Press Releases

It is common for northern Colorado, including Fort Collins, to experience monsoonal moisture during the last two weeks of July and first two weeks of August. To educate the community about the reality of floods and how to minimize personal, financial and environmental loss, Fort Collins Utilities will sponsor Flood Awareness Week, July 21-27.

Flooding in Fort Collins typically occurs as a result of snowmelt or intense thunderstorms. It’s important for community members to be aware of the steps they can take to protect themselves and their family and property, including the possible need for flood insurance.

Because Utilities’ Stormwater program ranks in the top 1 percent of programs nationwide, customers can qualify to receive up to a 30 percent discount on flood insurance. Learn more at http://www.fcgov.com/flood-insurance.

To help residents stay informed about local streamflow levels and precipitation amounts, Utilities operates a flood warning system with 66 gauges located throughout the Fort Collins area. When the gauges exceed a set level, Utilities and Office of Emergency Management personnel are notified and take action.

Real-time data, as well as floodplain maps, can be viewed at fcgov.com/floodwarningsystem, as well as on iPhone, Android and Windows Smartphones.

To further increase safety, all Larimer County residents are encouraged to sign up for free emergency notifications on landlines, business phones, cell phones and via text and e-mail messages at leta911.org. Another option is to follow the City’s various social media updates; sign up at http://fcgov.com.

During Flood Awareness Week, mailers with flood hazard data, emergency preparedness tips and additional information will be sent to floodplain residents and property owners.

The following videos are available at http://www.fcgov.com/flood-safety and will be shown on Cable 14 throughout July and August, http://www.fcgov.com/cable14.

• Fort Collins’ Flood Warning System
• Fort Collins’ Flood of 1997
• Water’s Fury
• Moving Water: Adventure or Danger?
• Floods
• Flooding Safety: Turn Around, Don’t Drown

Informational displays and handouts will be available at:
• City Hall (300 Laporte Ave.)
• Utilities Service Center (700 Wood St.)
• Customer Service Division (117 N. Mason St.)
• Building and Zoning Services (281 N. College Ave.)
• Downtown Library (201 Peterson St.)
• Harmony Library (4616 S. Shields St.)
• Council Tree Library (2733 Council Tree)
• Northside Aztlan Community Center (112 E. Willow St.)
• Fort Collins Museum of Discovery (408 Mason Ct.)
• Senior Center (1200 Raintree Dr.)

For more information, visit http://www.fcgov.com/stormwater, call (970) 221-6700, email or TDD (970) 224-6003.