The scene is different today.

On a nice summer evening, Spring Creek babbles, pedestrians mosey and traffic hums along College Avenue as the quiet creek — and its matching trail — meander through Fort Collins.

But 20 years ago, on the night of July 28, 1997, heavy rainfall led to water reaching over the College Avenue bridge bikes now whizz under. Vehicles were swept away in rising floodwaters, trailers in a mobile home park off of Spring Creek were destroyed and five women lost their lives.

In a 31-hour period, Fort Collins saw 10 to 14 inches of rain. In its wake, the flood left an estimated $200 million in damage and had many people asking why.

Listen to the newest episode of "The Way it Was: A podpast podcast," which — two decades later — revisits the night of hell and high water through the eyes of the people who reported on and responded to it.

Previously:Podpast episode 3: The fight for Fort Collins' trolley