Flooded areas water recedes, sewage leaks diminish
Sep 21st
Floodwaters recede and wastewater backups diminish; customer assistance needed
City requests customer help to identify localized backups as crews continue to respond
After extensive efforts, the City of Boulder Utilities Division has restored the ability of primary sanitary sewer pipelines to deliver wastewater from neighborhoods to the Wastewater Treatment Facility on 75th Street.
Sewage back-ups have slowed as flood water recedes
These efforts, combined with receding floodwaters, should allow pipes serving neighborhoods to drain and relieve backups into homes and businesses. Flows reaching the wastewater treatment facility have decreased, from an excess of 50 million gallons per day (following the flood event) to 31 million gallons this morning.
While flows still remain at approximately two times the normal rate for this time of year, the change reflects a significant decrease in the amount of groundwater and floodwater entering the wastewater collection system and has allowed crews to access key pipelines to remove dirt and debris.
Given the extent of major flooding, it is likely that numerous blockages and damaged pipes impacting smaller areas remain. In order to allow those issues to be addressed more efficiently, the city is requesting that residents and businesses who are still experiencing backups contact the Public Works Call Center at 303-413-7100 as soon as possible. Updated information from customers will help crews more quickly locate and resolve issues in the city’s more than 355 miles of pipe and approximately 9,200 manholes.
The Public Works Call Center is open Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. If the public need remains, the city will extend call center hours over the weekend to be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
For complete flood response and recovery information, visit www.bouldefloodinfo.net. Residents may also sign up to get flood updates right to their email inbox.
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–CITY–
Boulder County road priorities, repairs and status
Sep 20th
County working to restore access to communities
Boulder County, Colo. – The entire Northern Front Range and Northeastern plains region has experienced the most devastating flood in Colorado History. Over a 5-day period, more than 15” of rain fell on Boulder County alone, causing extensive road and infrastructure damage throughout the county. Larimer and Jefferson Counties have also incurred significant infrastructure damage.
Despite all county Transportation resources being deployed within the county since the beginning of the storm, there is much roadwork damage that will require extensive repairs over the next several weeks and months, and even years.
“Many residents will be impacted for a long time by the total loss of roads and bridges in some areas,” said Boulder County Transportation Director George Gerstle. “We want to make everyone aware of the amount of work taking place in the county and give you an accurate picture of the preliminary damage assessments that are guiding our efforts as we move forward.”
Roadwork
Since the moment the floodwaters began affecting our county roads, county crews have been out working to provide access for emergency responders, utility companies, and residents cut off by floodwaters. Additionally, crews have been closing dangerous roads, hauling water to communities without water and arranging transportation for evacuees.
Here are some recent major emergency roadway repairs:
· Established connection to Jamestown for residents by replacing several temporary culverts and bridging drainages 20 feet deep and 50 feet across
· Reestablished access to Lee Hill and Olde Stage Rd.
· Reopened Flagstaff Road
· Kept Sunshine Canyon open as only east-west connection to the mountains for residents, utilities and emergency vehicles
· Provided access from Gold Hill nearly to Salina via Gold Run and are working up the Fourmile Canyon, giving access to Logan Mill residents
· Opened up Linden through Pinebrook Hills
· Kept many of the roads in the eastern county open for business throughout the storm
Our focus has now shifted to providing access to communities that remain cut-off by the storm, such as Fourmile Canyon, Lefthand Canyon, Wagon Wheel area and Bow Mountain connections to Pinebrook.
This work has involved building new roads in areas where previous roads have completely disappeared. In many cases, these roads are temporary and for local resident access only. As we gain access to many of the areas that have been severely impacted, we will be evaluating damage and determining how best to quickly restore more permanent access. However, it will take some time before these roads are completely restored.
We have also been evaluating damage of all major roads throughout the county and have identified multiple bridges and structures that have washed out that will need to be reconstructed along with roads that need reconstruction in both the plains and mountains.
“The damage has been so significant that our commuting and recreational patterns have been changed dramatically, and we ask that the community be patience as we work to restore access and infrastructure over the next months and years,” Gerstle said.
Current Status update:
· Access North to South in Boulder County is largely intact east of Broadway Ave. (Hwy 93 South/US36 North).
· 95th street between Valmont and Lookout, N.83rd at the Larimer County line, and East County Line at SH 119 near Longmont is still closed.
· West of Broadway, the only North/ South access between Estes Park on the North to I-70 on the South is Hwy 72/119, the Peak to Peak Highway.
· The only East/West route is Sunshine Canyon from Peak to Peak to Boulder. We are limiting access to Sunshine Canyon in the following way:
o Local residents
o Utilities and contractors with verifiable business to residential homes or businesses
o No recreational traffic will be allowed on Sunshine Canyon.
· Hwy 72 (Coal Creek Canyon) is closed to all but emergency traffic and utilities. Access to some residents can happen from Hwy 72 (Peak to Peak) down to Wonderview.
· Flagstaff has been damaged from Gregory Canyon to Panorama Point. The road is down to one lane controlled by cones and one-way traffic light. Access limited to residence and legitimate business. Gross Reservoir is closed to recreational activities. Gross Dam Road is closed to through traffic.
· Boulder Canyon is closed indefinitely after CDOT engineer’s assessment not only of the road integrity by the canyon wall stability. There is no access to Boulder Canyon from Nederland, Magnolia, Sugarloaf, or Hurricane Hill. These areas to go west to SH 72 (Peak to Peak)
· Limited access from SH 119 will be given to residents of lower 119, and we’re working right now to provide access to Fourmile Canyon Drive through to Gold Hill
· We are asking that those residents confine their trips as the traffic on the roads is interfering with CDOT crews working in the canyon as well as Fourmile Canyon.
· Linden is open to residents, utilities and verifiable business only
· USFS has closed the National Forest to all recreational purposes in Boulder County East of the Peak to Peak Highway.
· Lee Hill is closed at 4th street. Access will be granted to residents and legitimate business
· US 36 north is closed at the Middle Fork Bridge. Residence of Crestview Estates can access their homes.
· Lower Left Hand is open to the 1.3 mm for residence. It is closed from the 1.3 mm to the Peak to Peak.
· James Canyon is closed from the Junction of Left Hand to Jamestown.
· Overland Rd from Hwy 72 is closed to residents, utilities and emergency vehicles only
· US 36 closed at Hwy 66 due to structural damage to the bridge.
· US 36 closed into and out of Lyons to Estes Park
· Hwy 7 closed from Lyons to Hwy 72 (Peak to Peak)
As Winter Approaches
As we approach winter, crews will continue to plow roads as close to our normal routes as possible, and we’ll be working throughout the winter to keep these roads open to the extent poss. However, people should expect more closures should it be a bad winter. Particularly in the mountains, residents will have to be extremely cautious as they are temporary and will be subject to wash-out and require frequent repairs.
Especially during the coming months, as CDOT works to restores the major routes throughout the county, we ask people to stay out of the mountains and ask that the road be used by residents and those working to help residents restore their lives.
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National Health Service advises how to stay healthy after a flood, Watch out Nebraska
Sep 18th
If you’ve been affected by flooding, here’s how you can stay healthy, including cleaning your home and dealing with food.
Flooding presents a number of risks and hazards to health, either directly (such as injuries caused by fast-flowing floodwater) or the longer-term impact of dealing with the aftermath. The main health risks associated with flooding are drowning and being injured by an accident in flowing water.
Avoid going into floodwater if you can. If you have to go in, wear rubber boots and waterproof gloves. Be aware of any potential dangers under the water, such as drains without covers.
Infections caused by flooding are rare in the UK. See your GP if anyone in your family has symptoms such as sickness, diarrhoea or stomach cramps.
Mental health
Being affected by a flood and cleaning your home afterwards can be physically and mentally stressful. If you feel overwhelmed and need some help to cope, talk to your GP. The Citizens Advice Bureau can help with practical things, like money and alternative housing. Getting involved in community activities and talking to friends, neighbours and family may also help.
Food, water and general hygiene
Maintaining good hygiene reduces health risks. Always wash your hands with soap and clean water:
- after you use the toilet
- when you handle food
- after being in contact with floodwater or items contaminated by floodwater
Don’t allow children to play in floodwater areas. Wash their hands frequently, especially before meals.
Keep open cuts or sores clean and use waterproof plasters to prevent them being exposed to floodwater.
Food preparation and storage
Don’t eat any food, including tinned food, that has come into contact with floodwater.
- Wash all food preparation surfaces, plastic and glass chopping boards, crockery, pots, pans and other utensils with hot clean water and detergent, then a normal kitchen disinfectant. Powerful disinfectants such as bleach are unnecessary.
- Throw away wooden chopping boards that have been in contact with floodwater.
- Wash your hands before and after preparing food.
- Make sure that all shelves and surfaces that food will touch are disinfected and undamaged.
- To wash food that you will eat raw (for example, salad or fruit), use boiled water that has been cooled.
- It’s safe to use unboiled tap water for boiling food or for preparing food that is going to be cooked.
Water
If your water comes through a mains supply, follow the advice of the local water company. If your water is a private supply from a well or spring and you notice changes in the way it looks, smells or tastes, ring your local council for advice.
If you’re concerned about the purity of your water, boil it before you use it. Continue doing this until the water supply has been shown to be safe.
Boiling water
Boiling water kills harmful bacteria, viruses and parasites. Bring the water to the boil and allow it to cool before you drink it.
Also remember:
- Water from the hot tap is never suitable for drinking.
- Water taps must be cleaned and disinfected before use after a flood.
If you’re bottle-feeding a baby, use boiled water. Don’t use bottled water for your baby unless it’s recommended by a doctor or health visitor, as some bottled water is unsuitable for babies.
Cleaning inside your home
You can clean and disinfect your home using normal household products. However, floodwater can contain sewage, chemical hazards and animal waste, so when you’re cleaning up:
- Wear waterproof gloves, wellington boots and a face mask (available from DIY shops).
- Keep children and pets out of the affected area until the clean-up is complete.
- Clean walls, hard floors and other surfaces with hot soapy water, using ordinary household detergent such as washing-up liquid, until they look clean.
- Remove and throw away soft furnishings, such as curtains, and fittings that are mouldy or damaged beyond repair.
- Contaminated soft furnishings that can’t go in a washing machine need to be professionally cleaned. If this isn’t possible, you may have to throw them away.
- Wash clothes and bedding in a hot wash (60C or the hottest on the items’ instruction labels).
- Clothes worn during the clean-up should be washed separately from other items.
- Heating and good ventilation, fans, air conditioning units and dehumidifiers will all help drying.
Petrol- or diesel-powered generators, dehumidifiers and pressure washers should never be used indoors without adequate ventilation as their exhaust gases can build up and kill.
Visit the Health Protection Agency (HPA) website to find out more about what to do after a flood.
The HPA also has some useful questions and answers about flood safety.
Floods heading toward the Northeast Plains and Nebraska
Nearly all the rainfall in last week’s flood fell in the South Platte River basin. The basin sends the water toward Nebraska, where the water is collecting i n the main river basin and rushing toward the flat farm land, where the crest could as high as 10 entering the state. In Nebraska, the South Platte follows I-80 eastward and could damage the interstate highway.
How far into Nebraska the flood does damage depends upon, in part, where the South Platte joins the North Platte River near the city of North Platte, about 90 miles from the Colorado state line. Currently, the North Platte is running about 800 c.f.s, which is close to the historical norm for this time of the year. The South Platte is currently running at 10,000 c.f.s higher than the historical average.
