How might a catastrophic flood affect Manitou Springs?
Flash floods pose dangers for many towns and cities in Colorado. The following text is a hypothetical scenario of a flash flood in Manitou Springs. This scenario was derived from the Manitou Springs Flood Hazard Mitigation Plan (1985), written by geography Professor Eve Gruntfest, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. SCENARIO The day of the scenario is typical for the Colorado Front Range. The weather forecast calls for a chance of afternoon thunderstorms. An accumulation of cumulonimbus clouds over Manitou Springs and the entire Pikes Peak Region is not sufficient cause for alarm to the residents and tourists of Manitou Springs on this warm, summer afternoon. At 3:30 p.m., the sky has blackened and rain is beginning to fall in the mountains. By 4:20 p.m., the satellite detection system has alerted the National Weather Service Office in Pueblo, Colorado of the situation. They issue a flash flood watch for all of El Paso County. They contact the El Paso Office of Emergency Manage
