Extreme Flooding Causes Devastation in Colorado, Many Areas Still Being Evacuated

According to CNN News, more than 500 people are still unaccounted for in devastating flash floods that hit areas of Colorado over the weekend including Boulder, Greeley, and Denver (CNN, 2013). An unprecedented bout of rain over a 24 hour period, with more predicted in the forecast for today, has resulted in extreme damage in many areas and immediate evacuation.

One of the horse farms hardest hit in this area belongs to AQHA horse trainers, Tom and Leslie Lange, of Greeley, Colorado. Because of their farm’s close proximity to a large river, which is nearly 14 feet over its normal level, an immediate evacuation was necessary.

We spoke briefly with Leslie Lange late last night, and she was able to confirm that all people and animals have been safely removed from the property. However, their facility sustained extreme damage.

“[It’s] not so good here,” she says. “We got all the animals out. Thank God! [We saved the] dogs, horses, and cats, but we have no place to live. Six people… We’re taking it one day at a time.”

We spoke with another horse trainer and judge in the area, Kelly McDowall, who was able to explain the current status of the flooding situation.

“This area of Colorado has many rivers that come down from the mountains,” he says. “They are dry most of the year. Then, when the snow melts, it brings the water down to the hay fields. There are a lot of dams, reservoirs, and rivers that run right through the middle of town. We have gotten so much rain. Some towns have gotten a foot of rain in the last two days. Everywhere you go, things are washed out. We are built for snow, not water, so a lot of the dams are washing out.”

“The reservoirs are coming up past their levels, and all of that water is being washed down on everything in its path. Tom and Leslie live really close to one of the rivers. It’s unbelievable how deep that river is right now. It will go down as soon as it quits raining, but it’s supposed to rain a bunch again today. Everybody is just waiting to see what happens.”

Thankfully, McDowall’s facility is located in an area south of Denver, which is situated on a large hill. Although he and his family are safe from the deluge, he is worried about the Langes and his other friends in the area.

“We’ve had a drought here for probably ten years.” he says. “We’ve had a lot of trouble trying to get water in here for hay. At the Langes’s place, the water is now so deep you couldn’t get in without a helicopter or a boat. You couldn’t drive onto their place. The water was higher than waist deep in the barn and up beyond the bellies of their horses.”

In light of the devastating circumstances in the area, we are very thankful that are horse friends in Colorado are safe. We will continue to update our readers as we receive more information about how assistance can be provided to the families and farms affected.

God bless everyone in this area of the country. Our prayers are with Tom and Leslie Lange and their staff, Jeff Burley, Sarah Puerner, Kelly O’Connell, and all others who have been affected.