Starting Wednesday, heavy rains caused severe flooding in the Boulder area affecting structures on campus, student housing and the Boulder community at large. CU Independent photographers captured this historic event from the start.
After hours of continuous rain, water flows from the bridge between the Engineering Center and 28th Street on the east side of campus Wednesday night. The underpass had recently been shut down by CUPD to prevent injuries because earlier in the night students were tubing down the rushing water. (Amy Leder/CU Independent)
With several inches of standing water on Farrand Field, students set up a giant Slip ‘N Slide on Wednesday night. (Amy Leder/CU Independent)
Sophomore mechanical engineering major Tyler Joy, left, bails water out of his dorm in Reed Hall. On Wednesday night CUPD spokesperson, Ryan Huff stated that 21 on-campus students had to be relocated because of water damage. Of those 21, 11 would have to permanently move dorms while 10 will be relocated for a week. (Nigel Amstock/CU Independent)
The flooded basement of Reed Hall. By Thursday morning it was announced that about 70 buildings on campus had water damage, this is roughly a quarter of all campus buildings. (Nigel Amstock/CU Independent)
Water comes rushing down the Boulder Creek by Arapahoe Avenue. (Amy Leder/CU Independent)
Thursday afternoon the Boulder Creek had risen enough to engulf the Boulder Creek path at many points. (Amy Leder/CU Independent)
Several bystanders observe the rising water of the Boulder Creek Thursday afternoon. Despite the many warnings to stay away from the creek, there was a continuous flow of people who came to see the flooded areas Thursday. (Amy Leder/CU Independent)
Boulder residents create a barrier to direct rushing water away from their apartment complex Thursday afternoon on the corner of Arapahoe Avenue and 7th Street. The residents used plastic bags filled with gravel and mud to hold up the plywood boards. (Nate Bruzdzinski/CU Independent)
Sam Baird, freshman biology major, slides into the flooded areas near Boulder High School, Thursday afternoon. Massive amounts of rain caused severe flooding of the Boulder creek to extend into the school’s fields. (Kai Casey/CU Independent)
Local kayaker Korey Dausz walks beside the creek after kayaking through the flash-flood conditions. He said two friends had flipped their kayaks on the creek, but that no one suffered any injuries. (Gray Bender/CU Independent)
Austin Baker, an undeclared freshman, right, and Sam Baird, freshman biology major, pull a log in the flooded Boulder Creek near Boulder High School on Thursday. The flooded creek was full of debris which included large logs, rocks, mud, etc. (Kai Casey/CU Independent)
Many Boulderites ventured out into the flooded Boulder Creek to sit on benches or take photos with friends Thursday. (Gray Bender/CU Independent)
From left, Junior Cody Hondorf, freshman Sam Baird,and freshman Austin Baker pull a kayak out of the flooded Boulder Creek near Boulder High School. The students retrieved the kayak for Jimmy Hostetler who fell out of it while attempting to make his way down the flooded creek. (Kai Casey/CU Independent)
Water rushes past the Boulder Public Library as Boulder Creek rises. (Gray Bender/CU Independent)
Boulder firefighters from Engine 2 discuss searching for a missing kayaker in Boulder on Thursday. Across Colorado, thousands remain unaccounted for. (Kai Casey/CU Independent)
Boulder residents take part in a giant slip ‘n’ slide at Scott Carpenter Park in Boulder on Thursday. The lower part of the park stood three feet underwater as students did their best to make light of the situation. (Matt Sisneros/CU Independent)
Jackson Hawk, 15, a Boulder High School sophomore “Boulder boards” Friday on the flooded Boulder High soccer fields. Hawk and several other Boulder youth tied a bungie cord to a tree and would run it out to someone waiting on the boogie board. (Robert R. Denton/CU Independent)
CU maintenance crews clear thick mud outside of the family housing units. Family housing along the creek was evacuated Wednesday night pending the passing of the storm. (Gray Bender/CU Independent)
Boulder resident Noah Fehlau-Barton walks in front of the flooded Boulder High School fields. Water from Boulder Creek had risen above the banks and flooded the nearby areas. (Gray Bender/CU Independent)
The mangled pedestrian bridge leading from the CU practice fields to campus sits destroyed by the creek due to heavy flooding. (Gray Bender/CU Independent)
City of Boulder Transportation Management personnel work to clear sediment left over from recent flooding in the parking lot of Boulder Senior Services, 909 Arapahoe Ave. on Saturday. Minimal rain over the weekend helped keep the flooding down and allowed for the city to start cleaning the streets and residents to start maintenance on their damaged homes. (Kai Casey/CU Independent)
Debris continues to run down Boulder Creek Saturday, past the Gilbert White flood memorial. The two-year-old memorial shows past flood levels. (Kai Casey/CU Independent)
Torn up carpet sits on the side of Canyon Boulevard in between 22nd and 21st streets, Monday, Sept. 16, 2013, in Boulder, Colo. The Boulder community is responding to the flooding with rebuilding and relief efforts after many homes were affected. (Kai Casey/CU Independent)
Water rushes down 7th Street near Dean Place into a ditch and Gregory Creek, as more water explodes out of a storm drain, Monday, Sept. 16, 2013, in Boulder, Colo. Although rain has stopped for the past couple of days, flooding continues several places. (Kai Casey/CU Independent)
From left to right, Cole Bender, 15, Max Lyons, 14, and Adam Bender, 15, all Boulder High School freshmen, clean mud and other debris from Paul Shankman’s yard, as the Boulder community responds to the flooding with rebuilding and relief efforts, Monday, Sept. 16, 2013, in Boulder, Colo. Lyons said they came to help their neighbor when they heard he needed help. (Kai Casey/CU Independent)
Water rushes down a broken 7th Street near Pleasant Street, Monday, Sept. 16, 2013, in Boulder, Colo. Although rain has stopped for the past couple of days, flooding continues several places. (Kai Casey/CU Independent)
Paul Shankman points out a severed Pennsylvania Avenue near 7th Street, Monday, Sept. 16, 2013, in Boulder, Colo. Shankman said the culvert broke, resulting in the severed road and more severe flooding for 7th Street. (Kai Casey/CU Independent)
Paul Shankman looks at a pile of his soaked and destroyed items, as the Boulder community responds to the flooding with rebuilding and relief efforts, Monday, Sept. 16, 2013, in Boulder, Colo. Shankman said he had 1 and a half feet of water in his basement, but he was able to save most of the valuables. He said he was lucky compared to a lot of Boulder residents. (Kai Casey/CU Independent)
A military helicopter flies above Eben G. Fine Park as it goes to search for and rescue civilians stranded in the mountain towns west of Boulder, Monday, Sept. 16, 2013, in Boulder, Colo. As of this afternoon, about 160 people have been rescued from the Boulder foothills, reports the Daily Camera. (Kai Casey/CU Independent)
Water rushes out of a storm drain on 7th Street near Pleasant Street, Monday, Sept. 16, 2013, in Boulder, Colo. Flooding has destroyed many roads, bridges and buildings in Colorado, leaving many roads to be fountains and rivers.(Kai Casey/CU Independent)
A home in South Boulder is gutted after being flooded with sewage water. Several houses along Table Mesa we damaged by flooding waters in the basements. (Matt Sisneros/CU Independent)
Check back later for daily updates of the flooding and recovery in Boulder.
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