The Colorado Flood 2013 - DPChallenge Forums

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

09/16/2013 10:18:08 AM · #1

In the midst of a major natural disaster in Colorado, we just observed the largest evacuation since Hurricane Katrina. The numbers are starting to come out now and they are not good. Six people known dead, another 1253 people are unaccounted for. 17,492 homes have been damaged with 1502 known destroyed. There have been 11,700 people evacuated. These numbers are sure to increase as officials gain access to more remote areas which were hard hit.

Downtown Estes Park on Friday the 13th. My family is safe in Boulder, Fort Collins and Estes Park.
The infrastructure has suffered major damage. Roads, bridges and sewage plants suffered major damage. Hope my fellow Colorado DPCers are all okay. I thought the wildland fires were bad. This widespread flood is much worse. I apologize for not participating much at DPC in recent days.

"Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans."
John Lennon

//www.denverpost.com
//www.9news.com/news/article/355318/339/708-unaccounted-for-in-Colorado-floods

Message edited by author 2013-09-16 10:18:48.

alanfreed

Nikon D6

09/16/2013 10:27:38 AM · #2

That's a shame... I drove through Estes Park last summer, and it's certainly a beautiful place. Hope they're able to rebound quickly.

Message edited by author 2013-09-16 10:28:09.

pmichaud

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

09/16/2013 10:32:27 AM · #3

Richard, it is good to hear from you. I have been thinking about you and wondering how you were during this horrible disaster. How did your beautiful gallery fare? And your home? Keeping you and your family in our thoughts..

Estes and Lyons were hit so hard as were Boulder and Aurora and parts of Colorado Springs. We had some flooding here in Fremont County, but nothing like you did. Forecast is for more rain today.

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM

09/16/2013 10:52:45 AM · #4

My gallery and home are untouched by the flood waters. The community has much cleanup and rebuild to do. At this point, people continue to be evacuated from isolated homes.

The Fall color season is immediately ahead in the next three weeks. Typically, we'd have many visitors to RMNP. Not so many this year because of the broken roads. In a few days, people will be able to access Estes Park from Trail Ridge Road and the Peak-to-peak highway. All is not lost, yet.

Flood photos from Denver Post.

Cory

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

09/16/2013 10:57:19 AM · #5

Hell, it's even been slamming us down here - although, we only have missing roads and ponds where fields used to be.

Seriously though, even we are in trouble - This is supposedly a road, and while it's bad, it's not the worst or uncommon...

And the worst part is that our county is the largest in New Mexico, and one of the least populous - basically we were broke months ago - these roads aren't getting fixed anytime soon...

Stay safe - and get those photos man! Exceptional times my friend, unusual stuff going on.

cryan

Nikon D700

Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro for Nikon

09/16/2013 11:25:35 AM · #6

I grew up in colorado and what I'm seeing on the news is just unimaginable. The last time there was major flooding like this was back in the 60's. My dad was a sheriff for Douglas county and he was out for days dealing with it back then. I have seen footage of places I should recognize and don't, it's just so sad. My thoughts and prayers are will all who are being affected by ths. Richard thanks for letting us know you are ok.

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

Canon RF 24-70 f2.8 L IS

09/16/2013 11:52:10 AM · #7

Man, you folks can't buy a break... first the drought and fires, now the floods. What's next, locusts? I sure hope that those unaccounted for are found safe. Richard, it's good to hear that your home and gallery have escaped damage, and that you are safe and well.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S21, S21+, S21 Ultra

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

09/16/2013 12:02:21 PM · #8

This is unbelievable what you folks are suffering through out there, Richard. My Grandpa always said adversity builds character: based on that, I assume your corner of the woods is a hotbed of saints by now. Be safe!

LN13

Canon EOS-60D

Canon EF-S 15-85mm IS USM

09/16/2013 12:03:37 PM · #9

Originally posted by Cory:

Off topic....what the hell is going on in that photo?

Message edited by author 2013-09-16 12:04:22.

Samsung Galaxy S21, S21+, S21 Ultra

09/16/2013 12:29:22 PM · #10

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

We are survivors. I criticized a meteorologist who predicted last Wednesday that we were going to have rainfall of "biblical proportions". He was right. We had a 500 year flood. (15" to 18" in the foothills above Boulder, Longmont and Loveland.) That much water in the mountains in a short period of time funnels through the canyons. Epic erosion and destruction of infrastructure. While we can rally to restore normalcy, there is a large measure of coping with the aftermath.

Bear_Music

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

09/16/2013 12:35:52 PM · #11

Originally posted by larryslights:

Off topic....what the hell is going on in that photo?

LOL. That's what I asked in a comment on the photo :-)

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S21, S21+, S21 Ultra

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

09/16/2013 12:36:47 PM · #12

Originally posted by hahn23:

We are survivors ... While we can rally to restore normalcy, there is a large measure of coping with the aftermath.

That's why Mountain Men loom large in the American mythos...

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

09/16/2013 12:54:04 PM · #13

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

Originally posted by larryslights:
Off topic....what the hell is going on in that photo?

LOL. That's what I asked in a comment on the photo :-)

I just thought Cory just had someone take a photo of him using that "large-format" monster he cobbled together last month, and that he has to "get into a certain mood" when using it ...

Nadine_Vb

Nikon D2X

Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DL Macro for Nikon

09/16/2013 01:02:21 PM · #14

Originally posted by larryslights:

Originally posted by Cory:

Off topic....what the hell is going on in that photo?

Was wondering exactly the same thing. Looks like a little bride taking a photograph with a large format?? :-/

Stay safe all of you who are suffering these forces of nature.
I hope everything will be over soon.

cowboy221977

Canon EOS-60D

Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM

09/16/2013 01:12:51 PM · #15

Yeah Colorado has been hit hard. I hope the rebuilding is quick and efficient and that every1 had insurance

Cory

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM

09/16/2013 01:15:28 PM · #16

Originally posted by Nadine_Vb:

Originally posted by larryslights:

Originally posted by Cory:

Off topic....what the hell is going on in that photo?

Was wondering exactly the same thing. Looks like a little bride taking a photograph with a large format?? :-/

Stay safe all of you who are suffering these forces of nature.
I hope everything will be over soon.

I think I should just let everyone's imagination run wild.

In short, she's taking the most awesome iPhone photo ever taken. Schlake and I are the subjects.

The longer version would probably cause nightmares for the more sensitive among you. :D

-- Seriously though, back on topic, some amazing photos coming out of Colorado - thank goodness this downpour didn't happen when there was still snowpack. Hope all of our Colorado based DPC'ers stay safe.

spiritualspatula

Panasonic LUMIX DMC-LX100

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

09/16/2013 01:30:29 PM · #17

Glad to see you're doing well, Hahn. Had been wondering how you had fared through all of this, so it's good to hear from you.

error99

Canon EOS-6D

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

09/16/2013 08:16:16 PM · #18

Wow,I have a buddy with a vacation home in Estes Park. He hasn't been able to get through to anybody to check on things. He should be high enough in elevation (Narcissus Dr.) to be ok. I'll have to show him this photo. Hope you all stay safe.

Nikon AF-S DX 18-105 f/3.5-5.6 ED VR

09/16/2013 08:30:25 PM · #19

Originally posted by error99:

Narcissus Dr. is high and dry, but roads may be washed out approaching that area. Of course, the June 23, 2012 wildfire may have come close to his vacation house.

jomari

Nikon D7000

09/16/2013 08:57:01 PM · #20

Richard, I'm glad that you have fared okay through this disaster. A double whammy would be too cruel. Is there much overlap in destruction between the fires and the flood?

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

09/16/2013 09:02:58 PM · #21

Originally posted by jomari:

Richard, I'm glad that you have fared okay through this disaster. A double whammy would be too cruel. Is there much overlap in destruction between the fires and the flood?

Not sure how much of a factor it was in this case, but wildfires are major contributors to later flooding and landslides if the ground can't be stabilized by new vegetation prior to the rains. I've heard that environmental remediation has started in the area of the Rim fire (near Yosemite) even before the fire is completely contained.

error99

Canon EOS-6D

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

09/16/2013 11:23:45 PM · #22

Originally posted by hahn23:

Originally posted by error99:
Wow,I have a buddy with a vacation home in Estes Park. He hasn't been able to get through to anybody to check on things. He should be high enough in elevation (Narcissus Dr.) to be ok. I'll have to show him this photo. Hope you all stay safe.

Narcissus Dr. is high and dry, but roads may be washed out approaching that area. Of course, the June 23, 2012 wildfire may have come close to his vacation house.

Thanks for the update. I'll pass that on.

Yes, the fires were very close to his house. He was out there at the time and came close to vacating.

Thanks again!

09/17/2013 09:31:42 AM · #23

Originally posted by GeneralE:

Originally posted by jomari:
Richard, I'm glad that you have fared okay through this disaster. A double whammy would be too cruel. Is there much overlap in destruction between the fires and the flood?

Not sure how much of a factor it was in this case, but wildfires are major contributors to later flooding and landslides if the ground can't be stabilized by new vegetation prior to the rains. I've heard that environmental remediation has started in the area of the Rim fire (near Yosemite) even before the fire is completely contained.

Yes, recent wildfires have been the sites of big mudslides. In a hot fire, the substantial amount of tree sap vaporizes and settles back on the ground as a sort of sealant coating, impenetrable to water. Rainwater runs off, rather than soaks in. At this time, RMNP is closed to all recreation as roads, bridges and trails are inspected for safety. I expect some parts of the park will reopen by next week. The water is receding.

Message edited by author 2013-09-17 09:50:33.