Flash flooding damages several homes in Custer County
CUSTER COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) -- The Custer County Sheriff's Office and Rye Fire Department have issued a mandatory evacuation for the residents along Custer County Road 378/Spruce Lane due to the area being unsafe following flooding on July 29.
The Custer County Sheriff's Office says the Rye Fire Chief reported significant flood damage to three homes on this road across the highway from the San Isabel Lodge.
KRDO13 spoke with residents in the area before the evacuation was put in place. Residents were shoveling up debris and doing everything they could to barricade their homes from more flood waters.
Michael Romero, a resident on Spurce Lane, worked tirelessly to clean up the muddy mess around his home Wednesday, and now, he had to do it all over again.
“It’s just an ongoing battle. We’re supposed to get the same kind of rain tonight, so who knows what we’ll come back tomorrow to,” Romero said.
His backyard was completely washed out, and the water took his retainer wall and a picnic table with it. Romero shared before and after photos of the flooding near his house before the evacuation.
He also said the flood waters nearly took out his propane tank that provides gas for the entire home.
All of this happened just feet away from where crews managed to stop the "Aspen Acres" fire.
Residents evacuated at the beginning of the month from the fire and were finally able to return on Friday, July 24.
Less than a week later, the flash flooding has now forced them to pick up and leave again.
“We survived the fire, thank God. But now we’ve got to survive the floods,” Romero said.
Michael built a barrier around the house with plywood and sandbags to try to prevent water from coming inside when the next round of rain hits.
Crews with the Custer County Road and Bridge Department crews have been working to relevel the road. The Custer County Sheriff's Office said evacuation will be lifted when the road is safe to travel on, but there's no indication of when that will be at this time.
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