town turned into an island as floods continue to rage in colorado

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More than 500 missing in Colorado floods: Deathtoll rises to five as more rain threatens furtherdestruction over 4,500 square miles

Heavy rains that started Wednesday sparked flash-flooding from Fort Collins toColorado SpringsResidents urged to leave now or risk being stranded for weeks without water orpowerThe National Weather service says there has been over 12 inches of rainfall since

September 1, breaking the 73-year-old record for the monthSurging floodwaters in Boulder led to the evacuation of about 4,000 residents lateThursdayPresident Obama has approved a federal disaster assistance request for the areaand National Guard have been dispatched

By Daily Mail Reporter and Ryan Gorman

PUBLISHED: 11:24 EST, 14 September 2013 | UPDATED: 01:38 EST, 15 September 2013

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Colorado residents are bracing themselves for further flooding and devastation, with more storms due to hit onSunday.

More than 500 people are missing and at least four people have died, with another victim believed to be dead,after flash floods.

Many residents are still stranded in their homes as rescue workers try to reach them. Boulder county officialsfear rescue attempts will be hampered by the extra 4in of rain due on Sunday.

turned into an island as floods continue to rage in Colarado as doze... http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2420741/Town-turned-i

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Demolished: The walls of this home have been washed away on South Platte River

Wrecked: Only the roof of a Jamestown house remains after flash floods ripped through

the town


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Cut off: A farm house is completely surrounded by rising water


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Swept away: A large chunk of road near Greenley, Colorado, has been demolished by theflood

Evacuation: Residents have been told if they don't leave they risk being cut off for twoweeks

Authorities who still haven't reached all the stranded victims of floods in northeastern Colorado are bracing fora new round of storms on Sunday.

Already it is estimated that it will cost $150 million to repair more than 100 miles of road and at least 20bridges that have been washed away.

County transportation director George Gerstle told CNN the repair bill is likely to be 10 to 15 the annualbudget.

A sheriff's office spokesman said hundreds of people were unaccounted for, but added that some residentsmay have reached safety but not been able to contact relatives to tell them.

Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle said authorities had to be 'realistic' about the chances that the death toll willrise.

With the rain never seeming to end and the waters continuing to rise, more than 4,000 people near Boulder,Colorado, have been evacuated as nearby Milliken has been surrounded by water and turned into an island,according to reports.

The reality of what is becoming a long-term disaster is setting in, flooding has affected parts of a 4,500-square-mile area almost the size of Connecticut.

SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO


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An aerial view of vehicles submerged in flood waters along the South Platte River nearGreenley, Colorado

Underwater: The small farming town of Milliken, CO, has been surrounded by waters thatfirst turned it into an island, but are now inundating homes


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Runaway homes: Trailer homes are floating off their foundations as rushing waterssweep them away

Not just homes: Farms and farm equipment are also being destroyed by the treacherous

waters


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Unprecedented: The 12 inches of rain recorded since Sept 1 has set an all-time record forthe month, and even more is on the way

In the most recent developments, people are stranded in Milliken after the main road out of town was washedaway by raging floodwaters, according to CBS Denver. As the devastating rapids rise, they wash away moreof the road, and flood ever closer to even more homes.

'The fire department said Milliken is an island but I found a way out,' Jorge Garza told the station.

A CBS Denver helicopter flying over the town spotted a family of three and their dog being rescued from

menacing waters via a motorized raft. '[Milliken] has turned into a lake with campers, fields and carssubmerged,' the station further reported.

172 people are unaccounted for, Boulder County officials told KDVR.


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Sludge: Brian Montgomery wades through thick mud in the basement of his mother'shome

Deserted: Residents are being taken to evacuation centers amid reports of more storms


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Access: Heavy equipment is used to try to clear debris from a road covered in 20ft banksof mud

Damage: An estimated $150 million of repair work will be needed to fix roads and bridgesthat have been washed away

As rescuers broke through to flood-ravaged Colorado towns, they issued a stern warning Saturday to anyone


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thinking of staying behind: Leave now or be prepared to endure weeks without electricity, running water andbasic supplies.

Authorities made clear that residents who chose not to leave might not get another chance for a while.

'We're not trying to force anyone from their home. We're not trying to be forceful, but we're trying to be veryfactual and definitive about the consequences of their decision, and we hope that they will come down,'Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle said.

Cut off: A farm house has been turned into an island as flood water rises near Greenley,Colorado


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By land: The Army National Guard has brought in heavy equipment meant to assist in therescue of trapped residents

Or by sea: Officials are also using motorboats to help save trapped people


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Shocked: Residents are shell-shocked, many have lost everything, as a result of thehistoric floods

Waterlogged: Cattle brave the fierce waters on higher ground as everything around themis swept away

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.


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Another one to two inches of rain is expected to fall between Saturday night and Sunday, which will only addto the problems.

National Guard choppers have been evacuating the Jamestown, of about 295 people - plus pets - after themountain hamlet became isolated by flooding.

Mike Smith, incident commander at Boulder Municipal Airport, said helicopters would continue flying in and outlate into the night.

The outlook for anyone who'd rather stay is weeks without power, cell phone service, water or sewer.For those awaiting an airlift, Guardsmen dropped food, water and other supplies in Jamestown and othersmall towns in the winding, narrow canyons that dot the Rocky Mountain foothills.

Swamped: A railway track in Longmont is lost under floodwater


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Ruined: Trailer homes have been washed away in the water

The surge: Flash-flooding continues in the Boulder-area of Colorado after three days ofrecord-breaking rainfall


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Overflowing: The heavy rains have impacted a large stretch of Colorado from Fort Collinsnear the northern border with Wyoming, all the way to Boulder, Denver and Colorado

Springs more than 100 miles south

Geysers of sewage: A Sewer in Manitou Springs is overwhelmed by rainfall yesterday,gurgling the overflow of water

Thousands of evacuees sought shelter in cities that were nearly surrounded by raging rivers spilling over their


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banks.

The dayslong rush of water from higher ground has killed four people and turned towns on Colorado'sexpansive eastern plains into muddy swamps.

Crews used inflatable boats to rescue families and pets from stranded farmhouses. Some evacuees onhorseback had to be escorted to safe ground.

Boulder County officials said Friday night that the number of people unaccounted for had risen to 172,

according to local television and newspaper reports.'I expect that we're going to continue to receive reports of confirmed missing and confirmed fatalitiesthroughout the next several days,' Larimer County sheriff's spokesman John Schulz said.

Record-breaking: Over 12 inches of rain has fallen since September 1, which shatters theprevious record set in the 1940s of 5.5 inches


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View from above: Satellite imaging shows the storm system that swept over the easternColorado area on September 11, starting flash-floods that have killed three so far

Flee: The floods have displaced thousands of human residents, but also the wildlife inColorado. Above, a deer jumps over a sidewalk in a flood-damaged area of Boulder

The officials said earlier that the unaccounted for figure doesn't necessarily represent missing people.


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Near Greeley, some 35 miles east of the foothills, broad swaths of farmland had become lakes, and hundredsof roads were closed or damaged by floodwaters. A 70-mile stretch of Interstate 25 was closed from Denver tothe Wyoming line.

Rocky Mountain National Park closed Friday, its visitors forced to leave via the 60-mile Trail Ridge Road to thewest side of the Rockies.

It will be weeks, if not months, before a semblance of normalcy returns to Lyons, a gateway community to thepark. The town, surrounded by sandstone cliffs whose color was reflected in the raging St. Vrain River,

consisted of six islands Friday as residents barbecued their food before it spoiled. Several people set up a tentcamp on a hill.

Some 2,500 residents were being evacuated from Lyons. Two bridges that led into the area were washedaway.

Aerial views of flood damage as death toll rises in Colorado


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'Wall of water': Around midnight, officials said they were monitoring a wall of waterheaded toward the area of Emerson Gulch

Churning: Boulder Creek is overflowing and threatening the city of Boulder, which it runsright through


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Swept away: The 30-foot wall of water was caused when a drainage gulch burst andswept up debris and vehicles in it's path


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Won't stop: Rain continued to fall in Colorado today, only adding to the alreadydangerous flash-flooding

Stream: Water spills over a hillside home at the base of Boulder Canyon today

Emergency situation: The National Guard has been dispatched to help rescue people


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stranded in their homes

'There's so much water coming out of the canyon, it has to go somewhere, and unfortunately it's coming intothe city,' said Ashlee Herring, spokeswoman for the Boulder office of Emergency Management.

Boulder Creek, which runs through the heart of the city, became a raging torrent that burst its banks andflooded adjacent parking lots and streets as warning sirens wailed.

Officials in Boulder announced just before midnight Thursday that they were tracking a large 'wall of water,

containing debris and vehicles' headed towards Emerson Gulch from the Fourmile burn area.The Denver Post reported that the 30-foot wall of water was caused by a drainage gulch that burst andreleased a large amount of water which swept up debris and vehicles in it's path.

Other towns nestled along the Front Range of the Rockies north of Denver were also hard hit.

In Longmont about 14 miles northeast of Boulder, the St Vrain River jumped its banks, cascading across mainthoroughfares and making travel across the city impossible overnight.

Exploring: Umbrella-toting residents take pictures of the damage the flooding had on astreet in Boulder on Friday


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Home invasion: A couple returns to find their home Friday to find it water-damaged fromthe previous days floods


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Survivor: So far, officials have announced three deaths related to the flooding. Above, aman is rescued by emergency workers after he spent the night trapped on high ground

above his home

Battling the storm: A man in Boulder attempts to make a mud barrier to protect his house

from the flooding


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Boots are no use: Homeowner Hannah Hinseth returns to her home to survey thedamage caused by the severe flooding


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Street sweepers: Residents shovel debris to form a protective dike in a neighborhood of

Boulder

'Our city is completely divided,' by the floodwaters, assistant city manager Shawn Lewis told Reuters.

Lewis said 7,000 households were under mandatory evacuation orders. The city opened two emergency

shelters for displaced residents.President Barack Obama approved a federal disaster assistance request, which will release funds to help withemergency protection, Governor John Hickenlooper's office said late on Thursday.

National Guard troops were dispatched with emergency supplies to the remote town of Lyons, north ofBoulder, which was virtually cut off from surrounding areas when floodwaters washed out U.S. Route 36,county officials said.


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Cut-off: Towns like Magnolia, above, have been completely shut off after the ragingwaters washed out roads

Waiting for rescue: All road access to the town of Lyons, Colorado was cut-off andNational Guard troops have been dispatched to bring residents emergency supplies.

Above a wiped out road near the base of Boulder Canyon


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Baby's first flood: A young family take a walk on Friday to survey the damage in theirBoulder neighborhood

A river runs through it: Lefthand Creek runs down a neighborhood street in Longmont,Colorado Friday


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Clean-up: Today, a farmer is seen clearing debris from railroad tracks in Longmont,Colorado

Back at last: Evelyn Mortiz carries her luggage barefoot back home after spending thenight with friends during the mandatory evacuation in her area


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A dozen major roads in northeastern Colorado remained shut with significant damage from flooding,mudslides, rockfalls and other debris, the Colorado Department of Transportation said late on Thursday.

Heavy summer rains are not unusual for Colorado, but the intensity and duration of the downpour that beganon Monday night was unprecedented.

The National Weather Service said at least 12.3 inches of rain have fallen on Boulder since September 1,smashing a 73-year-old record of 5.5 inches for the month.

Cleaning house: Lucas Calderon-Griek uses a broom to sweep out the water from his

home in Upland


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Aid: Colorado National Guardsmen help relocate a family trapped at their heavily-floodedhome

Record-breaking: The former record for rainfall during the month of September was 5.5inches. That's been shattered already with the National Weather Service saying that 12.3

inches have fallen


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Wreckage: A man cleans up Canon Avenue after a flash flood burst a manhole and sent

water rushing down the streets of Manitou

Pop-up pool: A couple play in the flooded Utah Park in Aurora, Colorado yesterday


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Back to work: Men at Namaste Solar are pictured clearing debris off of their work site

today in Boulder

One body was found in a collapsed building near Jamestown, an evacuated enclave north of Boulder.

A couple were swept away in floodwaters after stopping their car northwest of the city. The man's body wasrecovered but the woman was missing and feared dead, said Commander Heidi Prentup of the BoulderCounty Sheriff's Office.

The body of a third confirmed fatality, a 54-year-old man, was found by police on flood-watch patrols in aColorado Springs creek, about 100 miles to the south, officials said.

On Friday, a woman who had been swept away was found dead near Boulder, raising the death toll to four.

Nearly 150 people were killed near Boulder in 1976 by a flash flood along the Big Thompson Canyon.


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Out of control: The heavy rainfalls have turned Boulder Creek into a raging river withenough power to wash out roads

Ominous: Clouds cover the Denver skyline early this morning. It continues to rain in thearea


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Up in the air: A Rocky Mountain Rescue Team prepares to depart in a National Guardpiloted helicopter

Swamped: A National Guard vehicle drives through a flooded area in Boulder County

Thursday as rain continued to pour


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Pup saved! This family's poodle couldn't be left behind

Distractions: Carolyn Hornung, distracted by her phone, casually stands in flowing water

outside her house in Boulder, Colorado Friday


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Colorado floods continue for third day

Read more:

KDVRCBS DenverReutersColorado floods: More than 500 sti ll unaccounted for as 'devastating' rain looms

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Comments (89)

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Our prayers from a Neighbor state of Texas...though we are virtually in drought this year, wish we could take few days rain and it

would be balance...but GOD is GOD.

- Prince , London, 15/9/2013 08:20

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We will get this in the UK this winter but it will be snow.

- Jetty , London, United Kingdom, 15/9/2013 07:59

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Weather modification/weather wars. The people there gave a big thumbs down on Agenda 21.

- escapefromobamastan , Big D, 15/9/2013 07:50

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why does the government allow people to build in KNOWN flood areas. same stupidity in britain on the flood plains.

- JamesCrawford Oxford , Oxford, United Kingdom, 15/9/2013 07:13


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Geez first fires now flooding Colorado can't win

- angelic_nightmare22 , united states auburn, 15/9/2013 07:02


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Thoughts and prayers to everyone in Colorado affected by this disaster, and to those waiting for word from their loved ones. The

people of Colorado are tough and self-reliant and will get through this.

- lesley elizabeth , south of boston massachusetts, United States, 15/9/2013 06:56


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Wear plastic garbage bags over your socks to avoid disease infested water. Throw away the shoes after use or wash them in bleachwater if you can. Especially do this for your kids. Tie the bags up with shoe laces or ties up to your knees or higher. We're praying foryou all!

- Mountaingirl , Pinetopaz, United States, 15/9/2013 06:06


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Report abuse

Anyone who thinks this is a result of global warming/climate change/human error is an idiot. These events happen here infrequentlybut they do happen. This one was caused by late monsoon moisture being sucked into the region by a strong but not aberrantsystem that went into "play repeat" mode over days. Because this is a semi-arid climate, we don't have the soils and vegetation toabsorb so much water in such a short period of time. Neither do we have a useful river drainage system - there are no navigablewaters in the state of Colorado. We have streams and creeks. Our rivers are usually very shallow and often periodically dry. All ofthis adds up to a landscape that is perfect for flash floods but terrible at absorbing a lot of water at once. There is no mystery aboutwhy this happened.

- Merry , Golden USA, 15/9/2013 06:06


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Hooter in Hotlanta.....you are clueless if you don't think this has anything to do with climate change.....you obviously don't care aboutthe planet your leaving for your children.....grandchildren This is a right wing publication so I expect to see negative comments aboutthe president but please people, get educated and tune out Fake News....

- Jlo123 , Westport, United States, 15/9/2013 05:48


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I should rephrase ... after drought and bushfires, I wish we could take much of that water from the Coloradans. My deepestsympathies - I liathe flood damage with a passion. Good luck

- Sydneysider58 , Now living in Taree, 15/9/2013 05:32


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town turned into an island as floods continue to rage in colorado

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