Lyons Community Comes Together 1 Year After Floods
LYONS, Colo. (CBS4) - There's still plenty of rebuilding to be done in Lyons, but over the weekend a sense of renewal was in the air.
Dozens gathered for a group hug in what was just one of celebratory scenes on Saturday during a community gathering and concert to mark one year since the devastating floods.
Hundreds took part in the event to raise money for the rebuilding efforts that are ongoing in the Boulder County town, and tens of thousands were raised.
Gov. John Hickenlooper was among those who participated in the days' events. He said he is proud of the resiliency Coloradans who live in the areas that have been hit by the flooding have been showing.
"Lyons is a a town based on music and art. It only makes sense that they are going to have this kind of inner strength, and they're going to help each other," Hickenlooper said.
At least 75 homes were damaged by the floods in Lyons. Many are still being repaired or rebuilt a year later.
Former Lyons resident Risa Vandenblos attended the event on Saturday and said she has missed neighbors and friends in her former community.
She had to move to Longmont after moving away from Lyons when her home was destroyed. She also figures she lost about $20,000 in wages when she lost her second job due to the floods.
"A house is a house. It can be bought new. You can rent another one, but the family and friends that you have here that you lose contact with is the biggest loss," she told CBS4.
