THE FIRST TIME THIS SEASON. BUT FIRST, BACK TO DOUG AND SHELLY. LA PLATA COUNTY, COLORADO GETTING HIT WITH HEAVY RAINFALL THE LAST FEW DAYS, LEADING TO EVACUATIONS OVER THE WEEKEND. ALYSSA MUNOZ SHOWS US HOW CREWS ARE CLEANING UP. WE WERE AT THE CHECKPOINT TO ENTER THE EVACUATION AREAS. PEOPLE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO GO BACK TO THEIR HOMES YET, BUT THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE TOOK US INSIDE TO SEE THAT DAMAGE. RUSHING WATER CAUSING OVER 300 HOMES TO BE EVACUATED. IT’S REALLY SAD. YOU KNOW, I DON’T WANT TO LOSE A CABIN. HOMEOWNERS LIKE VINCE TOM WORRIED AS CREWS ASSESS THE DAMAGE. THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE GIVING US A LOOK. WE’RE GETTING A LOT OF FLOWS ACROSS THE ROADWAY QUITE OFTEN CARRYING DEBRIS. MAKES IT HAZARDOUS FOR DRIVERS TRYING TO REENTER THE AREA THROUGHOUT NEIGHBORHOODS, ROADS AND DRIVEWAYS FILLED WITH WATER AND MUD. ABOUT 100 HOMES HAVE WATER DAMAGE TWO A COMPLETE LOSS. WHAT’S LEFT OVER OF THE TWO HOMES IS A PILE OF MATERIAL, A DECISION MADE BY THE HOMEOWNERS AND OFFICIALS TO PREVENT DEBRIS FROM FLOWING DOWN THE CREEK. NOW NEXT TO ME IS VALLECITO CREEK. YOU CAN SEE IT NOW LOOKS MORE LIKE A RIVER. AND WHAT I’M STANDING ON IS A LEVEE THAT WAS BUILT IN THE 1970S. NOW, SOME WATER DID GET OVER THIS, BUT OFFICIALS SAY THE LEVEE HELPED PROTECT SOME OF THESE HOMES BACK HERE. I DON’T WANT TO PUT PEOPLE IN WHERE THEY’RE HAVING TO FORD THROUGH STREAMS IN ORDER TO GET TO THEIR HOMES. WE ALSO HAVE A NUMBER OF PROPANE TANKS IN THIS AREA THAT WERE IMPACTED. WE NEED TO SEND IN TEAMS NOW. THE COUNTY OFFICIALS ARE DECIDING THE BEST WAY TO MOVE PEOPLE BACK HOME. FOR TOM, A HOMEOWNER, HIS CABIN WAS SAFE FROM THE FLOODWATERS WHILE HIS WIFE REMINDS HIM THEY HAVE INSURANCE. HE SAYS IT CAN’T REPLACE EVERYTHING. AND THEN SHE SAID, WE HAVE INSURANCE. SHE SAID, FLOOD INSURANCE. AND I SAID, YEAH, BUT ME, I HAVE MY BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS IN THAT CABIN. I SAID, NOW POLICE HAVE ESCORTED SOME PEOPLE BACK TO THEIR HOMES TO SEE IF THERE IS DAMAGE, BUT NO ONE IS ALLOWED TO STAY IN THE EVACUATED AREAS. REPORTING IN LA PLATA COUNTY I’M ALYSSA MUNOZ KOAT ACTION
Crews assess damage from flooding in Southwest Colorado
“We’re getting a lot of flows across the roadway quite often carrying debris, makes it hazardous for drivers trying to re-enter the area,” said La Plata County Sheriff
Heavy rainfall in La Plata County, Colorado, over the last few days has led to evacuations and damage.Near county roads 500 and 501, police have a checkpoint to enter the evacuated areas. The rushing water from over the weekend has caused over 300 homes to be evacuated.”It’s really sad. You know, I don’t want to lose a cabin,” said homeowner Vince Tom, expressing concern as crews assess the damage. While his wife reminds him, they have insurance, he said, not everything is replaceable. “She said, ‘Well, we have insurance and flood insurance.’ And I said, yeah, but me, I have my blood, sweat, and tears in that cabin.”Police have escorted some residents to their properties to assess any damage. Luckily, Tom’s home was fine. The sheriff’s office gave a look at the flood situation, noting, “We’re getting a lot of flows across the roadway quite often carrying debris, makes it hazardous for drivers trying to re-enter the area.”Throughout some neighborhoods, roads and driveways are filled with water and mud. Some of the creeks are now more of a river. About 100 homes have water damage, and two are a complete loss. The remains of the two homes are a pile of material, a decision made by the homeowners and officials to prevent debris from flowing down the creek.Officials said a levee built in the 1970s helped protect some homes, although some water did get over it. “I don’t want to put people in where they’re having to fork through streams in order to get to their homes. We also have a number of propane tanks in this area that were impacted. We need to send in teams,” said La Plata County Sheriff Sean Smith. County officials are now deciding the best way to move people back home. “We’ve got a lot of work to do bringing people back in. Fortunately, in this area, there are a number of homes that are on water systems and sewer systems. We may be able to work with those operators, get those folks in faster, but we’re trying to do it. So that everybody’s okay when they get back,” said Smith. So far, no injuries have been reported from the flooding.
Heavy rainfall in La Plata County, Colorado, over the last few days has led to evacuations and damage.
Near county roads 500 and 501, police have a checkpoint to enter the evacuated areas. The rushing water from over the weekend has caused over 300 homes to be evacuated.
“It’s really sad. You know, I don’t want to lose a cabin,” said homeowner Vince Tom, expressing concern as crews assess the damage. While his wife reminds him, they have insurance, he said, not everything is replaceable. “She said, ‘Well, we have insurance and flood insurance.’ And I said, yeah, but me, I have my blood, sweat, and tears in that cabin.”
Police have escorted some residents to their properties to assess any damage. Luckily, Tom’s home was fine.
The sheriff’s office gave a look at the flood situation, noting, “We’re getting a lot of flows across the roadway quite often carrying debris, makes it hazardous for drivers trying to re-enter the area.”
Throughout some neighborhoods, roads and driveways are filled with water and mud. Some of the creeks are now more of a river. About 100 homes have water damage, and two are a complete loss. The remains of the two homes are a pile of material, a decision made by the homeowners and officials to prevent debris from flowing down the creek.
Officials said a levee built in the 1970s helped protect some homes, although some water did get over it.
“I don’t want to put people in where they’re having to fork through streams in order to get to their homes. We also have a number of propane tanks in this area that were impacted. We need to send in teams,” said La Plata County Sheriff Sean Smith.
County officials are now deciding the best way to move people back home.
“We’ve got a lot of work to do bringing people back in. Fortunately, in this area, there are a number of homes that are on water systems and sewer systems. We may be able to work with those operators, get those folks in faster, but we’re trying to do it. So that everybody’s okay when they get back,” said Smith.
So far, no injuries have been reported from the flooding.
