This morning, there was an alarming knock at the door – I opened it and someone told me that we need to leave immediately because the flood waters were coming. So I woke up everyone and told them what the man said. We started packing up, and then suddenly half of the front yard was covered in 6 inches of water from the nearby creek. I rushed out of the house with my step-brother while my step-dad and my mom grabbed some of the pets. And then my step-dad had to go back and get the last cat, who almost fell off a tree and drowned. Luckily we managed to not only get the car out of the water, but we also got all of the pets. (There were chickens at our farm, too, but I doubt they’re going to survive.)
The house is probably partially submerged now. I’m just glad that my step-dad and my mom have maximum flood insurance coverage. This whole ordeal has been very stressful and frightening. I’m in a very anxious and alert state, and every other hour or so I feel like bawling. The flooding came as a complete surprise because I stayed up all night checking the NWS for the creek water level – to see if there was any chance of a flood approaching.
My step-dad almost died trying to get the last cat, and if we didn’t act quickly we would have all been swept away. In fact, if it weren’t for the neighbor who knocked on the door, we would be trapped in the house.
We’re completely shaken right now, but we’re all safe. I really hope everyone else in Boulder county and Weld county is safe – they got the worst of the flooding.
Ally, that’s so scary. Glad you, your family, and your pets are safe. So sorry about the flooding! Sending all the hugs to Colorado!
Falconer
11 years ago
Oh god, Ally, that’s horrible. I’m shaking a bit just thinking about it.
I’m sorry to hear about your chickens.
All the hugs!
Falconer
11 years ago
Huh. Post a new comment, get sent to the top of the last page. Weird. ‘Snot doing that on the PAX DICKINSON DOUCHEBAG OF WORLDS (worlds worlds orlds rlds lds) thread.
emilygoddess
11 years ago
Ally, that sounds terrifying. I’m glad your family and most of the pets are OK. Thank goodness for your neighbor!
The road our house is on is completely submerged in water. An alert that my sister received says “Wall of water coming down boulder canyon. STAY AWAY FROM BOULDER CREEK”
Yeah, a whole fucking wall of water is coming to destroy the house. I’m starting to break down again.
Wow, Ally, that’s terrifying! I’m glad your family and fur-babies all got out OK. Stay safe!
grumpycatisagirl
11 years ago
I’m so sorry you have to go through this, Ally. How scary for your family and the animals. Do I understand correctly you are all out of harms’ way now (except for the house and the chickens. 🙁 )
Thanks everyone. And yes, grumpycatisagirl, we’re out of harm’s way at this time. We’re in Fort Collins, which is decently far away from the flooding zone.
Things are only getting worse for the flood zone. The death toll is now 3, and the governor has declared a state of emergency for Boulder county. Almost all of the school districts are closed. Many roads have collapsed, and there are reports of mudslides in Jamestown. And in Broomfield, which is east of Boulder, two bridges collapsed due to flooding waters.
Oh Aaliyah, how awful. I’m so glad you got your pets (pity about the chickens, but they might surprise you). That is what absolutely terrifies me about natural disasters; and the earthquakes we’ve been having recently. :/ I hope things go as smoothly as they can!
And thanks Cloudiah and Kitteh! I feel loved. I’d comment more, I just keep getting so behind it feels almost rude to butt in. 😛
Now there’s a minor flood threat in Fort Collins. We might end up needing to flee to a flood shelter, although according to a firefighter we just talked to, this hotel is safe and the creek is far away from us. I think we’re going to stay here.
My entire day has been filled with dread. It’s like there’s water completely surrounding us wherever we go. All of us have been feeling unsafe and fearful today – we need a break for once.
And if anyone has some tips for avoiding the worst of floods, I’d greatly appreciate it.
Ally, no tips since I’ve never been through a flood. It must be incredibly unsettling. I remember not being able to sleep for a while after the Northridge earthquake. For me, it really helped to throw myself into cleanup efforts and other things that helped people, but it was easy for me because my apartment had no structural damage so I wasn’t in a shelter. Do they have services like counseling available?
Ally, no tips since I’ve never been through a flood. It must be incredibly unsettling. I remember not being able to sleep for a while after the Northridge earthquake. For me, it really helped to throw myself into cleanup efforts and other things that helped people, but it was easy for me because my apartment had no structural damage so I wasn’t in a shelter. Do they have services like counseling available?
I’m not sure if I have access to counseling services, although there probably is something like tha around here. (I apologize if I completely misunderstood you or I’m sounding strange – I’m very tired and worn out right now.) All we are focused on for the time being is keeping ourselves safe from floods.
Emilygoddess
11 years ago
Ally, there’s a free government disaster distress hotline:
Also in Colorado here, we’re in a decent situation north of Longmont, no immediate danger, but we can’t get much of anywhere.
I see the Cache la Poudre, in Ft Collins started flooding this morning, Ally I hope you’re ok.
Pretty much the entire north east quarter of the state is flooding, it’s definitely the biggest flood I’ve ever seen. Ally mentioned the ’76 Big Thompson flood(which killed ~140 people) for reference, the crest of that flood was 9.3ft; overnight the Big Thompson reached 11ft.
But hey, the sun just came out, so hopefully the worst is behind us.
Falconer
11 years ago
Oh god, Ally, that sounds terrible.
I am crossing my fingers that your family’s farm escapes relatively unscathed. I have helped raise livestock before, it’s a lot of work, and I’m starting to tear up just thinking about losing all of that. Fortunately, I grew up on the top of a hill in Kentucky, so flooding wasn’t much of a problem.
I also hope your family’s insurance comes through. I had a minor flood when my sewer backed up not two weeks after we moved into our new house, and my insurance which everyone had blithely assured me would cover things like that, refused to cover things like that because they said it was a maintenance issue. >:( I think I complained on here about that at the time.
We may be forced to evacuate Fort Collins – or at least move to the top floor of this hotel – this evening. The Cache la Poudre river has started to flood very close to our area, so we aren’t as safe as we thought. I think I’ll have to delay my flight to California so I can help out my step-dad and my mom. They forgot their cell phone and their laptop, so I am sharing my cell phone and laptop with them. Of course, they can get their own essential items, but if they get trapped by the flooding and find themselves unable to get to a store that sells phones and laptops, things will get extremely difficult for them. And I really don’t feel comfortable leaving them until I know they’re safe for sure.
@chibigodzilla
Yeah, my step-dad talked to some of the locals here, and he saw that the part of the river next to the intersection of Mulberry and Lemay is flooding. The sky is clearing up here, too, but there is still as risk of flooding from the river, so I can’t relax just yet.
The helicopter may be on the way to help with evacuations in Lyons, Drake, Estes etc where the roads are not in great condition. Most of the helicopters have been grounded for the past few days due to poor visibility. Now that it’s clearing up, I assume they’re scrambling to play catch up.
We Hunted The Mammoth
[Content note: natural disasters]
This morning, there was an alarming knock at the door – I opened it and someone told me that we need to leave immediately because the flood waters were coming. So I woke up everyone and told them what the man said. We started packing up, and then suddenly half of the front yard was covered in 6 inches of water from the nearby creek. I rushed out of the house with my step-brother while my step-dad and my mom grabbed some of the pets. And then my step-dad had to go back and get the last cat, who almost fell off a tree and drowned. Luckily we managed to not only get the car out of the water, but we also got all of the pets. (There were chickens at our farm, too, but I doubt they’re going to survive.)
The house is probably partially submerged now. I’m just glad that my step-dad and my mom have maximum flood insurance coverage. This whole ordeal has been very stressful and frightening. I’m in a very anxious and alert state, and every other hour or so I feel like bawling. The flooding came as a complete surprise because I stayed up all night checking the NWS for the creek water level – to see if there was any chance of a flood approaching.
My step-dad almost died trying to get the last cat, and if we didn’t act quickly we would have all been swept away. In fact, if it weren’t for the neighbor who knocked on the door, we would be trapped in the house.
We’re completely shaken right now, but we’re all safe. I really hope everyone else in Boulder county and Weld county is safe – they got the worst of the flooding.
Ally, that’s so scary. Glad you, your family, and your pets are safe. So sorry about the flooding! Sending all the hugs to Colorado!
Oh god, Ally, that’s horrible. I’m shaking a bit just thinking about it.
I’m sorry to hear about your chickens.
All the hugs!
Huh. Post a new comment, get sent to the top of the last page. Weird. ‘Snot doing that on the PAX DICKINSON DOUCHEBAG OF WORLDS (worlds worlds orlds rlds lds) thread.
Ally, that sounds terrifying. I’m glad your family and most of the pets are OK. Thank goodness for your neighbor!
Let us know if there’s anything we can do.
The road our house is on is completely submerged in water. An alert that my sister received says “Wall of water coming down boulder canyon. STAY AWAY FROM BOULDER CREEK”
Yeah, a whole fucking wall of water is coming to destroy the house. I’m starting to break down again.
Wow, Ally, that’s terrifying! I’m glad your family and fur-babies all got out OK. Stay safe!
I’m so sorry you have to go through this, Ally. How scary for your family and the animals. Do I understand correctly you are all out of harms’ way now (except for the house and the chickens. 🙁 )
Thanks everyone. And yes, grumpycatisagirl, we’re out of harm’s way at this time. We’re in Fort Collins, which is decently far away from the flooding zone.
Things are only getting worse for the flood zone. The death toll is now 3, and the governor has declared a state of emergency for Boulder county. Almost all of the school districts are closed. Many roads have collapsed, and there are reports of mudslides in Jamestown. And in Broomfield, which is east of Boulder, two bridges collapsed due to flooding waters.
That’s horrible Ally! But kudos to your stepdad for rescuing the cat!
Oh Aaliyah, how awful. I’m so glad you got your pets (pity about the chickens, but they might surprise you). That is what absolutely terrifies me about natural disasters; and the earthquakes we’ve been having recently. :/ I hope things go as smoothly as they can!
And thanks Cloudiah and Kitteh! I feel loved. I’d comment more, I just keep getting so behind it feels almost rude to butt in. 😛
Glad you’re all safe Ally. Best wishes.
Now there’s a minor flood threat in Fort Collins. We might end up needing to flee to a flood shelter, although according to a firefighter we just talked to, this hotel is safe and the creek is far away from us. I think we’re going to stay here.
My entire day has been filled with dread. It’s like there’s water completely surrounding us wherever we go. All of us have been feeling unsafe and fearful today – we need a break for once.
And if anyone has some tips for avoiding the worst of floods, I’d greatly appreciate it.
Ally, no tips since I’ve never been through a flood. It must be incredibly unsettling. I remember not being able to sleep for a while after the Northridge earthquake. For me, it really helped to throw myself into cleanup efforts and other things that helped people, but it was easy for me because my apartment had no structural damage so I wasn’t in a shelter. Do they have services like counseling available?
Ally, yow, so glad you’re safe and that you got the pets out safe! Hope you’re hanging in there ok. Please keep us posted!
It’s about 4:30 AM. There is now a significant flood threat in the Fort Collins area, although we are still in a safer part of Fort Collins. In any case, the NWS advises people to not travel anywhere: http://forecast.weather.gov/showsigwx.php?warnzone=COZ038&warncounty=COC069&firewxzone=COZ238&local_place1=&product1=Flash+Flood+Warning#.UjLoXrxv76o
@cloudiah
I’m not sure if I have access to counseling services, although there probably is something like tha around here. (I apologize if I completely misunderstood you or I’m sounding strange – I’m very tired and worn out right now.) All we are focused on for the time being is keeping ourselves safe from floods.
Ally, there’s a free government disaster distress hotline:
http://disasterdistress.samhsa.gov/
1-800-985-5990
Also in Colorado here, we’re in a decent situation north of Longmont, no immediate danger, but we can’t get much of anywhere.
I see the Cache la Poudre, in Ft Collins started flooding this morning, Ally I hope you’re ok.
Pretty much the entire north east quarter of the state is flooding, it’s definitely the biggest flood I’ve ever seen. Ally mentioned the ’76 Big Thompson flood(which killed ~140 people) for reference, the crest of that flood was 9.3ft; overnight the Big Thompson reached 11ft.
But hey, the sun just came out, so hopefully the worst is behind us.
Oh god, Ally, that sounds terrible.
I am crossing my fingers that your family’s farm escapes relatively unscathed. I have helped raise livestock before, it’s a lot of work, and I’m starting to tear up just thinking about losing all of that. Fortunately, I grew up on the top of a hill in Kentucky, so flooding wasn’t much of a problem.
I also hope your family’s insurance comes through. I had a minor flood when my sewer backed up not two weeks after we moved into our new house, and my insurance which everyone had blithely assured me would cover things like that, refused to cover things like that because they said it was a maintenance issue. >:( I think I complained on here about that at the time.
We may be forced to evacuate Fort Collins – or at least move to the top floor of this hotel – this evening. The Cache la Poudre river has started to flood very close to our area, so we aren’t as safe as we thought. I think I’ll have to delay my flight to California so I can help out my step-dad and my mom. They forgot their cell phone and their laptop, so I am sharing my cell phone and laptop with them. Of course, they can get their own essential items, but if they get trapped by the flooding and find themselves unable to get to a store that sells phones and laptops, things will get extremely difficult for them. And I really don’t feel comfortable leaving them until I know they’re safe for sure.
@chibigodzilla
Yeah, my step-dad talked to some of the locals here, and he saw that the part of the river next to the intersection of Mulberry and Lemay is flooding. The sky is clearing up here, too, but there is still as risk of flooding from the river, so I can’t relax just yet.
Fuck, a helicopter just flew over our hotel. Not a good sign.
@Falconer
Some reports here suggest that most people who are in the flood zone, especially Boulder, don’t have flood insurance. That’s just horrific.
@emilygoddess
Thank you!
Big hugs. You are all going to be OK.
@Ally
Good to hear you’re OK.
The helicopter may be on the way to help with evacuations in Lyons, Drake, Estes etc where the roads are not in great condition. Most of the helicopters have been grounded for the past few days due to poor visibility. Now that it’s clearing up, I assume they’re scrambling to play catch up.
Since I can’t do anything to help, I am sending a bunch of golden retrievers:
GR #1
GR #2
GR #3
GR #4
Hang in there, Ally! Hugs!