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Flood Conditions and Safety Updates 9/14, 6:45 p.m.

Posted on: Sep-14-2013

FORT COLLINS, CO – The most recent information regarding the flooding status of the city follows:

• Stormwater personnel and their consulting teams performed ground inspections of structural damages across the City on Saturday morning. Initial estimates indicate less than 20 businesses and homes may have experienced water damage. At this point, no one has reported any major structural damages. Further detailed inspections will occur when floodwaters recede and it is safe to conduct full investigations.
• Initial inspections further indicate that severe damage to adjacent gravel pits is widespread and significant erosion is expected throughout the corridor. When the water recedes and Stormwater personnel can safely access the sites, they will verify the extent of the erosion.
• The City of Fort Collins urges citizens to refrain from asking field crews questions as they do not have the most current updates and are focusing on safety as they perform their evaluations.
• While the river continues to fall in the city, it is raining in the mountains, and in particular in the Poudre and North Fork of the Poudre drainage. This rain will cause the Poudre River to rise again through Fort Collins. If rain continues to fall in the foothills and mountains throughout the night and tomorrow, the situation along the river could worsen.
• The river in Fort Collins is flowing between 3,000 cfs and 4,000 cfs and is being monitored closely by City officials and staff. They will continue to monitor through Sunday at the Emergency Operations Center.
• The National Weather Service posted a Flash Flood Watch until Sunday at 6 p.m. A watch indicates conditions are favorable for development of storms and flooding in and around the watch area.
• Flooding was observed early this afternoon in the foothills and near the Pingree Park area. No flooding has been observed in city limits from rainfall today apart from continued high water on the Poudre River.
• City Utilities personnel are monitoring irrigation ditch and collection system levels and will continue to do so throughout the night.
• City Stormwater staff continues to monitor the Poudre River and ditches on flow rates to manage anticipated National Weather Service flash flood warnings
• Monitoring of overflows continues at Halligan Reservoir and Seaman Reservoir, since the water feeds into the Poudre River and is expected to increase flooding conditions.
• The following intersections and bridges remain closed:
o Overland Trail
o Shields Street
o Lincoln Street
o Linden Street
• Colorado highway closures update is obtained from the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) Website, http://www.coloradodot.info/news/2013-news-releases/09-2013/roadclosures1pm.html.
• One Red Cross shelter remains open at Timberline Church, 2908 S. Timberline Rd. (just south of Drake Road on Timberline Road), 970-207-6130. Tavelli Elementary School at 1118 Miramont Dr. is on standby, which means the shelter is not accepting new evacuees. Red Cross information is available at www.redcross.org/safeandwell.
• Contact your trash hauling company to arrange for special pick-up of wastes that may have been generated from flooding.

Safety Information:
• Residents returning to their homes should go to the following resources for key information on how to manage conditions at home:
o fcgov.com/streets/pdf/2013_Flood_Indoor_air_quality_fact_sheet.pdf
o http://www.floodsmart.gov/floodsmart/pages/preparation_recovery/after_a_flood.jsp
o http://www.floodsmart.gov/toolkits/flood/downloads/AfterFloodFactSheet-08-2010.pdf
o http://www.ready.gov/floods
• City of Fort Collins Utilities water and wastewater treatment facilities report no issues - the water is safe to drink.
• Stay away from soft, unstable river banks. They are very dangerous. Please keep children and pets away from potentially dangerous fast moving water in ditches and streams.
• Flood waters pose various risks, including infectious diseases, chemical hazards and injuries, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Do not wade into moving flood waters. Children and pets should be kept out of flooded areas until cleanup is complete. Adults in the area should always wear protective clothing during cleanup and carefully wash and disinfect all items. Resources are: http://www.weather.com/health/boulder-colorado-flooding-health-risks-after-storm-20130913 and http://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/emergency/flood/standing.html
• Learn how to protect indoor air quality after a flood and how to document the information and steps to clean up. Go to: https://www.fcgov.com/streets/pdf/2013_Flood_Indoor_air_quality_fact_sheet.pdf
• Federal regulations prohibit waste in landfills from containing excessive water, but materials and waste that aren’t dripping wet are allowed. With current muddy conditions, only four-wheeled drive vehicles are allowed at the landfill until further notice. For information on the Larimer County Landfill, go to http://www.larimer.org/solidwaste/ftc.htm or call (970) 498-5770.
• Residents who need help finding disaster assistance resources should call 211, United Way. Citizens who wish to volunteer or provide assistance should also contact 211.

Unless conditions change drastically overnight, Fort Collins Utilities will update flooding information on Sunday morning with another press release and social media. Current information can be found at www.fcgov.com/oem.

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