1976 Thomspon Canyon Flood

This tragic storm  occurred on July 31. On that day the rainfall  was about 12 to 14 inches that continued for a four-hour period in the mountains which was located at Estes Park. Later on unusual patterns of the storm´s system to enclose upon the area and made the air difficult to breath because of rainfall. A front was moving slowly over southward over the Great Plains and in the evening on July 31, the front became a stationary over Missouri, Kansas, and Colorado. The thunderstorms were fueled by the moisture which carried by the winds in the east. Hours hours later, there was heavy rainfall which covered over 70 square mile. The water increased speed as it was traveling down the steep hills which also increased the water level of the Thompson River. The Thompson River was a 18-20 foot wall of water that splashed into the canyon which covered the mouth of the canyon. The water was flowing at 31,200 cubic feet per sec at the peak of the canyon. Citizens who were trying to drive their way out the flood was either trapped inside their cars or swept away which lead them to their death. The storm lead to the killing of approximately 143 people dead and 150 injured. All the damage from the flood cost $31 million for, destroying, 418 houses, 52 businesses, 438 vehicles, bridges, roads, highways,and telephone poles.