The Waldo Canyon Fire Burn Scar Will Increase the Risk of Flash Flooding for the Next Several Years. Speak with your insurance agent about Flood Insurance.
U.S. Geological Survey Water Alert System USGS Water Alert System is a website that is open to the public. This website allows residents to establish an alert for numerous gages in the County. There are currently 4 gages in the burn scar area. To see all the gages in the County use the URL below. http://waterdata.usgs.gov/co/nwis/current/?type=precip
If you are interested in subscribing to receive alerts from the 4 new gages that have been placed in the burn area use the URLs below, then click on "Subscribe to Water Alert" (located below the graph). Once you do this a series of questions need to be answered. Here is the info that is suggested: • Enter your email address • Click on hourly notifications • Click on 1 hour (inches) • Click on "Greater than" • Place .5 in the "Real-time value is greater than: " • Check that you read and acknowledge the disclaimer • Click on Submit • You will get a confirmation email and will need to reply to close the loop
Sand Gulch precipitation station: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/co/nwis/uv/?site_no=385653104583101&PARAmeter_cd=00045
Upper Waldo above Cascade http://waterdata.usgs.gov/co/nwis/uv/?site_no=385449104565501&PARAmeter_cd=00045
Upper Williams Canyon: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/co/nwis/uv/?site_no=385334104544901&PARAmeter_cd=00045
Lower Waldo above Manitou: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/co/nwis/uv/?site_no=385241104560101&PARAmeter_cd=00045
Flood Preparedness Information: El Paso County Sheriff’s Office: http://shr.elpasoco.com/Waldo+Canyon+Fire+Information.htm National Flood Insurance Program Information: www.Floodsmart.gov FEMA preparedness website: www.Ready.gov City of Colorado Springs: http://www.springsgov.com/Page.aspx?NavID=4488
Burned Area Emergency Response Team Information: www.inciweb.org http://www.inciweb.org/incident/article/2929/15187/ This web site has all the BAER reports.
Maps of Burn/Flood Areas This link will help you navigate through the Waldo burn area quickly. Just type your address in the info bar on the right side of this screen. Although your property may or may not be mapped in the floodplain, you are encouraged to look at the FEMA Insurance and talk with an agent. Your house may very well be in the path of hillside sheet erosion as well as excessive flows and debris runoff. http://fema.maps.arcgis.com/home/webmap/viewer.html?webmap=50e4c4fdb5744aefb06889bb3c21286d&extent=-105.1277,38.8277,-104.7329,39.02
This link provides data for historic Surficial Geology with Mudslides and Landslide and Rockfall Susceptibility Map of Colorado Springs and the Waldo Canyon Burn Area - Colorado Geological Survey. http://www.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=ef702d6693e34e4e9f1692f63e2f57ac
NRCS: National Resources Conservation Service www.nrcs.usda.gov The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) provides private landowners relief from imminent hazard to life and property causes by a natural disasters. Contact: Greg Langer, 632-9598
Coalition for the Upper South Platte: CUSP http://www.uppersouthplatte.org/ CUSP has Firewise information and Flash Flood information and has experience working with individual home owners on fire/post fire projects including the Hayman Fire. Will help with Waldo Canyon Fire/Flood efforts. Phone: 748-0033
CSU Extension www.ext.colostate.edu CSU Extension has Firewise information and Flash Flood information http://www.ext.colostate.edu/fire/index.html http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/drought/flood.html
Funding assistance for residents affected by the fire and subsequent flooding Lutheran Family Services: 227-7571 Westside Cares: 389-0759 Mercy’s Gate: 277-7470 Housing Authority of Colorado Springs: 387-6700 (you do not have to be a Colorado Springs resident) Ecumenical Social Ministries: 636-1916 Discover Goodwill: 635-4483 Catholic Charities 636-2345 Red Cross: 632-3563 Pikes Peak United Way: 632-1543
NOAA Weather Radios Consider the investment in a weather radio that can alert you to potential storms that can cause flooding in your area. They are available at most stores that have electronic departments. For the deaf and hard of hearing, Midland Communications offers a NOAA radio with a light strobe and bed vibrator. They are available online at: www.harriscomm.com https://midlandusa.com/weather-radios/
Contact: Dave Rose Public Information Officer Phone: 520-6540 Cell: 337-9239 DaveRose@elpasoco.com