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| Colorado floods: Hundreds still missing | Colorado floods: Hundreds still missing |
| (36 minutes later) | |
| Emergency teams are searching for hundreds of people still missing after Colorado's deadly floods. | Emergency teams are searching for hundreds of people still missing after Colorado's deadly floods. |
| State officials say nearly 500 people are still unaccounted for, but many are believed to be merely cut off in remote areas inundated by the historic rains. | |
| Several towns were encircled by raging waters. More than 3,000 people have been evacuated by air and ground. | Several towns were encircled by raging waters. More than 3,000 people have been evacuated by air and ground. |
| The floods have been blamed for eight deaths, 1,500 homes destroyed and another 17,000 properties damaged. | The floods have been blamed for eight deaths, 1,500 homes destroyed and another 17,000 properties damaged. |
| Days of rain was followed by a flash-flood rainstorm in the early hours of last Wednesday. | |
| 'Astronomical' | 'Astronomical' |
| The flood zone now covers parts of or all of 17 Colorado counties, in the normally semi-arid region around the state's major cities. | The flood zone now covers parts of or all of 17 Colorado counties, in the normally semi-arid region around the state's major cities. |
| The downpour dumped about 21in (53cm) of rain in parts of Boulder city, nearly double the area's average rainfall. | The downpour dumped about 21in (53cm) of rain in parts of Boulder city, nearly double the area's average rainfall. |
| Flooding has now moved from towns at the edge of mountain canyons and into farm land and oil and gas well sites further east of the Rocky Mountains. | Flooding has now moved from towns at the edge of mountain canyons and into farm land and oil and gas well sites further east of the Rocky Mountains. |
| By Tuesday, military helicopters had flown almost 2,400 people and more than 850 pets to safety, in what National Guard officials say may be the largest airlift since Hurricane Katrina in 2005. | By Tuesday, military helicopters had flown almost 2,400 people and more than 850 pets to safety, in what National Guard officials say may be the largest airlift since Hurricane Katrina in 2005. |
| As calls for emergency rescues taper off, rescue crews with the US National Guard are identifying new areas to check and places to cover again. | As calls for emergency rescues taper off, rescue crews with the US National Guard are identifying new areas to check and places to cover again. |
| "They've kind of transitioned from that initial response to going into more of a grid search," said Colorado National Guard Lt Skye Robinson. | "They've kind of transitioned from that initial response to going into more of a grid search," said Colorado National Guard Lt Skye Robinson. |
| But it will be weeks or possibly months to search through all the flooded areas to confirm the final death toll. | But it will be weeks or possibly months to search through all the flooded areas to confirm the final death toll. |
| Helicopter crews are also dropping food and water to those still stranded, the BBC's Alastair Leithead reports, and the relief operation is now focusing on providing emergency housing. | Helicopter crews are also dropping food and water to those still stranded, the BBC's Alastair Leithead reports, and the relief operation is now focusing on providing emergency housing. |
| It could be months before the water can be drained away from some areas, and much longer for homes to be repaired and rebuilt, says our correspondent. | It could be months before the water can be drained away from some areas, and much longer for homes to be repaired and rebuilt, says our correspondent. |
| Officials have also begun using helicopters to survey damage to roads and bridges washed out by floodwaters. | Officials have also begun using helicopters to survey damage to roads and bridges washed out by floodwaters. |
| More than 400 lane-miles (643km) of state highway and some 30 bridges are destroyed or impassable. | |
| In Weld County, bordering Wyoming, 654 miles of roads are damaged. In Boulder County, damage includes 150 miles of road, along with hundreds of bridges, culverts and canals. | In Weld County, bordering Wyoming, 654 miles of roads are damaged. In Boulder County, damage includes 150 miles of road, along with hundreds of bridges, culverts and canals. |
| Officials are expecting a long rebuilding period - and an expensive one. | Officials are expecting a long rebuilding period - and an expensive one. |
| "It's going to be astronomical, there's no way around it," Captain Ralph Kettle of the Poudre Fire Authority in Fort Collins told the Associated Press news agency. | "It's going to be astronomical, there's no way around it," Captain Ralph Kettle of the Poudre Fire Authority in Fort Collins told the Associated Press news agency. |
| President Barack Obama has signed a disaster declaration in the wake of the flooding, which allows federal emergency aid to be used in the state. | President Barack Obama has signed a disaster declaration in the wake of the flooding, which allows federal emergency aid to be used in the state. |
| An initial $5m (£3.1m) has been pledged but it is unknown how much total federal funding Colorado will receive to rebuild. | An initial $5m (£3.1m) has been pledged but it is unknown how much total federal funding Colorado will receive to rebuild. |