2)-25

lornajarrettblanchard June 16, 1965

–25 Blanchard tally based on breakouts below.
–23 Colorado
–19 drowning deaths
— 4 indirect deaths (one electrocution, two heart attacks, one butane gas fumes)
— 2 Kansas
–24 Paulson, et al. “National Water Summary 1988-89 – Hydrologic Events and Floods…”
— 8 June 14, South Platte River basin
–16 June 17-19, Arkansas River basin
–19 UPI. “Rampaging Rivers Rout Thousands in Colorado…” News Journal, Mansfield, OH. 6-20-1965, 1.
–18 UPI. “Floods rout 10,000; death toll hits 18 [CO].” Press-Courier, Oxnard, CA. 6-19-1965, p1.
–18 AP. “Flood Waters Spreading in Kansas and Colorado.” Evening Tribune, Albert Lea, MN. 6-21-1965, 1.
–16 Colorado
— 2 Kansas (drownings; Jerry Morgan, 23, Garden City; Bud Weldon, 45, Lakin.)
–17 UPI. “Colorado Death Toll Mounts.” Daily Jeffersonian, Cambridge, OH. 6-19-1965, p. 1.
–16 Ludlum. The American Weather Book. 1982, p. 81.
–15 Environmental Science Svc. Admin., Weather Bureau. Storm Data, 7/6, June 1965, 60-61.
16th:
–1 Cripple Creek-Victor area. Drowning; man trying to reach higher ground. (p. 61.)
–1 Larkspur [about 12 miles south of Castle Rock], June 16. Drowning, man. (p. 60)
17th:
–1 Arkansas Valley. Drowning; woman “being carried to higher ground.”
–2 Denver, east of.
–1 Drowning, boy, 3, swept away by floodwater.
–1 Girl, 5 months, breathing butane fumes on hotel roof while waiting for rescue.
–2 Greeley area, Cache la Poudre River. Drownings; boys riding horse near the river.
–1 Last Chance area, 4½ miles west. Drowning; truck driver when truck swept from road.
–1 Limon. Drowning; young girl swept away by flood water. (See Woodrow in breakout.)
–1 Lindon area. Drowning, young girl.
–1 Loveland area, Indian Creek. Drowning; flash flood; girl, 13.
–1 Simla. Drowning; young man “caught by a wall of water.”
–2 Springfield area NW. Floodwater stalled car; children being taken from the car. (61)
–1 Wiley area. Drowning; boy, 10-years-old. (Three family members missing.)
Breakout of fatalities by locality as noted in newspapers:
–1 Agate area. Drowning; boy, 3; mother lost her grip on him getting into rescue helicopter.
–1 Aurora. Heart attack; man “working around…flood-threatened home.”
–1 Denver. Drowning; man, 69, returning to home from which he had evacuated earlier.
–1 Denver. Heart attack; man “working around…flood-threatened home.”
–1 Denver area east. Girl, 5 months, awaiting rescue on hotel roof; butane fumes. Storm Data.
–2 Butte Mt. Rd., 9miles west of US 87 and 30M west of Lamar. Presumed drowning; children.
–2 Greeley. Boys “missing in a flood-heavy stream and presumed drowned.”
–5 Lamar area west. Drowning; five members of family of six when floodwater tipped their car.
–1 Larkspur area. Drowned; car goes into flooded Plum Creek where bridge had washed away.
–1 Lindon area. Drowning, young girl. Storm Data, Vol. 7, No. 6, June 1965, p.61.
–1 Loveland area. Drowned; girl, 13, attempting to cross a swollen creek. Lindsay Rae Rein.
–1 Pueblo, June 20. Electrocution during cleanup; Robert Virgil Ruetter, 15.
–1 Simla, June 17. Drowning; Harold J. Young, 24.
–2 Springfield and Lamar areas. Drowning? Two children swept away from father.
–1 Victor area, Beaver Creek Valley, June 17. Drowning; flash flood; David Wilson, “youth.”
–1 Woodrow area. Drowning; Pearl Gray, 14, “swept away from her family…” (Limon civ.)

Narrative Information

Matthai: “The most severe Colorado floods of the 20th century were those that affected the South Platte and Arkansas River basins during June 1965. The floods were caused by intense rainfall (as much as 14 inches in a few hours) during June 14-17, following a relatively wet spring (Matthai, 1969, p. B-1).

Paulson: “Flooding in the South Platte River basin began on June 14, near Denver. The flood crest did not pass the most-downstream gaging station on the South Platte River in Colorado until June 20,1965. Matthai (1969, p. B-1) reported that eight deaths were attributed to the June 1965 flood on the South Platte River and total damage was $508 million. Of which about 75 percent was in the Denver metropolitan area. Peak discharges at several gaging stations had recurrence intervals that exceeded 100 years. The peak discharge on the South Platte River at Denver was 40,300 ft3/s (cubic feet per second), which is 1.8 times greater than the next largest discharge of record since 1889. Matthai (1969, p. B-36) reported a peak discharge on East Plum Creek near Castle Rock of 126,000 ft3/s from a contributing drainage area of 108 mi.

“During June 17-19, 1965, moderate to severe flooding occurred in the Arkansas River basin… The flooding was caused by extreme rainfall on June 16 and 17 following 2 days of moderate rainfall; snowmelt was a minor contributor. Widespread rainfall in May and early June created moist antecedent conditions in most areas affected by the flood. The peak discharge of the Purgatoire River at Ninemile Dam, near Higbee on June 18 became the peak discharge of record for that station and has remained the peak discharge of record to the present (1988). Peak discharges during the June 1965 floods in the Arkansas River basin in Colorado, Kansas, and New Mexico were greater than those previously recorded at 48 of 136 other gaging stations as well, and many peak discharges had recurrence intervals that exceeded 100 years. Sixteen lives were lost due to the flooding, and property damage was about $60 million…” (Paulson, et al., 1988)

Weather Bureau (ESSA), Storm Data, June 16:

“Platte River Basin…16 [June]…Afternoon…1 [killed]…Heavy rain

“Heavy rain of cloudburst proportion, in an area from south of Palmer Lake along the west & east Plum Creeks to South Denver, did much damage. Some unofficial rainfall amounts were: Palmer Lake 14.0″ and Castle Rock area 12.0″. The normally dry streams were at flood stage in a short time. The flood passed through Larkspur, leaving extensive damage, then the Castle Rock area, heavily damaging roads & bridges. The two Plum Creek branches combine at Sedalia, which was damaged. By evening the flood reached the South Platte near Littleton, and was proceeding toward Denver. Flood waters spread to ½ mile or more in width and destroyed homes, trailer courts, businesses or anything in its path causing damages estimated as high as $250 million or more in Metropolitan Denver. The flood waters passed on through Denver to add to the already flooded South Platte River through Fort Morgan, Sterling and Julesburg on into Nebraska. One man drowned in the flood waters near Larkspur.” (Environmental Science Svc. Admin., Weather Bureau. Storm Data, V7, N6, June 1965, p60.)

“Teller, Fremont, Las Animas, Kit Carson & Summit Counties…16 [June]…afternoon, evening…1 [killed]…Heavy rain & hail.

“Heavy rain & hail fell in scattered areas of the eastern slope. About 2:00PM, hail with stones up to egg size, damaged bridges, roads and some crops in the Canon City area. Rain & hail in the Cripple Creek-Victor area damaged streets and roads & washed out 3 water reservoirs that had been in use since 1892. Hail drifted to 15″ depths along buildings, 3″ to 7″ of rain was reported unofficially in the area. A man was drowned while trying to reach higher ground. Cloudbursts on the upper reaches of the Blue River caused damage to roads & bridges from above Breckenridge to the Dillon Dam. Heavy rain (5″ to 10″ unofficially) near Trinidad caused floods in the Purgatory River, Raton Creek & other streams, which caused extensive damage. About 2½ inches of rain in 3 hours in the Rocky Ford area added to the high water in the Arkansas River from up river flooding to cause local flooding. Heavy rain near Flagler, caused flooding and damage to roads and bridges.” (ESSA, Weather Bureau. Storm Data, V7, N6, June 1965, p.61.)

Weather Bureau (ESSA), Storm Data, June 17:
“Arkansas Valley…17 [June]…All day…4 [killed]…Heavy flooding.

“Heavy rain continued from the 16th & rain all day the 17th, swelled the tributaries of the Arkansas River, causing heavy flooding when united with the Arkansas. Two Buttes had 7.86″ of rain in 4 hours early the 17th & as much as 12″ was reported in the area. Flood waters covered valuable farm land in the Granada-Holly area & the towns were evacuated. Two children were drowned NW of Springfield, when their father tried to remove them from a stalled car. There was heavy flooding all along the Arkansas River from previous heavy rains in the Trinidad, Colorado Springs and Pueblo areas. A woman was drowned when being carried to higher ground. A 10 year old boy was drowned in flood waters near Wiley. Three other members of the boy’s family were missing and presumed drowned, (not included in the total above.” (ESSA, Weather Bureau. Storm Data, V7, N6, June 1965, p.61.)
….
“East of Denver…17 [June]…Evening…4 [killed]…Heavy rain
“Heavy rain from Strasburg to Limon, filled normally dry creeks, which overflowed and flooded a large area. At Deer Trail 80% of the business section was destroyed. A three year old boy was swept away & drowned while being held in a tree waiting to be rescued. A 5 month old girl died from the result of breathing escaping butane fumes, while on a hotel roof waiting to be rescued. A young man was drowned at Simla when caught by a wall of water. A young girl was swept away & drowned near Limon.” (ESSA, Weather Bureau. Storm Data, V7, N6, June 1965, p. 61.)

“Larimer County…17 [June]…1 [killed]…Heavy rain
“A flash flood from heavy rain on the Big Thompson River damaged a trailer park & low-lying farm lands west & south of Loveland. A flash flood on Indian Creek 5 miles west of Loveland took the life of a 13 year old girl. A 2½th rain in Fort Collins caused flooding in the area. Bridges, roads & buildings were damaged.” (ESSA, Weather Bureau. Storm Data, 7/6, June 1965, p. 61.)

“Northeast Colorado…17 [June]…All day…4 [killed]…Flooding
“There were scattered areas of heavy rain. Kit Carson was flooded in the early morning when Horse Creek went out of its banks. Brush & Fort Morgan suffered heavy flooding from the South Platte & tributaries. Towns farther down the South Platte suffered flooding from previous heavy rains. Four people were drowned in flood swollen creeks & rivers. A young girl was drowned near Lindon & a truck driver was drowned 4½ miles west of Last Chance when his truck was swept off the highway. Two boys were drowned in the swollen Cache la Poudre River while riding a horse near the flooding river in the Greeley vicinity.” (ESSA, Weather Bureau. Storm Data, 7/6, June 1965, p. 61.)
Newspapers

June 17, AP: “Denver (AP) – The worst flood in more than 30 years pounded Denver and communities to the south Wednesday night [June 16] and today, leaving hundreds homeless, ripping out bridges and causing millions of dollars in damage.

“So far only one death has been reported. A 69-year-old Denver man drowned after returning to his home from which he and his wife were evacuated earlier.

“Flood waters roaring out of mountain cloudbursts raced down the South Platte River late Wednesday. The flood struck after tornadoes ripped through Palmer Lake, south of Denver, and also pounced down in an area southeast of Denver…..

“Hundreds of persons living close to the South Platte had to leave their homes. They took refuge in schools and other buildings….

“Water flowed into motels, restaurants and other business houses south of Denver….The crest of the South Platte flood struck shortly before midnight. Another crest three hours later flattened out before reaching the metropolitan area. The second crest was reported by the Colorado Highway Patrol to be about 15 feet high – roughly the sixth of the initial surge – when it reached Waterton, 16 miles above Denver….” (Associated Press. “Worst Flood in 30 Years Hits Denver.” Gazette Telegraph, Colorado Springs, CO. 6-17-1965, p. 1.)

June 18: “Denver (UPI) – Flood waters triggered by pounding rains in the mountains and foothills rushed into low-lying residential areas of southeast Colorado today, bursting small dams, smashing bridges and shoving homes off their foundations.

“A emergency flight of five helicopters was shuttling stranded residents to high lands near Ellicott, Raymond and Fountain, not far from Colorado Springs. A spokesman at Ft. Carson Army base where the aircraft were based said the pilots were plucking persons off of rooftops and bridges.

“It was the third consecutive day of serious flooding in Colorado. A tornado swept through Fountain earlier Thursday, 25 miles from where previous twisters had set off 20-foot flood crests on the South Platte River Wednesday, causing the worst natural disaster in Denver history. There was no flooding in the Denver area today as the waters of the surging Platte began to recede.

“All residents at Ellicott were asked to light fires or turn on their car lights to guide the aircraft on their night missions. The spokesman said some persons were lifted to higher grounds. Others were flown back to Ft. Carson and then taken to Colorado Springs.

“A reservoir at Cripple Creek, Colo., high in the mountains west of Colorado Springs, broke, spilling 2 million gallons of water down eight miles to the Skagway Reservoir, a 79-foot high rock-fill dam. However, officials asked all persons in Penrose, Florence and Portland to be prepared to move to higher ground. Warnings also were issued for farmers and ranchers living along Beaver Creek into which the Skagway Reservoir pours.

“There were no known deaths in the latest floodings. However, at least four persons, including a young girl caught by rushing waters as she tried to cross a field, were killed earlier in the week.” (UPI. “Bridges smashed by Colorado flood.” New Castle News, PA. 6-18-1965, p. 1.)

June 19: “Denver (UPI) – The death toll mounted today in flood-torn eastern Colorado and the swollen Arkansas River flowed menacingly into Kansas. But the rain clouds vanished over Colorado. No new drownings had occurred today, tut United Press International counted 17 deaths since Wednesday. Others were missing. The toll increased as bodies were found in receding streams and communications were restored.

“An estimated 10,000 persons fled from their homes Friday. More were evacuating in western Kansas today as the muddy Arkansas surged toward Dodge City….A crest spilled over a levee at the south end of Garden City, Kan., Friday night and into an area where 200 persons had left their homes…

“The situation appeared less serious on the South Platte River, heading for Sterling in northeast Colorado….

“Gov. John A. Love of Colorado estimated damages from the four days of flooding in his state alone at $102 million.

“Telephone lines to many Colorado communities were out Friday night, but some of the communications had been restored by today. Some towns had telephone service but there was no one to use it; all residents had been evacuated.

“C. V. Blackwell at the Pueblo County sheriff’s office reported a large number of people were rescued after streams spilled over their banks near Pueblo. ‘A lot of people didn’t believe what they heard,’ Blackwell said. ‘They didn’t take caution. But we didn’t have any drownings of human beings. A cow was the only drowning I know of.’ Blackwell said the Arkansas River at Pueblo today was ‘awful roily but not anywhere near flood stage.’

“….A 3-year-old boy only seconds away from safety was swept to his death by highwaters near Agate, Colo., 60 miles southeast of Denver. Officials said the youth’s mother, Mrs. Carol Oakes, lost her grip on the child as she was about to step into a rescue helicopter.

“Five members of a family of six were swept away west of Lamar when flood waters tipped their car. The only survivor was a 36-year-old beet picker, Manuel Gjajardo. A relative said the man’s wife, Angelica, 35, and their four children, ranging in age from 6 to 14, were drowned by the swirling waters.

“The Arkansas River was flooding at its headwaters high in the Colorado Mountains. Lamar and Holly, in southeastern Colorado near the Kansas Border, were surrounded by water, were surrounded by water. The entire 175-mile ‘flood plain’ of the river from Pueblo, Colo., into Kansas was ordered evacuated.

“In the northeast, the South Platte River, which did $8.5 million damage in Denver in flooding Wednesday and Thursday, rushed through northeast Colorado farmlands and small communities.

“Rescue officials were throwing every bit of equipment possible into the fight. ‘We’ll take nearly anything that moves,’ said one man as he made a plea for trucks and earth-moving equipment to stem the flow.

“Army and Air National Guard units, using helicopters and light planes, were picking up persons stranded in small isolated Colorado communities.

“Nearly every major road in the state was out somewhere along the route and long distant land travel was almost impossible. Communications were interrupted and in some places non-existent.

“In the Denver area, 3,000 persons who had crowded into makeshift shelters set up in hospitals and schools Wednesday when the South Platte boiled over, began returning to their homes.”
(UPI. “Colorado Death Toll Mounts.” Daily Jeffersonian, Cambridge, OH. 6-19-1965, p. 1.

June 20: “Denver (UPI) – The mighty Arkansas River, trailing a 175-mile wake of death and destruction in southern Colorado, rolled at record levels Saturday through Kansas.

“To the north, the South Platte River mauled small communities and twisted bridges in stricken Colorado, where 10,000 persons were homeless. The death toll rose to 19, and President Johnson declared a disaster area.

“To the south, New Mexico’s Canadian, Cimarron and Vermejo rivers were receding. But a flash flood blocked U.. 66 and two traffic deaths were blamed on the storm.

“….The Arkansas was in flood or receding after flooding along 250 miles of its length from Pueblo, Colo., to Dodge City, Kan., including 175 miles in Colorado which was ordered evacuated Friday.” (UPI. “Rampaging Rivers Rout Thousands in Colorado, Kansas.” News Journal, Mansfield, OH. 6-20-1965, p.1.)
Sources

Associated Press. “13 Deaths Reported in Floods; Property Damage $125 Million.” Gazette Telegraph, Colorado Springs, 6-21-1965, p.1. Accessed 6-1-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/colorado-springs-gazette-jun-21-1965-p-1/

Associated Press. “Flood Damage Spreads in Colorado.” Hamilton Daily News Journal, OH. 6-18-1965, p. 1. Accessed 5-31-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/hamilton-daily-news-journal-jun-18-1965-p-1/

Associated Press. “Flood Waters Spreading in Kansas and Colorado.” Evening Tribune, Albert Lea, MN. 6-21-1965, p. 1. Accessed 6-1-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/albert-lea-evening-tribune-jun-21-1965-p-1/

Associated Press. “Floods Continue Rampage in State.” Gazette Telegraph, Colorado Springs, CO. 6-18-1965, p.1. Accessed 5-31-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/colorado-springs-gazette-jun-18-1965-p-1/

Associated Press. “Floods Sweep Out of Mountains, Kill 13.” Des Moines Register, IA. 6-19-1965, p. 7. Accessed 6-1-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/des-moines-register-jun-19-1965-p-7/

Associated Press. “Girl Drowns in Loveland’s Indian Creek.” Gazette Telegraph, Colorado Springs, CO. 6-18-1965, p. 6A. Accessed 5-31-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/colorado-springs-gazette-jun-18-1965-p-11/

Associated Press. “Worst Flood in 30 Years Hits Denver.” Gazette Telegraph, Colorado Springs, CO. 6-17-1965, p. 1. Accessed 5-31-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/colorado-springs-gazette-jun-17-1965-p-2/

Associated Press. “Young Newsman Perished in Larkspur Flood.” Gazette Telegraph, Colorado Springs, CO. 6-18-1965, p. 6A. Accessed 5-31-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/colorado-springs-gazette-jun-18-1965-p-11/

Environmental Science Service Administration, Weather Bureau. Storm Data, Vol. 7, No. 6, June 1965. Asheville: U.S. Department of Commerce, 1965. Accessed 5-31-2022 at: https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/orders/IPS/IPS-456F6476-026B-4703-ABB1-E0017EACD0DC.pdf

Gazette Telegraph, Colorado Springs. CO. “275 Persons Are Reported Stranded by Peyton Flood.” 6-18-1965, p. 6A. Accessed 5-31-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/colorado-springs-gazette-jun-18-1965-p-11/

Gazette Telegraph, Colorado Springs, CO. “Harold J. Young Services Held.” 6-22-1965, p. C1. Accessed 6-1-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/colorado-springs-gazette-jun-22-1965-p-33/

Gazette Telegraph, Colorado Springs, CO. “He watched Horrified as Friend Was Swept Away.” 6-20-2965, 4-B. Accessed 6-1-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/colorado-springs-gazette-jun-20-1965-p-32/

Las Vegas Sun. “Raging Flood Waters Rip Through Kansas..” 6-22-1965, p. 2. Accessed 6-1-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/las-vegas-sun-jun-22-1965-p-2/

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Paulson, R.W., E.B. Chase, R.S. Roberts, and D.W. Moody (Compilers). “National Water Summary 1988-89 – Hydrologic Events and Floods and Droughts. U.S. Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 2375; excerpted in Major Floods and Droughts in California (website). 1991. 10-9-2009 at: http://geochange.er.usgs.gov/sw/impacts/hydrology/state_fd/cawater1.html

UPI (United Press International). “Bridges smashed by Colorado flood.” New Castle News, PA. 6-18-1965, p. 1. Accessed 6-1-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/new-castle-news-jun-18-1965-p-1/

UPI (United Press International). “Colorado Death Toll Mounts.” Daily Jeffersonian, Cambridge, OH. 6-19-1965, pp. 1-2. Accessed 5-31-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/cambridge-daily-jeffersonian-jun-19-1965-p-1/

UPI (United Press International). “Floods rout 10,000; death toll hits 18.” Press-Courier, Oxnard, CA. 6-19-1965, p. 1. Accessed 6-1-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/oxnard-press-courier-jun-19-1965-p-2/

UPI (United Press International). “Rampaging Rivers Rout Thousands in Colorado, Kansas.” News Journal, Mansfield, OH. 6-20-1965, p.1. Accessed 6-1-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/ohio-mansfield-news-journal-jun-20-1965-p-1/

UPI (United Press International). “Two Children Swept Away by Flood Waters.” Gazette Telegraph, Colorado Springs, CO. 6-18-1965, p. 6A. Accessed 5-31-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/colorado-springs-gazette-jun-18-1965-p-11/