Recently, tragic flash flooding in Texas has claimed several lives and left many communities shattered. Our hearts and prayers are with the families impacted.
It’s a painful reminder of how dangerous sudden floods can be — a threat that Coloradans, too, know all too well.
Here in Colorado, flash floods are part of our natural hazard history. Since 1900, nearly 300 people in the state have lost their lives due to flash flooding. These events can happen with little or no warning and are often intensified by our mountainous terrain, burn scar areas, and rapidly changing weather patterns.
Remembering Colorado’s Deadliest Floods
Among the most devastating flash floods in state history was the Big Thompson Canyon Flood of July 31, 1976. After a thunderstorm stalled over the canyon, intense rain led to a wall of water that tore through the area, killing 144 people — the most ever lost to a single flood in Colorado.
Earlier, in 1904, a railroad bridge north of Pueblo collapsed during a flash flood, plunging a train into Fountain Creek and killing 100 people. More recently, the 1997 Fort Collins flood killed five people and caused an estimated $200 million in damage.
In 2013, a multi-day rain event from September 11–14 brought historic flooding to Boulder, Colorado Springs, and surrounding areas. While nine people tragically died, the toll could have been far worse. Timely forecasts and public warnings helped save countless lives.
What Is a Flash Flood?
Flash floods are sudden, powerful surges of water that typically occur within six hours of heavy rain, dam failures, or other contributing events. They often strike along creeks, rivers, or even normally dry gulches and arroyos.
Because of the speed and force of the water — often loaded with debris like tree limbs, rocks, or mud — flash floods can wipe out roads, bridges, homes, and vehicles in minutes.
The Growing Wildfire-Flood Connection
In recent years, post-wildfire landscapes have become hotspots for flash flooding. After a fire, the soil often becomes hydrophobic — it repels water rather than absorbing it. As a result, even light to moderate rain in burn scar areas can unleash torrents of runoff, mudflows, and debris.
If you live or recreate near recent burn scars, such as those left by the Cameron Peak or East Troublesome Fires, stay weather-aware and have an evacuation plan.
What Can You Do?
- Know where you are. If you live, work, hike, or drive near creeks, rivers, or drainage channels, be alert to the weather.
- Have a plan. Learn your local flash flood risks and create a plan with your family.
- Stay informed. Pay attention to the National Weather Service. Flash Flood Watches mean conditions are favorable for flooding; Warnings mean it’s happening — and it’s time to act.
When Flooding Strikes: Act Fast
If you’re in a flood-prone area and a warning is issued, move to higher ground immediately. Roads and bridges may be washed out — and what looks like shallow water may be far deeper and swifter than it appears.
Many flash flood deaths occur in vehicles. Remember this life-saving advice:
Turn Around, Don’t Drown.
Just one to two feet of water can sweep away most cars and SUVs.
As we remember those recently lost in Texas and reflect on Colorado’s own sobering history, it’s a stark reminder that flash flooding is not just a weather event — it’s a powerful, often deadly force of nature. Being prepared, staying informed, and responding quickly can make all the difference.