Flooding in CS (Denver, Pueblo, Fountain: rental, crime, house)

[happypants 3235]

CS is one of the cities I was thinking of retiring to, but could someone address the following:

1. Is flooding not an ongoing concern?
2. Is there a lot of crime, and ruses used to sell marijuana, given that recreational mj is illegal there?
3. Is there good medical care there, specifically cancer?
4. How significant is the military presence?

I read somewhere that North Korea indicated that CS was a major target in the event of nuclear war, but they located it more in the area of New Orleans!

[Mike from back east]

From your Denver threads it seems you are retired, with COPD, post-cancer & with degenerative osteoarthritis. That's a lot to bear. Denver is expensive for housing, way less here.

Ignore the idiot in N. Korea, he cannot do squat and he will not.

Crime happens everywhere, ours is nothing like big eastern cities with huge sprawling areas of poverty.

The military presence is here but is a positive.

We have Med MJ here in town and Rec MJ is as near as Manitou Springs on the west side of town, or 2 hours round trip to Pueblo. IIRC, Med MJ is available in quite a few states, you might NOT have to move to expensive Denver to get some.

Flooding was an issue in Manitou Springs, but only along the creek, and up along Hwy 24. These areas have largely been fixed. Do not worry about it; if you wish, ask us about a specific home or street you're considering. There are some local issues up near the Waldo Canyon burn scar with excessive runoff, same for the Black Forest burn scar areas. The burn scars affect such a tiny part of the housing here that it's not an issue to avoid this city.

There is excellent medical care here via four main hospitals. IIRC the city has no certified burn unit and does not have the highest level of trauma center but they are working on getting our trauma centers upgraded to the top standard. Other forms of medical care are here, though once in a great while it may be necessary to drive up to Denver, which is the main hub city for 500 miles in any direction.

Check our home prices and rental rates on ppar.com and avoid the scammers on craigslist.

[happypants 3235]

Wow, Mike: Thanks. Bit tearful. Yeah, in a lot of pain.

[Mike from back east]

Originally Posted by happypants 3235

Wow, Mike: Thanks. Bit tearful. Yeah, in a lot of pain.

Note that I edited my sentence on Med MJ to say that you may NOT have to move to Denver for MED MJ as quite a few states have it.

[happypants 3235]

Originally Posted by Mike from back east

Note that I edited my sentence on Med MJ to say that you may NOT have to move to Denver for MED MJ as quite a few states have it.

Yes, but mine does not.

[happypants 3235]

Not to be morbid, but I will probably be lucky if I live another 20 years, so my next move, if I make one, will probably be my last. What I am attempting to do is take into account the effects of global warming. There seems to be a lot more reporting of floods in the news, and while that may be in part a function of better news reporting and better technology, I suspect there is more flooding.

If this is the case, I don't want to be stupid and move into an area that's going to be flooded. I don't know, but I would think the base of a mountain range might well be such an area.

[Mike from back east]

Originally Posted by happypants 3235

Not to be morbid, but I will probably be lucky if I live another 20 years, so my next move, if I make one, will probably be my last. What I am attempting to do is take into account the effects of global warming. There seems to be a lot more reporting of floods in the news, and while that may be in part a function of better news reporting and better technology, I suspect there is more flooding.

If this is the case, I don't want to be stupid and move into an area that's going to be flooded. I don't know, but I would think the base of a mountain range might well be such an area.

Depends....Manitou Springs sits at the base of Pikes Peak, it's terrain is steep BUT any flooding is confined to the areas at the very lowest point nearest to Fountain Creek, and by nearest I mean within 100 feet or so. Look at google maps for Manitou Springs and follow that blue line along Rte 24, that's the area where there was some flooding the other year, but as you get further away from that you are gaining altitude and removing yourself from the flood hazard.

Your realtor will point out any flood zone dangers to you, the utter vast majority of homes here have no real flood hazard associated with them.

[dr.frog]

Here's an interactive flood risk map of the city:

https://www.springsgov.com/Page.aspx?NavID=4498

Really.... just use common sense. Don't buy a house in low ground near a stream!