1976 Big Thompson River flood explained

Duration:July 31, 1976
Cause:Heavy rains
Type:Flood
Basin:atl
Injuries:>250
Fatalities:144
Missing:5
Damage:<$150 million (2016 USD)
Houses-Destroyed:418
Areas:Big Thompson River, southeastern Colorado

On July 31, 1976, heavy rainfall caused the Big Thompson River in Colorado to crest, causing at least 144 deaths, more than 250 injuries, and at least 5 others to be missing. The crest was caused by a stalled thunderstorm complex that produced rainfall totals of NaNinches near Estes Park, Colorado, including 7.5inches of rain which fell in one hour. After cresting at 30feet, widespread damage and flooding occurred along the river, with the damage totaling almost $150 million (2016 USD). The flood is considered one of the deadliest floods in the state's history.

Background

The Big Thompson River is a tributary of the South Platte River, approximately 78miles long, in the U.S. state of Colorado.[1] Originating in Forest Canyon in Rocky Mountain National Park, the river flows into Lake Estes in the town of Estes Park and then through Big Thompson Canyon.[2]

Before the floods, 600 people lived at the Big Thompson Canyon,[3] and between 2,500 and 3,500 people were also at the Big Thompson Canyon to celebrate 100 years after Colorado's statehood that would take place several hours later on August 1.[4] [5]

Meteorological synopsis

On July 31, a thunderstorm complex developed alongside the Front Range of the southern Rocky Mountains, near Estes Park, Colorado.[6] [7] The development was caused by a number of meteorological factors, including a shortwave trough, a polar front that moved across southeastern Colorado with the main polar airmass northeast of the Front Range, and moisture and unstable air behind a cold front extending across the Big Thompson Valley. Upper-atmospheric light winds caused the thunderstorm complex to stay stationary, which produced heavy rainfall across portions of the Big Thompson Canyon, including up to 7.5inches of rain falling in one hour.[8] Over four hours near Estes Park, NaNinches of rain fell, causing the Big Thompson River to overflow its banks and triggering a flood crest that moved through the river and the Big Thompson Canyon.[9] [10] The flood crest moved at an average speed of 15mph, and crested at 30feet.[11] A flash flood warning was issued at 23:00 Central Time (5:00 UTC), but was criticized because the warning was issued only several hours following the flood.[12]

Impact and aftermath

A portion of U.S. Route 34 was washed out by floodwaters,[13] sustaining significant damage as visibility on the highway dropped to zero miles.[14] [15] The flood crest impacted most of Cedar Cove, Drake, and Midway, and causing extensive damage to buildings in Glen Haven. The floods caused more than $40 million in damage in 1976 USD, equivalent to nearly $150 million in 2016 USD,[16] including 418 homes, more than 400 vehicles, and 152 businesses being destroyed, along with a further 138 buildings damaged.[17] The flood swept people as far east as Interstate 25 and areas 25miles away.[18] Mudslides caused by heavy rainfall also closed Poudre Canyon.[19] The flood is considered one of the deadliest floods in the history of Colorado, causing at least 144 deaths and 250 injuries, along with at least 5 missing.[20] [21] [22]

On August 1, over 800 people were evacuated from flood-impacted areas via helicopter,[23] and were taken to a high school in Loveland, Colorado that was established as a rescue center by the American Red Cross.[24] U.S. Route 34 was reopened 86 days after it was closed after portions of the highway were washed out.[25] United States President Gerald Ford designated Larimer County, Colorado a disaster area.[26] In 2001, 25 years after the flood, a ceremony was held every year to remember the flood.[27] [28] A memorial was constructed off U.S. Route 34, several miles from Drake, Colorado, containing a list of people killed during the flood.[29]

In popular culture

The Colorado country music singer Chuck Pyle wrote a song titled "Here Comes the Water" celebrating the actions of Colorado State Patrol Sgt. Willis Hugh Purdy who raced the flood down the canyon warning residents.[30] [31] On October 2, 2016, an episode of Colorado Experience premiered on PBS regarding the disaster.[32]

Sources

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Taylor . Jack . May 30, 2018 . Remembering The Big Thompson Canyon Flood . January 18, 2024 . . en . January 18, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240118000749/https://kekbfm.com/remembering-the-big-thompson-canyon-flood/ . live .
  2. Web site: Rocky Mountain National Park: Geologic Resource Evaluation Report . January 18, 2024 . . 5–6 . January 18, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240118000749/https://home.nps.gov/romo/learn/management/upload/romo_geo_overview.pdf . live .
  3. Gruntfest . Eve C. . August 1977 . What people did during the Big Thompson flood . Institute of Behavioral Science University of Colorado . hazards.colorado.edu . 2024-01-20 . 2023-08-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230802011217/https://hazards.colorado.edu/uploads/workingpaper/wp32.pdf . live .
  4. Web site: Whitley . Morgan . August 1, 2023 . Photos: 47 years ago, 144 died in one of Colorado's deadliest natural disasters . January 18, 2024 . . en-US . January 18, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240118022950/https://kdvr.com/news/local/big-thompson-flood-1976-colorado/ . live .
  5. Web site: Floods in Colorado . January 18, 2024 . . EN-US . January 18, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240118022949/https://www.weather.gov/safety/flood-states-co . live .
  6. Caracena . Fernando . Chappell . Charles F. . Hoxit . L. Ray . Maddox . Robert A. . January 1979 . Mesoanalysis of the Big Thompson Storm . . 107 . 1 . 1 . 10.1175/1520-0493(1979)107<0001:MOTBTS>2.0.CO;2 . 1979MWRv..107....1C . January 17, 2024 . January 18, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240118024013/https://www.atmos.albany.edu/student/abentley/mapdisco/20130920/images/map/Caracena%20et%20al.%20(1979).pdf . live .
  7. Web site: July 31, 2015 . Colorado Remembers Victims 39 Years After Big Thompson Flood . January 18, 2024 . . en-US . January 18, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240118033148/https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/colorado-remembers-victims-39-years-after-big-thompson-flood/ . live .
  8. Web site: Jarrett . R. D. . Vandas . S. J. . July 2006 . 1976 Big Thompson Flood, Colorado . January 18, 2024 . . January 18, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240118025841/https://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/2006/35/ . live .
  9. McLain . Jerald F. . Shroba . R. R. . 1979 . Storm and flood of July 31-August 1, 1976, in the Big Thompson River and Cache la Poudre River basins, Larimer and Weld Counties, Colorado . . 10.3133/pp1115AB . January 19, 2024 . January 19, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240119022234/https://pubs.usgs.gov/publication/pp1115AB . live .
  10. Web site: Persons . David . July 29, 2016 . Special report: Memories of '76 flood haven't dimmed for many . January 19, 2024 . . en-US . July 30, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160730155305/http://www.eptrail.com/ci_30180713/memories-76-flood-havent-dimmed-many-featured-todays . live .
  11. Web site: Meissner . John . February 24, 2021 . 100 YEARS MAGAZINE: 1976, 1982 floods wreaked havoc on Estes Park . January 19, 2024 . . en-US . January 19, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240119025524/https://www.eptrail.com/2021/02/24/100-years-magazine-1976-1982-floods-wreaked-havoc-on-estes-park/ . live .
  12. Web site: Garrison . Robert . July 31, 2022 . Remembering the 1976 Big Thompson Canyon flood . January 19, 2024 . . en . January 19, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240119022234/https://www.denver7.com/news/local-news/remembering-the-1976-big-thompson-flood . live .
  13. Web site: Anastasio . Jeff . October 9, 2023 . How the historic Big Thompson Canyon flood of 1976 unfolded on Denver7 News . January 18, 2024 . . en . January 18, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240118032108/https://www.denver7.com/about/70-years-of-denver7/how-the-historic-big-thompson-canyon-flood-of-1976-unfolded-on-denver7-news . live .
  14. Web site: March 21, 2017 . Highway 34 To Reopen As Scheduled . January 18, 2024 . . en-US . January 18, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240118132534/https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/highway-34-to-reopen-as-scheduled/ . live .
  15. Web site: Vendegna . Michelle . August 1, 2016 . 40 years after Big Thompson Flood: Memories remain decades after tragedy . January 19, 2024 . . . en-US . January 19, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240119030445/https://www.denverpost.com/2016/08/01/40-years-after-big-thompson-flood/ . live .
  16. Web site: Pohl . Jason . August 6, 2016 . 40 years later: Scores killed in Big Thompson Flood . January 19, 2024 . . en-US . January 19, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240119032437/https://apnews.com/6d939fceba704b12ba5b5baad19d6b56 . live .
  17. Web site: Spears . Chris . July 29, 2016 . Sunday Marks 40th Anniversary Of Big Thompson Flood . January 18, 2024 . . en-US . January 18, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240118032835/https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/sunday-marks-40th-anniversary-of-big-thompson-flood/ . live .
  18. Web site: Whaley . Monte . July 29, 2006 . Big Thompson Flood 30 years later . January 20, 2024 . . en-US . January 20, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240120023914/https://www.denverpost.com/2006/07/29/big-thompson-flood-30-years-later/ . live .
  19. News: Seelmeyer . John . August 2, 1976 . Mudslides close Poudre Canyon . January 19, 2024 . . 1 . January 19, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240119182556/https://www.newspapers.com/article/greeley-daily-tribune-1976-flash-flood-b/109001/ . live .
  20. Web site: July 29, 2015 . Remembering Big Thompson flood, 39 years later . January 18, 2024 . . en-US . January 28, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240128075710/https://www.cbs8.com/article/weather/remembering-big-thompson-flood-39-years-later/73-130237511 . live .
  21. Web site: Sallinger . Marc . August 10, 2023 . One of Colorado's deadliest disasters was 47 years ago . January 17, 2024 . . en-US . January 28, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240128075711/https://www.9news.com/article/weather/weather-colorado/big-thompson-flood/73-fa640fd5-0bab-43c7-8252-7f4f3f386f9f . live .
  22. Web site: McKee . Spencer . July 2, 2021 . Remembering the Big Thompson Canyon flood, Colorado's deadliest natural disaster . January 17, 2024 . Out There Colorado . en . January 17, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240117235708/https://denvergazette.com/outtherecolorado/features/remembering-the-big-thompson-canyon-flood-colorado-s-deadliest-natural-disaster/article_ca21de01-c4d4-5588-bd55-d0bcd041fe94.html . live .
  23. Web site: Jarrett . Robert D. . Costa . John E. . 2006 . 1976 Big Thompson Flood, Colorado—Thirty Years Later . January 19, 2024 . . January 19, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240119025523/https://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2006/3095/ . live .
  24. News: Lichtenstein . Grace . August 2, 1976 . 65 Killed as Rains Flood Colorado Recreation Area . January 19, 2024 . . en-US . 0362-4331 . January 19, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240119141531/https://www.nytimes.com/1976/08/02/archives/65-killed-as-rains-flood-colorado-recreation-area-survivors-sought.html . live .
  25. Web site: Mathews . Zane . March 21, 2023 . Remembering Colorado's Devastating Big Thompson Flood 1976 . January 19, 2024 . . en . January 19, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240119031419/https://kool1079.com/big-thompson-flood-1976/ . live .
  26. Web site: July 31, 2014 . Big Thompson Flood Remembered 38 Years Later . January 18, 2024 . . en-US . January 18, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240118032835/https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/big-thompson-flood-remembered-38-years-later/ . live .
  27. Web site: Vendegna . Michelle . August 1, 2017 . Community gathers to remember 1976 Big Thompson flood . January 19, 2024 . . en-US . January 28, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240128075759/https://www.reporterherald.com/2017/08/01/community-gathers-to-remember-1976-big-thompson-flood/ . live .
  28. Web site: McKee . Spencer . July 3, 2021 . Remembering the Big Thompson Canyon flood . January 19, 2024 . . en . January 19, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240119032438/https://gazette.com/denver-gazette/remembering-the-big-thompson-canyon-flood/article_6081df3a-dc26-11eb-a4b8-c37a6ce23a59.html . live .
  29. Web site: De Leon . Luis . July 31, 2021 . Remembering the Big Thompson Canyon Flood, 45 years later . January 19, 2024 . . en-US . January 28, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240128075822/https://www.9news.com/article/news/history/remembering-big-thompson-canyon-flood-45-years-later/73-7bf9f144-aabd-41c6-a75c-a307eb33ea46 . live .
  30. Web site: Dukakis . Andrea . How A Chuck Pyle Song Captured The Terror Of Big Thompson's Floodwaters . Colorado Public Radio . 28 January 2024 . en . 29 July 2016 . 28 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240128075719/https://www.cpr.org/show-segment/how-a-chuck-pyle-song-captured-the-terror-of-big-thompsons-floodwaters/ . live .
  31. News: Pohl . Jason . 40 years later: Scores killed in Big Thompson Flood . 28 January 2024 . Fort Collins Coloradoan . 29 July 2016 . en . 28 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240128075713/https://www.coloradoan.com/story/news/2016/07/29/big-thompson-flood-killed-scores/87524858/ . live .
  32. Web site: October 11, 2016 . CSU Graduate Will Wright appears on "Colorado Experience: Big Thompson Flood" . January 20, 2024 . . en-US . January 20, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240120024409/https://history.colostate.edu/2016/10/csu-graduate-will-wright-appears-colorado-experience-big-thompson-flood/ . live .

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