Update on Evacuations and Flood Conditions in Messex, Colorado
The information posted on behalf of Washington County Office of Emergency Management.The Washington County Emergency Management Office has been working with the Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management for the past month to prepare the community of Messex, Colorado for a breach of a levee along the South Platte River. This weekend the Washington County of Emergency Management provided materials for community members to protect their properties in preparation for the breach and flood conditions. These materials included sandbags and information on potential emergency evacuations.
At 7 a.m. on June 15 railroad officials discovered the breach of the levee along the South Platte River. The Union Pacific (UP) and Burlington Northern Sante Fe (BNSF) Railways began infrastructure protection along the rail lines beginning in Morgan County near Road 33 and Road W7.
Official notice of the breach triggered Washington County emergency management officials to initiate emergency notifications to 15 homes and approximately 20 residents in the Messex community. These community members received an emergency evacuation order due to the impending flooding moving north east along the rail lines towards Messex.
The water is predicted to move through several full ponds and across saturated land. The community members were advised that the water was approximately five hours away from the town.
The Washington County Emergency Manager requested a Civil Air Patrol flight over the area through the State Emergency Operations Center to provide situational awareness of the current conditions and water flow.
Resources continue to monitor the conditions in Washington County comprised of local emergency responders, county emergency managers, the Northeast Regional Field Manager from the Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, National Weather Service and the Army Corps of Engineers.
Information Sources
- Emergency Alerts - Sign up today: http://www.wycomm.org/
- Twitter:
- Washington County Emergency Management: @WashCoEM or www.Twitter.com/WashCoEM
- Colorado DHSEM: @COEmergency or www.Twitter.com/COEmergency
- Facebook - Follow these accounts:
- Washington County Emergency Management or link
- Morgan County Sheriff's Office or link
- COEmergency or www.Facebook.com/COEmergency
- Website: www.co.washington.co.us
- Website: www.COEmergency.com
