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Topic: Manitou Springs flooding 08/09/2013 - we were very lucky (Read 4 times) previous topic - next topic
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Manitou Springs flooding 08/09/2013 - we were very lucky
Yahoo Message Number: 141927
Yesterday and today turned out to be very interesting.  We have been camping at Pike's Peak RV Park in Manitou Springs, CO for the last few days, a place we have have stayed many times in the past while visiting Elizabeth's daughter, Julie, who lives nearby. The creekside sites have always been our choice as it is nice to hear the running water at night. We had heard about the creek flooding early July, and the park owner said that was rare and the flood waters didn't go over the retaining wall then. That incident was the highest they had ever seen and if there was another flash flood warning they gave us a printed evacuation directions.
Yesterday we were at Julie's house all day and evening. There were some thunderstorms in the area but not much rain. When we went back to the park we were baffled with all the backed up traffic and eventually got to within 600 ft of the park where there was a barricade with officers turning everyone away from Manitou Springs because of another flood! We went back to Julie's house and stayed overnight. In the meantime we called the park owner and found out that the flood waters had actually significantly breached the retaining wall this time but our motorhome was lucky as the water didn't get even halfway up the wheels. The biggest problem was the debris  and mud covering half the park. Someone sent Julie the You Tube video  http://youtu.be/b_ej7wWRB6Q>   just showing the flood having no knowledge that the motorhome in the sequence was our unit. Only 1-1/2 inch of rain caused the flooding mainly because it was over the Waldo Canyon burn scars from last year's fires. So far one person was killed, several homes were washed away, and many businesses were heavily damaged in the downtown area. Luckily for us there was a bridge upstream from the park that caught the majority of the heavy debris, otherwise this story would be very different.
We returned this morning and found about 4" of mud around our unit. What was very interesting is that the mud contained a large amount of gold dust. One person was there at our unit digging up the mud to later pan the yellow mineral. We do know the difference between gold and pyrite. Anyway we washed off the coach and brakes and moved to Julie's street for a few days while the park is cleaned then will return for another week. We walked the downtown this morning about 10:30AM and there were already 100's of people cleaning the flood area. Some of the eating establishments that had some damage were already open after been given clearance from the health department. We made sure we gave them some business. Food was great!
2010 RB "Monty"  & currently: 2021 RB "Villa Verde"
2004 Born Free 26'
1998 Beaver Patriot 33'
1992 Barth Breakaway 28'
1982 Fleetwood Jamboree 23'
1982 Dolphin/Toyota 22'
Re: Manitou Springs flooding 08/09/2013 - we were very lucky
Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 141928
Wow, close call! You were very lucky. Nice to have such a great souvenier video though!

sgsmith
2007 MB
Re: Manitou Springs flooding 08/09/2013 - we were very lucky
Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 141950
Quote
Yesterday and today turned out to be very interesting.  We have been camping at Pike's Peak RV Park in Manitou Springs, CO for the last few days, a place we have have stayed many times in the past while visiting Elizabeth's daughter, Julie, who lives nearby. The creekside sites have always been our choice as it is nice to hear the running water at night. We had heard about the creek flooding early July, and the park owner said that was rare and the flood waters didn't go over the retaining wall then.
Mike, you were also featured on NBC national news last night evening edition.

Joe Hamm
 
Re: Manitou Springs flooding 08/09/2013 - we were very lucky
Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 141964
Mike, I'm so glad your LD is going to be OK!  That is terrible about the floods.

Daughter Lia and I were just