A friend of mine lives in the mountains. His sister in law is best buds with my wife and I’ve gotten to know him, his wife, and his little boy, over the years.
Communication has been difficult as his phones computers and roads have all been washed away. News from a neighbor that they were all well after the worst days of the flood was a reassurance.
He did a smart thing and I figured it was worth repeating that part of the story at least.
In the middle of the storm, they took sleeping bags and a tent and hiked up the hill behind the house to camp in the rain. I’d think this all happened in the middle of the night but I’m not sure of that part yet. In a flood minutes count. Forget computers your heirlooms your photos your anything else and get to high ground.
The next day he and his little boy went back down the hill to see if they had a house. This photo was taken by a neighbor and I saw it on his blog post.
Note the firefighter hat?
They had a house but no more road.
Most people who die in floods die in cars. Do not drive to safety. Hike to higher ground. Yes it’s wet, and cold, but it’s the safe thing to do. Roads wash away and get covered with downed trees and boulders.
Above, front fence, creek, and road, all looking like the same thing.
People will soon forget the Boulder Floods, that’s the nature of these things. People will continue to live next to creeks, people will picknick and fish and kayak and bird watch next to creeks, and creeks will continue to wash out and flood.
Remember, if it’s raining very very hard, and you are next to a creek, climb up the side of a hill, even if you are wet and uncomfortable. You can always buy a new car.
For now many choose to remain in their houses, hiking out for supplies and hoping for a quick repair to roads and power.