University History - 1997 Flood

CSUPD Dispatchers Narrowly Escape

Published July 2007

Mindy Henry, the CSU police dispatcher who had been handling calls since 5 p.m., phoned Kirsten Shire, requesting her help with the growing volume of emergencies.

Photo of aftermath of flood damage to a ramp walkway.

A glimpse of the damage caused by the rush of water that made its way on campus.

Arriving at the department headquarters shortly after 9:30 p.m., Shire noticed that the parking lot in front of the police station, 300 yards east of Moby Arena, had assumed the appearance of a large retention pond. This specter was temporarily forgotten, however, as she joined Henry in answering calls, which soon included reports that the Lory Student Center and Morgan Library were beginning to flood.

The two dispatchers became aware of their own danger only when they heard ". . .rushing water coming down the stairs from the southwest. It sounded like a waterfall," Shier recalls. Quickly, she switched the 911 line to the city’s dispatch center and called Donn Hopkins, informing him of the situation.

Fortunately, officer John Higney had just arrived. As water pressure burst open doors blocking the regular exit, he guided them out through a rarely used entryway. "He got us out onto the south side, and then we had to get across the parking lot, which was probably three-or four-feet deep. It was like a river, a fast-running current, and it was at that point I realized that, definitely, we could be in trouble." Having received Shier’s report moments before, Donn Hopkins placed his first call to Gerry Bomotti.

More about the flood

Historical accounts in this series of articles, were compiled and edited from Democracy's University - A History of Colorado State University 1970-2003, written by James E. Hansen II (University Press of Colorado, 2007).

To order a book, call (970) 491-6198, e-mail Resource.Center@ucm.colostate.edu or visit 115 General Services Building on Colorado State’s main campus. Cost is $27, not including tax or shipping. The books are also available at the CSU Bookstore in the Lory Student Center.