Flash floods placed in perspective
Recent flash floods in southern Colorado haven’t claimed as many lives as Monday’s tragedy in Utah but they’ve been just as devastating to public and private property.
The Utah flood shares similarities with southern Colorado floods — a heavy rain amount in a short time period, ground already saturated, and with little vegetation, and proximity to a natural drainage area.
As of Tuesday, authorities said the Utah flood killed 12 people, injured three and left one missing.
Southern Colorado has grown accustomed to an increased flash flood risk since the Waldo Canyon Fire in 2012. However, mitigation projects have reduced the number of floods in Ute Pass, Manitou Springs and parts of west Colorado Springs.
In September 2013, constant rainfall caused Cheyenne Creek on the city’s southwest side to overflow, flooding basements and leaving other damage behind.
But the area still receives occasional surprises. An August 10 storm caused significant damage and was the first true flash flood within the city limits, officials said Tuesday.
“It’s hard to understand where we are in terms of recovery,” said Erin Duran, the city’s emergency management coordinator. “We hope we’re maybe a third of the way there, but we can’t be sure. The important thing for us is to be alert and ready.”
Tim Mitros, the city’s stormwater manager, said communities can eliminate much of the flash flooding risk if they stop building in or near flood plains.
“If we’re to be totally protected, we need to probably take out those homes and get them out of the flood plain — and that will not happen from a monetary standpoint,” he said.
A family who recently moved into a house along the banks of Cheyenne Creek said they’ve learned about the 2013 flood but aren’t worried.
“It makes you second-guess a little because obviously it’s happened before,” said Morgan Cunningham, who moved in with his partner, Ana-Alycia Quintana and their two children.
“From what we’ve seen the damage has been repaired and everything is working as it should,” he said.
But the flood apparently left a lasting negative impression on a neighbor across the street, who has a “for sale” sign in the yard.
