Coal Creek Canyon Flood - Life at 9,000 Feet

It's been a really crazy couple of months.  The flood was so unexpected, except by the wise folks who lived through the last one in the 60's.  We live at 9,000 feet - why should we be worried about a flood?  The "robo call" came in the middle of the night - "Flash Flood, move to higher grounds"  We're on top - where do we go?  A slightly panicked middle of the night survey revealed rain like I haven't seen since living in Texas, several places that required large buckets from our leaking roof (our little log cabin isn't really made for heavy rain - snow, yes - rain, no).  Water was streaming down the driveway and the road to the horse paddock like rivers, but everything else seemed to be ok.

Morning light brought an intense watching of the news, checking on neighbors, more rain and the realization that we were trapped on the top of our mountain - the road in and out of the canyon was impassable.  As more news poured in, we weren't the only folks trapped - and some were in much worse shape than we were.  As the news focus turned to Estes Park, Boulder and Lyons, our hearts ached for them and wondered what was going on in Coal Creek - we were no longer in the news reports, but we were still trapped - the gas station washed away, no gas so no heat or hot water.  I never thought we would rely so heavily on FaceBook, our community page was the only good way to get news and information - what roads were caving in - routes (constantly changing) to get in or out of the canyon.

We live in a really great community.  So many people were trapped, many had to be rescued.  The commute to town went from 20 minutes to an hour and a half.  Making a supply run?  Let everyone know so they can bring back necessities.  Whispering Pines Church became a free and open pantry supply to anyone in need.  Someone with a backhoe diverted the stream so it no longer went through Mike's liquor store so he could re-open - you just had to wade through the stream (which is now running down the highway) and climb over the sandbags to get in.  No gas, so folks brought back gas cans full from town so we could get empty tanks filled up again.  Everyone drug out their camping gear for hot meals, and those with propane shared their still hot water for showers while many folks just embraced the briskness of a very cold one.

It's been 2 months now.  They just got the road reopened.  I made my first drive down yesterday.  It struck me that with access to town and my office again, my life is largely returning to normal at 9,000 feet.  Not so for my dear friends and neighbors living down the canyon at lower elevations.  Houses that once had a modest bridge or culvert to cross to get from the highway to their homes now have a giant chasm standing in their way.  My dear friend John's garage is undermined.  Other's homes are undermined.  It doesn't look like the canyon I've driven through for the past 10 years anymore.  I have to admit to shedding a few tears.  But mountain folks are tough and resilient.  They will persevere, and we will help them.

My thoughts and prayers are with you my friends and neighbors.  I'd ask that you add them to your prayers as well.  If the spirit moves you - you can do more through volunteering or financial support via Canyon Cares www.canyoncares.org 

Photos from the flood:  https://www.google.com/search?q=coal+creek+canyon+flood+pictures&espv=210&es_sm=93&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=w5GDUtn2HdLOyAH62YHwCQ&ved=0CCwQsAQ&biw=1241&bih=584