Red Cross and Neighbors Rally After Kittredge Floods

When Benjamin Homewood saw water lines three and a half feet high inside his Kittredge home, he wondered if his house would wash away entirely. By Friday morning, he was shoveling mud alongside dozens of volunteers who showed up to help their neighbors recover from Wednesday's devastating floods.

The flooding surpassed the historic 2013 disaster, leaving residents along Avenue F with the worst damage. Some homes near the creek were buried under feet of thick silt and debris that took hours just to shovel through.

Chelsea Nibert didn't wait for official help to arrive. When she saw the destruction Thursday morning, she immediately started coordinating volunteers at the Kittredge Civic Association building, turning it into a makeshift relief hub where neighbors prepared meals and gathered supplies for families in need.

"There's so many people that need so many different things," Nibert said as she dispatched volunteers throughout the flood zone. Despite the overwhelming scale of destruction, the community response has been swift and organized.

The Red Cross arrived Friday with trucks delivering meals and supplies door to door. Brian Szabelski, regional communications manager for the Red Cross of Colorado and Wyoming, said the effort has been truly collaborative, with Jefferson County emergency management, the sheriff's office, and the Salvation Army all working together.

Local businesses jumped in too, donating dumpsters and resources to help residents haul away ruined belongings. The community spirit transformed an overwhelming disaster into something more manageable for families facing massive cleanup work.

The Ripple Effect

The coordinated response shows how communities can come together during crisis. Within 24 hours of the flood, Kittredge had organized volunteer teams, secured Red Cross support, coordinated with multiple agencies, and mobilized local businesses to donate resources.

Residents are still facing challenges, including a water main break that left the district's tank at just 20% capacity. Officials asked neighbors to conserve water while repairs are tested and completed, and the community has responded.

For Homewood, surrounded by volunteers on a sunny Friday morning, the massive cleanup effort felt less daunting. "Everybody's out here, and it's good," he said, capturing the spirit of a community refusing to let disaster defeat them.