Flood of 31 july 1976 in big thompson canyon, colorado. Nearly 300 coloradans have been killed by flash flooding since the year 1900. Fabulous book based on eyewitness accounts of the horrible 1976 big thompson canyon flood. Jerry shafer, a survivor of the 1976 flood, tells his story of riding the wave of floodwaters and losing his. Many residents and visitors who were present in the big thompson canyon on july 31, 1976, recall the flood with vivid memories. Our family owned a summer cabin a couple of canyons over at the time. According to the 2006 book natural hazards and disasters, this massive wall of. A collection of editorial and pictorial material concerning colorados tragic flash flood of july 31, 1976 editor grant judkins on. It is boulders rolling down the river, under the water. The profits from the sale of this book, along with the generous donations received, will help with the upkeep of the flood memorial and provide scholarships for the grandchildren and greatgrandchildren of the flood victims. Man survives 1976 big thompson flood, still recovering from loss in. Profile of a natural disaster colorado historical series. A nightmare of death and destruction, by tim asbury. The big thompson flood has been called the worst natural disaster in colorado history.
The chaos along an otherwise trickling big thompson river killed 144 people, five of whom were never found, and carved out a chapter in the history books as colorados deadliest natural disaster. We were amazed to find a collection of books still on the shelves and nice. All of the stories of where, when and what they were doing that night, are both heart wrenching and amazing to. A few seconds are missing at the very end of bobs signoff. We wish to thank betty kimbro for allowing us to reprint the big thompson flood july 31st 1976. The flood demolished homes and businesses and claimed the lives of visitors and residents alike. Big thompson river flood estes park, co 1976 lena del rojo mon 12. Remembering the big thompson canyon flood, colorados. This book is in memory of those who lost their lives in the flood of 1976. Download a pdf of flood of 31 july 1976 in big thompson canyon, colorado by the national research council for free.
Colorado is more than familiar with flash flooding. The big thompson flood july 31st 1976 color cover black and white inside. They had lived in the canyon at the time of the horrific 1976 big thompson flood, managing to escape to higher ground and surviving as 144 died including four members of the neighboring graham family. The 1976 big thompson flood stands as the worst natural disaster in colorados recorded history. A portion of a house can be seen near drake after it. To order or make tax deductible donations, send check or money order to. Remembering colorados deadliest natural disaster out.
Longtime big thompson canyon resident barb anderson holds a weathered teddy bear that someone placed on the 1976 big thompson flood. Big thompson canyon struck again by tragic flooding the. Big thompson flood 1976 rocky mountain national park. Another victim, earl smith, was living in a small trailer and was hooked up to our power as. The most recent major flooding in big thompson canyon occurred during a series of storms along the front range in 20. The profits from the sale of this book, along with the generous donations received, will help with the upkeep of the flood. I was very young when the flood hit, and not even from colorado, but i remember feeling heartsick when i heard my grandparents discussing the flood, the destruction, and the lives lost. If you need to print pages from this book, we recommend downloading it as a pdf. If anyone has any books, articles, etc the they could copy or send to me id be willing to buy. Jerry shaffer, a survivor of the 1976 big thompson flood, reminisces at his drake home friday afternoon july 22, 2016 about his banjo, and the. A collection of stories concerning colorados tragic flash flood of july 31, 1976 in of the big thompson river. The earliest newspaper accounts were sparse with details as new information slowly unfolded.
Read chapter meteorological conditions leading to the big thompson flood. Big thompson canyon struck again by tragic flooding. Big thompson flood still colorados worst the denver post. Unfortunately, this book cant be printed from the openbook. New jersey governor murphy holds coronavirus briefing news. On the 40th anniversary of the 1976 big thompson flood, the disaster. In the mid1990s, barb and andy anderson moved back from iowa to the cedar cove area of the big thompson canyon. Tony lost his grandfather ealy augustus lee known as doc sadly in the big thompson flood of 1976. Flash floods and warnings national weather service.
The big thompson flood of 1976 was the deadliest flash flood in colorados recorded history. After remembering the victims of two floods in the big thompson, the crowd enjoyed snacks and some purchased books about the flood. David mccomb born 1934 chronicled the aftermath of the big thompson flood which claimed 143 lives during the summer of 1976. A pdf is a digital representation of the print book, so while it can be loaded into most ereader programs, it doesnt allow for resizable text or advanced, interactive functionality. Ealy loved his family and home in cedar cove on the river. A massive, prolonged rain event in september 20 claimed far fewer lives, but destroyed numerous establishments, including vistenzsmith park, where the 30 th anniversary remembrance of the big thompson flood was held. Big thompson flood, colorado usgs publications repository. In the early evening of july 31, 1976 a large stationary thunderstorm released as much as 7. Price new from used from paperback, illustrated, 1976. Memories remain four decades after big thompson flood. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. Big thompson river flood estes park, co by lena del rojo. This large amount of rainfall in such a short period of time produced a flash flood that caught residents and tourists by. You can make out your taxdeductible donation to big thompson canyon flood memorial, inc.
Big thompson flood damage almost a year later youtube. Unusual weather patterns allowed the huge storm system to stall over the. Id be interested in any literature anyone has regarding the big thompson flood. The following flood books first printed in 1976 are now. On the 40th anniversary of the 1976 big thompson flood, the disaster that claimed 144 lives remains the states deadliest natural disaster.
Driving from loveland to glen haven to estes park and back to loveland. A flood of memories the big thompson flood of 1976 part 1. Show this books table of contents, where you can jump to any chapter by name. On the big thompson river, from just west of glen comfort downstream to loveland there was almost complete devastation. If you look at pictures of drake, our house was the big white one with the 2 cherry trees on each side of the front corners. It holds items collected over the 40 years since the 1976 big thompson flood, some from just days after. International boundary and water commission, united states and mexico. There is little wiggle room in the narrow and rugged big thompson canyon.
The big thompson river is a tributary of the south platte river, approximately 78 miles 123 km long, in the u. This collection consists of reports, memos, correspondence, notes and other papers having to do with the big thompson river flood of 31 july1 august 1976 and its aftermath. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus. As far as big thompson canyon goes, its seen flooding since 1976. Examine one of the most deadly floods in colorado history. See all formats and editions hide other formats and editions.
Page 1 of 2 big thompson flood 1976 posted in rocky mountain national park news and information. Big thompson flood memorial keeps memories alive loveland. Goes cabinhouse by house down the canyon with personal stories. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. Jeanne perrine of berthoud has a plastic tub that she said she rarely looks in. The big thompson flood july 31, 1976 paperback illustrated, 1976. As far as big thompson canyon goes, its seen flooding since 1976, but nothing quite as extreme in terms of death toll. In the summer of 1976, when i was 7 years old, the river i lived near the big thompson suffered a flash flood of unheard of proportions. Photo journal of the big thompson flood near estes park, co july 31, 1976. On july 31, between 12 and 14 inches of rain fell over a fourhour period in the mountains around. July 2006 revisits the 30th anniversary of the big thompson flood one of the most deadly flash floods in colorados recorded history jarrett and vandas, 2006. How do people attempt to mitigate the risks associated with this type of hazard stream flow monitoring and flood warning monitoring of precipitation stream. It holds pictures of the days that followed the 1976 flood, a. That is not thunder, nor wind blowing past the microphone.
The big thompson flood, during the night of july 31, 1976, was enormously devastating with a final count of 144 casualties. In 1976, colorado saw the most powerful flood that the state had seen. In the following days, months and years, many stories have been written about the flood covering nearly every aspect. Know that the many deaths that occurred during the big thompson canyon flood of 1976 are a big part of why these now exist. Guide to the david mccomb big thompson flood collection. On july 31, 1976, during the celebration of colorados centennial, the big thompson canyon was the site of a devastating flash flood that swept down the steep and narrow canyon, claiming the lives of 143 people, 5 of whom were never found. Big thompson canyon flood collection 1976 1977 gilbert f white. On july 31, between 12 and 14 inches of rain fell over a fourhour period in the mountains around the resort town of estes park. The 144 victims who lost their lives in the big thompson flood of july 31, 1976. According to the national weather service, those able to climb canyon. Complete video of the live coverage of the big thompson canyon july 31, 1976 colorado flood. The largest of the lake missoula floods in northwest oregon and big thompson flood. On july 31, 1976, a violent rainstorm sent rushing water through the big thompson canyon just west of loveland. The flood in the big thompson canyon destroyed 316 homes, 45 mobile homes, 52 businesses, and 438 automobiles.
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