Lyons residents told to be prepared for flooding  – Boulder Daily Ca…

Lyons residents have been told to prepare for possible flooding over the next few days as the St. Vrain River rises due to snowmelt and recent rainfall. Some residents have been advised that they should be prepared to evacuate.

“Overnight the St. Vrain (River) reached 1,080 CFS (cubic feet per second), which is a strong guideline of how fast and how high the river is flowing through Lyons,” the town of Lyons announced on its website Thursday. “Many factors contribute to this number including snow run-off, discharge from Button Rock Reservoir and localized rain/storm events. Localized flooding becomes more likely along the St Vrain Creek in Lyons when the water reaches 1,200 CFS.”

Residents are warned to watch for flooding in low lying areas, and those living in the St. Vrain floodway are told to be prepared to evacuate. That includes dozens of properties on Evans Street and Park Street.

The warning from the Lyons Fire Protection District, town of Lyons and Boulder County’s Office of Emergency Management advised that residents:

• Should be prepared with essentials such as water, food, flashlights and charged cell phones.

• Should avoid standing water, as it may be contaminated.

• Should avoid moving water, because as little as 6 inches of water can knock a person off their feet and 18 inches can float a car.

• Pay attention to flash flood warnings.

• If necessary, move to higher ground, including a higher elevation location or a higher floor in a building.

Generally, the water levels peak in the overnight hours, the warning noted.

“Due to our ground being saturated, Button Rock Reservoir being full and the continued rain patterns, the rivers are running very high and very fast. Watch for flooding in low lying areas. We advise residents to sign up for emergency alert notifications, especially the Boulder County Emergency Management Notification System, via bocoalert.org,” the notice said.