Droughts And Wildfires Mean Floods Are Likely. Is The Front Range Ready?

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Photo: Before/after floods 14a
The St. Vrain creek flows around a bridge damaged in flooding days earlier, in Longmont, Colo., Tuesday Sept. 17, 2013.

When there's drought and wildfire, as Colorado's been experiencing, floods are sure to follow, says a former director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Craig Fugate, who was just in Colorado, tells Colorado Matters why he was just in the state talking to various communities about preparedness.

Fugate is now with the Pew Charitable Trusts Flood-Prepared Communities initiative, which reports flooding is the third most common and costly natural disaster in Colorado behind thunderstorms and fires. Pew also says over 100,000 Coloradans live in areas that could flood including populated areas in Boulder, Jefferson and El Paso Counties.

Map: Pew Map Colorado Flood Costs