Bridges, schools, and city offices were closed in Fort Collins and Loveland, Colorado, due to flooding.
The Poudre River was flowing at more than 100 times more than its normal capacity, reported the Denver Post. It prompted the closure of several streets and bridges.
The city said that there has been heavy flooding from Interstate 25 to downtown. “I-25 is currently closed from Harmony to Wyoming border,” it said. That includes both Loveland and Fort Collins.
“Northern Colorado has been declared a disaster area. At this time, the Emergency Operations Plan has been activated,” it added.
“The Poudre River is going through town at about 10,000 cubic feet per second and climbing. It is flooding significantly,” Lisa Rosintoski, the public information officer for Fort Collins Utilities, told the Post. “At first it laid low and then it just spiked.”
Colorado’s 9 News reported that Loveland has been split into two by the Big Thompson River, which caused closures to bridges crossing the river.
Residents and Loveland, located near Fort Collins, were told not to travel in the river corridor area, as the Big Thompson River’s levels hit its highest levels in 36 years.
Colorado State University in Fort Collins was closed Friday, the campus said in a tweet.
The Coloradoan reported that in Fort Collins, only the Harmony Road bridge is open.
Bridges in the city are passable via only bike or foot, it reported.
Police in Loveland will maintain uniformed presence at each closure barricade in the city.
Thompson School District schools are closed in Loveland, reported 9 News.
