A missing woman is presumed dead, possibly raising the death toll to five, officials said. National Guard troops have evacuated nearly 800 people since the harrowing floods began, and hundreds are still unaccounted for in the Boulder area.
BOULDER, Colo. — As rescuers broke through to flood-ravaged Colorado towns, they issued a stern warning Saturday to anyone thinking of staying behind: Leave now or be prepared to endure weeks without electricity, running water and basic supplies.
AP PHOTO/BRENNAN LINSLEY
Water rushes through a destroyed home in Lyons, Colo., as resident Holly Rob, center, and her neighbor and friend Pam Bowers salvage belongings.
Authorities made clear that residents who chose not to leave might not get another chance for a while.
SGT. JOSEPH K. VONNIDA / US ARMY NATIONAL GUARD / HANDOUT
Colorado Army National Guardsmen from the 2nd Battalion 135th Aviation from the Buckley Air Force Base in Aurora, Colo., and civilian rescue personnel unload evacuated residents from flood zones at the Boulder Municipal Airport.
"We're not trying to force anyone from their home. We're not trying to be forceful, but we're trying to be very factual and definitive about the consequences of their decision, and we hope that they will come down," Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle said.
Special education teacher Brian Shultz, 38, was torn about leaving his Jamestown home.
"I was thinking about staying. I could have lasted at least a year. I have a lot of training in wilderness survival," he said, adding that he probably had enough beer to last the whole time.
AP PHOTO/BRENNAN LINSLEY
Flood evacuees are directed by a police officer at a drop off point at a high school in Niwot, Colo., on Saturday.
As he sat outside a makeshift shelter at a high school, Shultz floated the idea of walking back into the funky mountain town.
"If we hike back, I would stay there and just live. I'd rather be at our own house than staying at some other people's houses," he said.
JEREMY PAPASSO/AP
Suzanne Sophocles was rescued from her flooded home in Boulder by a Summit County Rescue team on Friday.
His wife, Meagan Harrington, gave him a wry smile. About 10 of their neighbors declined to evacuate, she said.
"They said they wouldn't force you, but it was strongly encouraged," she said.
Shultz teared up behind his sunglasses as he compared his situation to that of his neighbors.
JEREMY PAPASSO/AP
Summit County Rescue workers carry a crate with two dogs after rescuing a resident who was surrounded by raging water in Boulder, Colo. Four have been confirmed dead and a fifth is likely, but authorities fear more bodies could turn up.
"At least all of our stuff's there and will be there when we get back. The people right by the river, their houses were washed away. Other people thought their houses were going to be OK, and then they started to go. It's just really devastating."
Across the foothills, rescuers made progress against the floodwaters. But they were still unable to go up many narrow canyon roads that were either underwater or washed out.
On Saturday, the surge of water reached the plains east of the mountains, cutting off more communities and diverting some rescue operations.
JOHN WARK/AP
A residential neighborhood and connecting road in Lyons, Colo., are cut in two by flood waters. Thousands have been forced to evacuate as floods devastated parts of Colorado equal to the size of Connecticut, and those who preferred to stay behind will likely face weeks without power, cellphone service or running water.
Four people have been confirmed dead since the harrowing floods began Wednesday. And hundreds of others have not been heard from in the flood zone, which has grown to cover portions of an area nearly the size of Connecticut.
Some of those who are unaccounted for may be stranded or injured. Others might have gotten out but not yet contacted friends and relatives, officials said.
AP PHOTO/BRENNAN LINSLEY
Chris Rodes gets help from emergency responders as he helps salvage a friend's belongings after floods left homes and infrastructure in a shambles Lyons, Colo.
But police expected to find more bodies as the full scope of damage becomes clear.
A woman was missing and presumed dead after witnesses saw floodwaters from the Big Thompson River destroy her home in the Cedar Cove area, Larimer County sheriff's spokesman John Schulz said.
"I expect that we're going to continue to receive reports of confirmed missing and confirmed fatalities throughout the next several days," he said.
CLIFF GRASSMICK/AP
Officials investigate the scene of a road collapse at Highway 287 and Dillon that sent three vehicles into the water after flash flooding on Thursday.
The military put more troops on the ground and helicopters in the air to aid in the search-and-rescue effort. More rain was in the forecast.
By midday Saturday, nearly 800 people and their pets had been evacuated, National Guard Master Sgt. Cheresa Theiral said. More than 700 people spent Friday night in shelters, according to the Red Cross.
Terry Kishiyma's son flagged down a helicopter with his shirt after a three-day wait for rescue from a neighbor's house on higher ground.
MICHAEL CIAGLO/THE COLORADO SPRINGS GAZETTE/AP
John Shada takes a photo of flood water as it erupts from a sewer on Canon Avenue in Manitou Springs, Colo.
"You could hear the choppers for miles and miles, but I didn't know if they were evacuating people. You see a chopper going down behind a ridge, and you have no clue," Kishiyma said.
In addition to his son's efforts, Kishiyma said his wife shouted at the chopper, "We have babies!"
ED ANDRIESKI/AP
Residents of an apartment house work to divert flood water from their building in Boulder.
Above the plains of Larimer County, rescue crews planned to fly as many missions as possible while skies were clear. Crews used inflatable boats to pick up families and pets from farmhouses. Some evacuees on horseback had to be escorted to safe ground.
Near Greeley, 35 miles east of the foothills, broad swaths of farmland had become lakes, and the raging South Platte and Poudre rivers surrounded more homes.
For those awaiting an airlift, Guardsmen dropped food, water and other supplies into the winding, narrow canyons. With supplies dwindling, residents of Lyons barbecued their food before it spoiled.
In one Boulder neighborhood, residents turned back city crews and machinery that arrived to remove the makeshift berms and sand-filled trash bags used to protect their homes. University of Colorado students helped as homeowners improvised to divert the rising water from Gregory Creek.
"The residents know better than anybody else how the water flows through the neighborhood," said Colleen Scanlan Lyons.
After being closed for more than a day, Interstate 25 to the Wyoming border was reopened Saturday.
In communities where floodwaters began receding, homeowners had a chance to assess damage.
In Laporte, Wendy Clark surveyed soggy carpets and furniture that got damaged by the Poudre River.
"This mud smells disgusting," she said. "I don't know how long that's going to be around."
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/colorado-floods-rescues-accelerate-rain-expected-article-1.1455965#ixzz2ewC6Nv35
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