The Big Thompson River southwest of Fort Collins was the scene of one of America’s worst flood tragedies in 1976, when 150 people died during a summer flash flood.
Relentless rains are causing the river to rise again, prompting evacuations.
Larimer sheriff paints dire picture of flooding as Big Thompson rises
Roads are crumbling. Dams are failing. And the Big Thompson River just keeps rising. Mother Nature is painting a dire picture on Colorado’s rain-soaked canvas during a day when flash flooding killed at least three people across Colorado and overwhelmed roads in mountainous western Larimer County.
There is no end in sight for the rain, which is forecast to continue for at least three more days.
From where is the rain coming? Is it monsoon rain?
Yes, we have a very strong monsoonal flow coming up from Mexico.
I was living in Fort Collins in 76 when that happened… It was described a a sudden massive wall of water that swept everything away in seconds
I was scheduled to lead a hike that day for the Colorado mountain Club, starting at the head waters of the Big Thompson Creek. Luckily it got canceled and never happened. The hike would have been in the middle of the storm on the continental divide.
Does it say ‘Dreamland’ on that destroyed building?
My name is Jennifer Goddard. My Uncle Richard Goddard, died in the flood, when I was three years old. I was supposed to go camping with my Uncle and his girlfriend and at the last minute, my Mom changed her mind and wouldn’t let me go. I was wondering if you are somehow related?
Jenna, I use a pen name on this blog and am not related. Why did your mom change her mind? Did she sense something?
Yes, she had a bad feeling. Honestly, she has done that kind of stuff my whole life. I had a dirt bike accident when I was 16, up in the mountains. There was no way she could have heard it, but she was running up the mountain looking for me. I ended up with 28 stitches. Kind of crazy!
So, did you pick this name because of the rocket scientist and your obvious interest?
I had a similar experience with one of my kids, who had a motorcycle accident in Masonville 15 miles away. Fortunately he wasn’t seriously hurt.
The name actually came from an Internet random name generator. LOL
wow, just saw this article, I went to school with Richard at South High class of 74 did not know him real well but I remember the flood and always wondered if that was the same guy. age sounds about right