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Colorado towns slowly reopen after floods cut residents off from homes Colorado towns slowly reopen after floods cut residents off from homes
(1 day later)
Colorado mountain towns cut off for days by massive flooding slowly reopened, revealing cabins toppled, homes ripped from their foundations and everything covered in a thick layer of muck. Anxious home and business owners hurriedly cleaned and cleared what they could salvage as rescuers looked for a break in the weather Monday, in order to resume airlifting people still stranded.Colorado mountain towns cut off for days by massive flooding slowly reopened, revealing cabins toppled, homes ripped from their foundations and everything covered in a thick layer of muck. Anxious home and business owners hurriedly cleaned and cleared what they could salvage as rescuers looked for a break in the weather Monday, in order to resume airlifting people still stranded.
Crews plowed up to a foot of mud left standing along Estes Park's main street after the river coursed through the town late last week.Crews plowed up to a foot of mud left standing along Estes Park's main street after the river coursed through the town late last week.
"I hope I have enough flood insurance," said Amy Hamrick, whose friends helped her pull up flooring and clear water and mud from her coffee shop. Her inventory was safely stashed at her home on higher grounds, she said."I hope I have enough flood insurance," said Amy Hamrick, whose friends helped her pull up flooring and clear water and mud from her coffee shop. Her inventory was safely stashed at her home on higher grounds, she said.
Emergency officials gave a first glimpse at the scope of the damage. Counties reported some 1,500 homes have been destroyed and about 17,500 damaged, according to an initial estimate released Sunday by the Colorado Office of Emergency Management.Emergency officials gave a first glimpse at the scope of the damage. Counties reported some 1,500 homes have been destroyed and about 17,500 damaged, according to an initial estimate released Sunday by the Colorado Office of Emergency Management.
State emergency officials reported more than 1,200 people with whom contact had been lost, but that number already was dropping Monday, as Larimer County said it had reached with hundreds of people previously unaccounted.State emergency officials reported more than 1,200 people with whom contact had been lost, but that number already was dropping Monday, as Larimer County said it had reached with hundreds of people previously unaccounted.
With rescuers reaching pockets of stranded residents and phone service being restored in some areas, officials expect that number will continue to decrease.With rescuers reaching pockets of stranded residents and phone service being restored in some areas, officials expect that number will continue to decrease.
"You've got to remember, a lot of these folks lost cell phones, landlines, the internet four to five days ago," Governor John Hickenlooper said on NBC's Today show. "I am very hopeful that the vast majority of these people are safe and sound.""You've got to remember, a lot of these folks lost cell phones, landlines, the internet four to five days ago," Governor John Hickenlooper said on NBC's Today show. "I am very hopeful that the vast majority of these people are safe and sound."
The death toll has remained at four confirmed fatalities, and two missing and presumed dead.The death toll has remained at four confirmed fatalities, and two missing and presumed dead.
Almost 20 helicopters stood ready to resume airlifts, but the weather kept them grounded Monday morning. On Sunday, military helicopters rescued 12 people before the rain forced the operations to stop and 80 more people were evacuated by ground, Colorado National Guard Lt James Goff said.Almost 20 helicopters stood ready to resume airlifts, but the weather kept them grounded Monday morning. On Sunday, military helicopters rescued 12 people before the rain forced the operations to stop and 80 more people were evacuated by ground, Colorado National Guard Lt James Goff said.
Six National Guard troops and nine first responders conducting search-and-rescue missions became stranded themselves Sunday, after renewed flooding in the town of Lyons, 20 miles from Estes Park.Six National Guard troops and nine first responders conducting search-and-rescue missions became stranded themselves Sunday, after renewed flooding in the town of Lyons, 20 miles from Estes Park.
They continued to check houses for people while looking for a way out of the town, Goff said.They continued to check houses for people while looking for a way out of the town, Goff said.
In Estes Park, comparisons were drawn to two historic and disastrous flash floods: the Big Thompson Canyon Flood of 1976 which killed 145 people, and the Lawn Lake flood of 1982, which killed three.In Estes Park, comparisons were drawn to two historic and disastrous flash floods: the Big Thompson Canyon Flood of 1976 which killed 145 people, and the Lawn Lake flood of 1982, which killed three.
"Take those times 10. That's what it looks like in the canyon," said Deyn Johnson, owner of Whispering Pines Cottages, three of which floated down the river after massive amounts of water were released from the town's dam."Take those times 10. That's what it looks like in the canyon," said Deyn Johnson, owner of Whispering Pines Cottages, three of which floated down the river after massive amounts of water were released from the town's dam.
Estes Park town administrator Frank Lancaster said this flood is worse than the previous ones because of the sustained rains and widespread damage to infrastructure across the Rocky Mountain Foothills.Estes Park town administrator Frank Lancaster said this flood is worse than the previous ones because of the sustained rains and widespread damage to infrastructure across the Rocky Mountain Foothills.
Major road were washed away, small towns like Glen Haven were reduced to debris, and key infrastructure like gas lines and sewers systems were destroyed. That means hundreds of homes in Estes Park alone could be unreachable and uninhabitable for up to a year.Major road were washed away, small towns like Glen Haven were reduced to debris, and key infrastructure like gas lines and sewers systems were destroyed. That means hundreds of homes in Estes Park alone could be unreachable and uninhabitable for up to a year.
But there appears to be no loss of life, Lancaster said.But there appears to be no loss of life, Lancaster said.
"We know there are a lot of people trapped, but they are trapped alive," he told people gathered at an evacuation shelter Sunday."We know there are a lot of people trapped, but they are trapped alive," he told people gathered at an evacuation shelter Sunday.
The Office of Emergency Management is urging stranded people who are unable to communicate by phone or other means to signal helicopters passing overhead with sheets, mirrors, flares or signal fires.The Office of Emergency Management is urging stranded people who are unable to communicate by phone or other means to signal helicopters passing overhead with sheets, mirrors, flares or signal fires.
Lyons was almost completely abandoned. Emergency crews gave the few remaining residents, mostly wandering Main Street looking for status updates, a final warning to leave Sunday.Lyons was almost completely abandoned. Emergency crews gave the few remaining residents, mostly wandering Main Street looking for status updates, a final warning to leave Sunday.
Most of the town's trailer parks were completely destroyed. One man threw his possessions one by one into the river along one side of his trailer on Sunday, drinking a beer while watching the water carry his belongings away.Most of the town's trailer parks were completely destroyed. One man threw his possessions one by one into the river along one side of his trailer on Sunday, drinking a beer while watching the water carry his belongings away.
Rescues continued through the rain in any way possible, including by foot, all-terrain vehicles, and zip lines rigged to hoist people and pets across swollen rivers and creeks.Rescues continued through the rain in any way possible, including by foot, all-terrain vehicles, and zip lines rigged to hoist people and pets across swollen rivers and creeks.
Even the historic Stanley Hotel, the inspiration for Stephen King's "The Shining," suffered damage, despite its perch on a hilltop overlooking the town and the river.Even the historic Stanley Hotel, the inspiration for Stephen King's "The Shining," suffered damage, despite its perch on a hilltop overlooking the town and the river.
Front desk worker Renee Maher said the ground was so saturated that water was seeping in through the foundation, and had caused one suite's bathtub to pop out "like a keg", Maher said.Front desk worker Renee Maher said the ground was so saturated that water was seeping in through the foundation, and had caused one suite's bathtub to pop out "like a keg", Maher said.
The massive Estes Ark toy store, meanwhile, was high and dry. The two-story business designed to look like Noah's ark was closed temporarily because of the flooding.The massive Estes Ark toy store, meanwhile, was high and dry. The two-story business designed to look like Noah's ark was closed temporarily because of the flooding.
"Soon it's going to be our only way out," joked Carly Blankfein."Soon it's going to be our only way out," joked Carly Blankfein.
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