Images: Mountain Town Cut Off By Flooding

Lyons, Colorado

Lyons, Colorado flooding

(Image credit: G. R. Brakenridge)

The flash floods of September 2012 cut off the mountain town of Lyons for several days. Darmouth Flood Observatory director G.R. Brakenridge lives in Lyons and took pictures during the flooding. The Brakenridges evacuated on Sept. 14, 2013 once the bridge out of town was deemed safe for travel.

Flooded Cars

Cars engulfed by floodwaters

(Image credit: G. R. Brakenridge)

Cars engulfed by floodwaters in Lyons, Colo.

Destroyed Road

Bridges cut by flooding in Lyons

(Image credit: G. R. Brakenridge)

Several days of heavy rain swelled the St. Vrain River that cuts through Lyons, destroying roads and covering bridges.

Flooding Debris

Debris from the flooding in Lyons, Colo.

(Image credit: G. R. Brakenridge)

A dumpster and other debris washed downstream by flooding in Lyons, Colo.

Flooded Lyons

Lyons, Colorado flooding

(Image credit: G. R. Brakenridge)

A panorama of Lyon, Colo., as flash floods split the town into isolated islands on Sept. 12, 2013.

Flooding Destruction

Building in Lyons destroyed by flooding.

(Image credit: G. R. Brakenridge)

Floodwaters destroy a Lyons building.

Flooded Parking Lot

Flooded parking lot in Lyons

(Image credit: G. R. Brakenridge)

A flooded parking lot in Lyons, Colo. The flooding cut utilities to the town and officials expect that it will not be livable until Thanksgiving.

Flooded Neighborhoods

Lyons, Colorado flooding

(Image credit: G. R. Brakenridge)

Floodwaters rise in a neighborhood in Lyons, Colo.

Flooding in Lyons

Lyons, Colorado flooding

(Image credit: G. R. Brakenridge)

Much of downtown Lyons was destroyed in the flooding of September 2013. The rest of the town lost gas, electricity and water services.

Overturned Vehicles

Flooding in Lyons

(Image credit: G. R. Brakenridge)

Vehicles overturned by the flooding in Lyons, Colo.

Flooding Parking Lot

Flooding in Lyons, Colorado

(Image credit: G. R. Brakenridge)

Trees and a flooded parking lot in Lyons, Colo.

Stephanie Pappas
Live Science Contributor

Stephanie Pappas is a contributing writer for Live Science, covering topics ranging from geoscience to archaeology to the human brain and behavior. She was previously a senior writer for Live Science but is now a freelancer based in Denver, Colorado, and regularly contributes to Scientific American and The Monitor, the monthly magazine of the American Psychological Association. Stephanie received a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of South Carolina and a graduate certificate in science communication from the University of California, Santa Cruz.