Knee Deep

In 2013, the city of Boulder, Colorado, was devastated by floods following a 1,000-year downpour. Small communities nestled in the foothills above the city were the most damaged — with homes destroyed, roads washed out and lives forever altered. With the infrastructure that allows access to those communities swept away, evacuations were orchestrated using helicopters. Long-term disaster recovery and assistance, at least the type offered by big aid organizations, had to wait until the roads were repaired — or so everybody thought.

Enter an impromptu brigade of volunteers armed with shovels, buckets and a strong desire to help in whatever way they could. Being outdoorsy meant they were undaunted by the bushwhacking it sometimes took to get to those most in need. Eventually dubbed the Mudslingers, the group made an indelible impact in the lives of those whose had been uprooted unexpectedly.

This Kickstarter-funded documentary highlights the selfless efforts of the Mudslingers and the power of lending a hand in the face of monumental disaster.