Mudslide Destroys Chipita Park Home

An emergency evacuation notice was sent out to affected residents living in Chipita Park Monday night.

Heavy rain over the Waldo Canyon burn scar caused a mudslide that closed part of Highway 24. The mudslide also rushed past several homes in the area.

“It’s overwhelming. First the fire, and now the mudslide,” said Linda Snow.

Snow is the property manager of a home south of Ute Elementary School. She said she was in Woodland Park when she received the notification.

Mud and debris surrounded Snow’s home, the mud and water also seeped into the lower floor of the home.

Snow said she had been warned of the post-fire flood and mudslide danger by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Snow said authorities delivered sandbags, but told her they were also working on treating portions of the highway above her to mitigate the flooding threats.

“After I’ve seen this, there’s nothing we personally could have done to stop this. Now, maybe something could have been done on the other side of the road but it didn’t get done,” said Snow.

Snow said she and her husband moved into the home about one and a half weeks before evacuating in advance of the Waldo Canyon Fire. This is the second time the couple has been forced to evacuate.

“God’s on the throne. He rules. He reigns. He’s always taken care of me all my life and I don’t think he’s just gonna quit now because mud went through the house. The only thing I’m concerned about is that I have no place to live right now,” said Snow.

Snow told KRDO Newschannel 13 that she and her husband do not have renters’ insurance. She said they will be working with the property manager to resolve the issues.

The Ute Pass Elementary School principal told KRDO Newschannel 13 there was no damage done to the school building, but there was extensive damage sustained by playground.