People Living Along Big Thompson River Pile Up Sandbags
ESTES PARK, Colo. (CBS4)- People living along the Big Thompson River are getting ready for the record snowpack to melt.
The river flowing through Estes Park is rising, a typical sight this time of year. With so much melting snow upstream, sandbags are being loaded and positioned at low spots along the bank.
The latest forecast suggests the runoff may come gradually without significant rain to add to the river flow.
"There's a possibility we won't need them. What we've got in the forecast is some nice mild temperatures, some cooler temperatures at night, especially in the high country, so that results in a nice runoff and there is the potential that hte rivers won't come out of their banks. But the town is taking precautions to go ahead and prepare and if they are needed they are ready and we will protect public property as necessary," said Estes Park spokeswoman Kate Rusch.
The river flow along the Big Thompson is only about one third of what is needed to produce even minor flooding. If it comes to that, the town will provide a limited number of sandbags to residents.
"We're encouraging our residents to take responsibility of their own private property. Estes Park is unique in that it will provide sandbags in an emergency situation to help our community," said Rusch.
