Review of 2013 Colorado Floods

Most costly natural catastrophe in Colorado’s 138-year anniversary.

  • 10 Coloradans lost their lives
  • 18,147 people forced to evacuate their homes
  • 21 families remain in 24 temporary housing units
  • 1,852 homes destroyed, 28,363 others damaged. Total damage: $623.3 million
  • 16,557 households received some level of assistance from FEMA due to damages to their homes
  • 203 commercial structures destroyed and 765 commercial structures damaged
  • Damage to state and local infrastructure totals $1.7 billion, including $535 million to state and local highways. All state roads impacted by floods reopened by December 1 to help get residents back into their homes and res-establish access to isolated communities. Long-term permanent repairs began in Spring 2014.
  • Economic impact $555 million.

Unprecedented rainfall caused floodwaters and mudslides affecting 24 Colorado counties

  • September 2013 saw twice as much precipitation in Boulder during one month than any other month since recording begin in 1893. September 2013: 18.2 inches. Average September rainfall in area: 1.6 inches.
  • Exceeded not only 100-year frequencies; in a number of cases met or exceeded 500-year frequencies as well.
  • National Weather Service report on September 2013 Floods.

Estimated damage totals $3 billion.




Colorado United Day of Service Saturday, September 13, 2014

  • Volunteer opportunities available all over the state and in flood impacted communities
  • Bringing together communities to help one another in the same spirit that communities came together immediately following the floods a year ago
  • Sign up to volunteer near you at coloradounited.com and flyer attached
  • Concert in Lyons Colorado at 5pm with the Infamous String Dusters hosted by Oskar Blues at Bohn Park. Volunteers are invited to attend the concert after volunteering.
  • Twitter: @CoUnitedServe #COUnitedDay
  • Videos of impacted flood areas, Little Thompson, Lyons, Jamestown, Manitou Springs, Poudre River: http://bit.ly/1x7YmQ0
Information obtained from the Colorado Recovery Office.