Thank you to everyone who has e-mailed to check on me and my family during the floods in our area of Colorado this week. We are okay so far. There are a couple of roads washed out in our little town, but nothing compared to the devastation in Boulder a few miles west of us, Longmont, a few miles north of us and Estes Park, north of Boulder. There are also numerous smaller towns in the area that have suffered terrible damage.
This is a road that washed out early Thursday morning, just a short distance from us. It is at an intersection that I go by numerous times every week. Fortunately, all the people in these cars were rescued.
My son's neighborhood, about 20 miles north of us, was an island for a couple of days. This picture is a couple of blocks from their house. They finally could get out Friday afternoon. They went to a grocery store but found the shelves mostly empty because no deliveries had been made due to road closures. Their town is now under orders to boil any tap water they use.
There is an elementary school about a block from our house. About 75 fifth graders from the school have been stranded by the flood for several days at an outdoor lab camp (sort of an educational camping trip that all of the fifth graders here do). They had to be helicoptered out, leaving all their belongings behind. This afternoon when I drove by and saw this sign and their families waiting for them on the school lawn it brought tears to my eyes.
When I heard the cheer that went up from the families as they saw the school bus bringing their kids home come around the curve I was sobbing right along with them.
As of this afternoon, there are still stranded people being rescued. The first responders have been heroic as they always are. The community response has been so great that shelters have had to turn away volunteers and supplies.
We have had about 24 hours of not much rain, but it is predicted that we will get some rain tonight and a lot of rain tomorrow. We have already had the amount of rain we usually get in a year fall in just a few days.
Please join us in saying Rain, rain, go away!
We got rain here in Utah. Our basement flooded two feet up but nothing like you have had in Colorado. My husband is from Colorado and we have family in Florence. Prayers going your way. God bless and keep you safe.
ReplyDeleteThis is dreadful and unbelievable, Jeanie! I've been following the developments on the news and I'm so sorry to know that areas near you were hard hit. I hope whatever rain you have in the forecast will be light so that the communities around you can start recovering from this terrible disaster. My thoughts and prayers are with you, dear friend!
ReplyDeleteI have been following this closely because of you and other family and friends in the area. So far those we know are out of harms way but it has been an unbelievable disaster. What a fright for those parents of the school children. I would have been crying right along with you. Take care and stay safe.
ReplyDeleteBeen thinking about you - I saw that 1st pic on the news last night. Here in the mts, we had a reprieve of several hours so I could get out and exercise for the first time in several days The trails are muddy and wet. In the afternoon, it hailed and rained again . Now - just cloudy and calling for more rain tomorrow. If this were snow, we'd be ready to ski! When I see the devastation that some of the creeks and rivers have caused, I could cry, too. Farms are surrounded by lakes of water and livestock standing knee-deep. Hoping for an end to it for awhile, so we all can dry out. Keep safe, Jeanie.
ReplyDeleteYikes! I'm so sorry, Jeanie. Colorado has had way more than their share of hardship in the last months. I'm hoping the next few months will be much, much better.
ReplyDeleteWow! You have so been on my mind! Praying for things to dry up quickly! So glad that you and your family are okay. Praying for recovery for everyone. It sounds like everyone is coming together to help the community. Please keep us posted!
ReplyDeleteI have thought of you Jeanie; your poor state between the fires and now the rain. I so admire those first responders with the work they do time after time after time. It is heartening to know that the community is stepping in and helping out as they can for those affected with the flooding. I too would have cried when I saw the bus coming back with the kids; what an adventure they had; glad all wewre safe with it!
ReplyDeletebetty
Stay safe! Is your son in Longmont? My daughter is just north of you. Her children are in St. Vrain School District and won't have school until the middle of next week. They are safe, but she had to miss work on Wednesday. Like she said, it was a good thing or she'd been caught up in that mess at 287 & Dillion.
ReplyDeleteWe've had a lot of rain, but no problems have happened where we live. It is raining tonight. I wish it would just stop!
I also am quite concerned about how many are unaccounted for. This may be worse than the Big Thompson Flood before it is over with loss of life.
I have been following the news and wondered about your situation in Colorado. I am so glad that your home has been untouched by all of this. I'll pray for you and your family. Take care!
ReplyDeleteThanks for adding your own perspectives and experiences...it always helps us understand the big picture to hear how people we know are affected. All the best.
ReplyDeleteOh, Jeanie -- that's terrible. I'm glad you all are safe. I confess-- I've been on "news moratorium" lately (mostly time factor) and had NO IDEA this was happening. Oh, I'm so very grateful you are safe. Sending good wishes to all in your community.
ReplyDeleteWhat community are you in? I have other friends in CO, too -- bloggers and otherwise...
I never thought we would have to say rain rain go away in our high desert location, but I agree with you! I have lived here my entire life and have never seen this much rain and widespread flooding. Glad you are okay - we are too - several roads closed that I take to work but there are other routes.
ReplyDeleteso happy to hear your family is all okay..every time I saw it on the news I thought about yall...hopefully the rains will go away...
ReplyDeleteThis is so scary. I'm definitely singing with you.
ReplyDeleteOh wow, I heard about all the flooding over your way. I hope you are all OK and none of your friends or family have been affected?
ReplyDeleteI hope all is well and that all has calmed down after these monsoons!
ReplyDeleteOh Jeanie...I am so glad that you and your family are ok. What a sad thing for your community. We went to Estes Park at the end of July. It was our 37th anniversary...and we were remembering that The Big Thompson Flood happened 37 years ago the day after we left that area where we had honey-mooned! We kept saying tet we hoped it didn't flood again!!!
ReplyDeleteWell, I am sad that it did flood. We visted some friends in Longmont...so I guess I had better check on them and see how they faired during the flood!
I had forgotten that you lived in Colorado. (It is so hard to keep all of the blog friends hometowns straight) But as I said...I am glad that you are ok.
Love, Linda