By Glen Barber | The Denver Post
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Steve Larson, The Denver PostBig Thompson River flood in 1976.
Ernie Leyba, The Denver PostBig Thompson River Canyon flood in 1976.
Denver Post Library Photo ArchiveBig Thompson River Canyon flood in 1976.
Bill Johnson, The Denver PostLitter of the roof of a cabin is scattered across a bridge which spans the rain-swollen Big Thompson River, which left is banks July 31, 1976.
Dave Buresh, The Denver PostConstruction equipment sits parked near the dam store after the flood in 1976. The store, at the east edge of the Big Thompson Canyon, is a tourist favorite.
Dave Buresh, The Denver PostSearchers look through a car in the Big Thompson River, three miles west of Loveland, to make sure it has no bodies in it during the flood of the Big Thompson River in 1976. They found none, but many were been found in similar situations.
The Associated PressInventory from flooded Big Thompson Canyon store sits in the road as cleanup begins in 1976. Merchants in the canyon faced a big job clean up following the devastating flood.
David Cupp, The Denver PostMud and leaves dry out inside a wrecked truck along Big Thompson River. The truck was found in a campground following the disastrous flood in 1976.
Dave Buresh, The Denver PostTechnician David Smelter of Colorado Division of Wildlife stands guard against looters in flood-devastated town of Drake in Big Thompson Canyon in 1976. Sign in foreground expresses feelings of local residents, but Smelter said Wednesday looting hasn't been problem. Dave Buresh, The Denver post
David Cupp, The Denver PostJoe Creek, right, speaks at meeting of flood victims. Standing with him is Mrs. Bertha Bailey, his neighbor in Cedar Grove in 1976.
Dave Buresh, The Denver PostA smashed home hangs on bridge that used to span the Big Thompson River from U.S. 34 to the south bank in Drake. Several persons in Drake died as the floodwaters hit swiftly in 1976.
The Associated PressA Fort Carson Chinook helicopter picks up flood victims in big Thompson Canyon. Two Army helicopters made three rapid evacuation flights to the Glen Haven and Drake areas in 1976.
The Associated PressParked automobiles at Glen Haven, a hard-hit community in the Big Thompson Canyon, sit virtually "buried by mud and gravel washed down the canyon during the weekend" in 1976. The sun broke through overcast, letting cleanup crews through to begin cleanup operations in earnest.
The Associated pressA volunteer participating in the search for victims of the Big Thompson Canyon flood catches some sleep before boarding a jeep and reentering the canyon. The confirmed death toll climbed past 80 on and was expected to go much higher. 1976. The Associated Press
Kenn Bisio, The Denver PostDave and Debbie Letford look over their pickup after the Big Thompson River flood of 1976. Kenn Bisio, The Denver Post
Bill Johnson, The Denver PostBig Thompson River flood of 1976. Bill Johnson, The Denver Post
Bill Johnson, The Denver PostBig Thompson River flood of 1976. Steve Larson, The Denver Post
Denver Post Library photo archiveRemnants of a house on a bridge after the Big Thompson River flood of 1976. Denver Post Library photo archive
Bill Johnson, The Denver PostBig Thompson River flood of 1976. Bill Johnson, The Denver Post
Ernie Leyba, The Denver PostCar washed down hill in the Big Thompson River flood of 1976. Ernie Leyba, The Denver Post.
Steve Larson, The Denver PostBig Thompson River flood, 1976. Steve Larson, The Denver Post
Bill Johnson, The Denver PostBig Thompson River flood, 1976. Bill Johnson, The Denver Post
John J Sunderland, The Denver postEvacuees of the Big Thompson River flood in 1976. John J Sunderland, The Denver post
Steve Larson, The Denver PostBig Thompson River flood, 1976. Steve Larson, The Denver Post
Ernie Leyba, The Denver PostBig Thompson River flood, 1976. Ernie Leyba, The Denver Post
Dave Buresh, The Denver postBig Thompson River Canyon flood, 1976. Dave Buresh, The Denver post
Ernie Leyba, The Denver PostBig Thompson River Canyon flood 1976. Ernie Leyba, The Denver Post
Ernie Leyba, The Denver PostBig Thompson River Canyon flood, 1976. Ernie Leyba, The Denver Post
Ernie Leyba, The Denver PostBig Thompson River Canyon flood, 1976. Ernie Leyba, The Denver post
Dave Buresh, The Denver postBig Thompson River Canyon flood, 1976. Dave Buresh, The Denver Post
Ernie Leyba, The Denver PostBig Thompson flood, 1976 Water-battered motels and refugees were a common sight. (Photo by Ernie Leyba/The Denver Post)
Ernie Leyba, The Denver PostDogs, goods & people traverse big Thompson river in 1976. (photo by Ernie Leyba/The Denver Post)
John J Sunderland, The Denver postSteve Zimmerman holds his son Scott, 21/2 at refugee center. He said his family managed to flee a motel in the nick of time during the Big Thompson flood in 1976. John J Sunderland, The Denver Post
The Associated PressThe Big Thompson River looks like a junkyard in this picture taken in Drake, Colo. Three cars in the foreground and a wrecked house on the remains of a bridge over the river are leftover signs of the flood damage inflicted on the tiny town with the weekend flash flood in 1976. The Associated Press
Ernie Leyba, The Denver PostBig Thompson River Canyon flood, 1976. Photo by Ernie Leyba, The Denver Post
Denver Post Library photo archiveBig Thompson River Canyon flood, 1976. Denver Post Library photo archive
Denver Post Library photo archiveBig Thompson River Canyon flood, 1976. Denver Post Library photo archive
Denver Post Library photo archiveBig Thompson River Canyon flood, 1976. Denver Post Library photo archive
David Cupp, The Denver PostBig Thompson River Canyon flood, 1976. Photo by David Cupp, The Denver Post
Denver Post Library photo archiveMany of the summer homes and cabins along the canyon were ripped in half by the force of the water coming down the mountains and emptying into the Thompson River. This is the farthest point that was passable into the canyon about five miles from Estes Park. 1976. Denver Post Library photo archive
Denver Post Library photo archiveBig Thompson River Canyon flood, 1976. Denver Post Library photo archive
Denver Post Library photo archiveLitter of the roof of a cabin is scattered across a bridge which spans the rain-swollen Big Thompson River, which left is banks July 31, 1976. Denver Post Library photo archive
The Big Thompson flood of 1976 was the deadliest flash flood in Colorado鈥檚 recorded history. On July 31, between 12 and 14 inches of rain fell over a four-hour period in the mountains around the resort town of Estes Park. Unusual weather patterns allowed the huge storm system to stall over the area as it dumped its load.
Witnesses later described difficulty breathing in the moisture-laden air as the rain drove 鈥渟traight down, lukewarm and not an ounce of wind,鈥� creating a heavy spray all around them. Water gathered speed as it washed over the steep rocky hillsides and flushed through the flatter meadows, all of it heading for the bottom of the V-shaped canyon.