guarantees it won't be moldy. and That's ok cuz my sheep need to graze down the pasture.