Heavy rain sent "walls of water" down mountainsides in Colorado earlier today, Sept. 12, cutting off a nearby town, killing at least three people, and forced the state's largest college to close.
Approximately 8 inches of rain fell in areas that spans from the Wyoming border to the foothills of west of Denver according to the Associated Press.
Flooding reaches all along the Front Range mountains, including cities like Aurora, Boulder, Denver, Fort Collins, and Colorado Springs.
A number of different roads and highways have been either washed out or closed due to floods, and water has also destroyed homes and buildings.
"It is not an ordinary disaster," Pelle said. "All the preparation in the world ... it can't put people up those canyons while these walls of water are coming down."
Boulder County was hit the worst according to the Associated Press. The town of Lyons was cut off completely on account of flooded roads, forcing locals to search for a safe location to stay until the flood is over.
One person was killed when a "structure" fell down in a small town called Jamestown, which is northwest of Boulder. A second person was killed after drowning in Boulder, according to local police.
A third body was found in Fountain Creek on the west side of Boulder, according to the Associated Press.
Though rescue vehicles and search helicopters were ready to go at a moment's notice, many were not able to get to mountainside locations due to the flood and heavy fog.
Locals have been asked to drink boiled or bottled water due to a possible contamination to their water supply.
Firefighters saved two men who were trapped in their vehicles in Rock City, which is east of Boulder, according to the Associated Press.
Local David Finn knocked down his fence to release water that was building up behind it. The decision most likely saved his house.
"I've never seen it like this," said Finn. "You know, we sort of roll our eyes when they say you have to be prepared for the 100-year flood, so here we are."
The University of Colorado, which holds 400 students in its dorm rooms, were evacuated and all classes have been canceled through Sept. 13.
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