Colorado floods leave hundreds unaccounted for

[Bosonic]

Last edited Sun Sep 15, 2013, 07:15 AM - Edit history (1)

Source: AFP

More than 500 stranded victims of major flooding in Colorado braced for a new round of heavy rain Sunday that is threatening to impede rescue efforts.

Officials noted that many of those unaccounted for may simply not be able to telephone loved ones because of flood damage to many cell phone towers.

New flash floods were expected to inundate the area, which thousands were forced to evacuate. A flash flood watch was in effect through the evening for the entire Denver metro area, as well as the northern Front Range Foothills and mountains.

On Saturday, large hail the size of peas or even marbles pummelled parts of the city of Aurora, according to local weather reports. A series of thunderstorms also struck the area.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/hundreds-missing-colorado-floods-002444079.html;_ylt=A2KLOzECFzVScG8Amp_QtDMD

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[4bucksagallon]

1. They wouldn't accept help would they? No they got bootstraps, guns and faith.

They'll do fine without assistance......
"But some additional help was on the way, with President Barack Obama declaring a major disaster in Colorado and ordering federal aid to support state and local efforts.

"Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster," the White House said."
l

[Skittles]

2. ?

can we worry about the people right now?

[gopiscrap]

26. thank you

[Skittles]

31. I don't care about politics when people are in distress

the immediate need to tend to their needs, not their beliefs

[gopiscrap]

32. yeah I agree

[maddezmom]

4. You really should self delete n/t

[gopiscrap]

27. I agree

[Berlum]

5. People first, politics much later

Please self-delete your post and take a couple of deep breaths.

[gopiscrap]

28. Thank you

[hlthe2b]

6. You are despicable. My state is being deluged and those hurting include many who have

worked hard to turn this state blue and those impacted include myself and many other DUers. But, that is beside the point. Progressives believe in helping felllow Americans suffering from disasters, regardless of other factors. That you apparently do not should tell everyone here what YOU are all about and that you clearly are here to disrupt.

If you wish to continue this ugliness towards those in dire straits, rather than offer kind thoughts or even aid, I have one word of reminder for you: KARMA

[niyad]

11. how are you doing? my area mostly got spared this time, although more than a few neighbors

have flooded basements. hope you and yours are okay. this has been one almost unbelievable week.

[hlthe2b]

14. Surrounded by flooding, but I'm fortunately in a fairly dry area not at any immediate risk...

Friends in Boulder have lost everything, though and one local colleague has family members living along 34 in the Big Thompson canyon--obviously quite worried.

I've been helping with some of the animal recoveries at the evacuation areas/shelters... A lot of horses/livestock are in dire situations--especially down in Weld County and are pretty frantic, injuring themselves as they finally get them out. The pets, though are amazingly calm that I have seen--very resiliant.... I have to say that I have loved seeing all those N. Guard trucks and choppers including pets along with their people, as was not the case not so long ago.

Yes, definitely, an incredible week.... 'Glad you and yours are likewise weathering ok...

[niyad]

15. loved knowing that our precious companions were being rescued as well. would not go anywhere

without mine.

many thanks to you, and to everyone who is volunteering in this crisis.

[gopiscrap]

29. Thank you, please stay safe, stay strong

My prayers are with you!

[niyad]

10. my state is hurting, and you post this bilge? seriously? others here have said it better, but I

will add--may you receive everything you deserve.

[DavidDvorkin]

20. You know nothing about Colorado.

[tawadi]

30. The anonymity of an internet forum

I'd forgotten how enjoyable it can be.

[maddezmom]

3. Colorado floods see largest amount of helicopter rescues since Katrina

BOULDER COUNTY, COLO. -- A National Guard official says airlifts and truck convoys have ferried more than 1,200 stranded residents and their pets from the floodwaters.

Lt. Col. Mitch Utterback said Saturday more than 500 people were evacuated from Lyons over the past two days using high-clearance vehicles. Another 700 people in the area were rescued by helicopter.

The search-and-rescue operations went on overnight with pilots using night-vision equipment. They were boosted Saturday with at least 12 helicopters participating.

Much of the focus has been on the communities of Lyons and Jamestown. Rescues also are happening to the east as rivers overflow in Larimer and Weld counties.

Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle says authorities are making progress in reaching areas previously inaccessible. Hundreds of people in the flooded areas are still unaccounted for.

More: http://www.fox21news.com/news/story.aspx?id=946817#.UjWGFMu9KSM

[Scuba]

7. Vibes to all the People of Colorado.

[Sienna86]

8. My thoughts are with those in CO

I love that area, so beautiful. It must be heart- wrenching to not be able to reach friends and loved ones. And more rain coming....

So well said, people before politics.

[truebluegreen]

9. The story of a couple of friends of mine:

We finally got a hold of John last night. He and his wife live on the banks of Left Hand Creek on the plains 5? 7? miles from the mouth of the canyon. The creek runs along the south side of the 7-acre property and is lined by cottonwoods. Just north of the creek is John's shop, where he has woodworking tools, machine tools, all kinds of stuff. Fifteen feet north of that is a shed with lumber, doors, windows, building supplies, farm equipment. After another gap of 25 ft you find the attached garage, and two-story house. Behind all this is their organic farm (if society collapses John's the guy you would want in the foxhole with you--Mennonite background; can make / build / grow anything). The access road crosses the creek and runs along the west side of the property, the driveway is close to the creek and then curves left to the house.

A flash flood came down Left Hand Canyon in the middle of the night on Wednesday, with a big surge that took out the cottonwood trees (and, apparently, flattened our old driftboat; nobody has had time to look). It was still raining though, and the water kept coming. Debris was catching on the bridges above and below the property. Along the road in front of the house are more big trees, a hedge and a fence. John wedged scrap wood all along there and built the beginnings of a dam--debris from the floodwaters would eventually fill it in.

Something similar happened along the banks of the creek, although without design: pallets, wood, anything and everything that came down the creek jammed up against the fallen cottonwoods and their root balls. Unfortunately the bridge also created a dam and the water was high enough to top the knee wall (lower part of the railing) on the bridge and spill off to each side. The next available escape route was right down the driveway. John used his small tractor to build up two berms, one on either side, that directed the flow between the shop and the shed, into the fields and eventually back into the "creek" (it is a river now).

In front of the garage doors he built a barrier with a 16" glulam beam and sand bags, big rocks, whatever he could find or move, to direct the water back to the right and around into the field. The water came to within an inch of the top. If it had gone over, or if the dam had collapsed, water would have flowed straight down the basement stairs and filled the place up. It didn't, but it did cause the septic tanks to back up, and John and his wife spent 5 hours overnight Thursday bailing buckets of sewage out of the downstairs bathtub and hauling it outside. All of this was done without power, and only candles, flashlights and headlamps for light.

But. No water damage in the shop; nothing ruined in the shed, no more than a bucketful in the garage. The generator is running a sump pump for the septic tanks, to relieve that problem. Half the field was scoured of crops and topsoil, but the rest is still there, and the greenhouses.

John says he is more tired than he has ever been in his life.


The Front Range is going to be years recovering from this.

[Kolesar]

12. I have this dream of moving to a town on the Front Range

Drive up to a ski area when the weather clears.
Thanks for the update. Good luck to John & his family

[valerief]

13. Why didn't the NRA just shoot the water away? Wasn't keeping guns in Colorado the

most important thing in the world for Colorado? I'm sure now their big fear is that "big govt" might want to help them.

[curlyred]

16. Come on, Valerief, that is unfair and inaccurate and more than a little heartless

We in Colorado have gun control laws in place, and they will stay in place despite two successful recalls. How about your state? Hmmm? Everybody vote blue there? Everyone a progressive?

We may have some real tea party types here, particularly in some of the flooded areas, but they are citizens of this state and of this country and deserve not only our help but our compassion.

[DavidDvorkin]

21. Educate yourself about my state and stop making a fool of yourself.

[lovuian]

17. My heart goes out for Colorado

the footage of the floods were so scary

[Snake Plissken]

18. Has Pat Robertson blamed this on gay people being allowed to marry, yet?

I figure he and his buddies the Westboro Baptists would take this opportunity to do a little attention whoring

[CrispyQ]

19. It's been raining all morning & right now it's pouring.

So much water. Spring of '95 was the last time I recall this much rain in one month & I think we beat that.
This morning weather.com showed 6.5 inches for my area. ~gasp! That is months worth of rain.

[madrchsod]

23. i have a friend on facebook who is posting pictures and articles everyday

he`s not in the hardest hit areas but he is getting the same amount of rain. he just posted this would be 15 ft of snow.

[madrchsod]

22. the gop cut the funding for dam and other structural repairs....

the people of colorado should really think hard about who they will vote for the next election cycle.

[icymist]

24. Officials to flood-hit Coloradans: Leave now or face weeks without supplies

As heavy rains further hampered rescue efforts on Sunday and the death toll rose, residents in Colorado towns isolated by devastating floods have a choice: Leave now or face weeks without basic supplies, including running water and electricity, officials are warning.

Five people were confirmed dead in the flooding, and 1,254 people are unaccounted for statewide, according to Micki Trost, spokeswoman at the Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.

That number is likely to fluctuate, said Trost. Officials are unsure of whether those who are unaccounted for are stranded, injured or just have not had the chance to reach out to family and friends because of poor communications in the area.

usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/09/15/20503891-officials-to-flood-hit-coloradans-leave-now-or-face-weeks-without-supplies?lite

[icymist]

25. This tweet just came up on my breaking news feed:

17,494 homes damaged, 1,502 homes destroyed, 11,700 evacuated, 1,253 unaccounted for, 26 shelters, says @COEmergency in Colorado - @9NEWS

http://www.breakingnews.com/item/ahZzfmJyZWFraW5nbmV3cy13d3ctaHJkcg0LEgRTZWVkGNqNpRQM/2013/09/15/17494-homes-damaged-1502-homes-destroyed-1170