5 Dead, 172 Missing as Colorado Continues to Flood

Lyons

A fifth death is being blamed on the floods in Colorado, this one in Laramie County. One hundred and seventy-two people remain unaccounted for in Boulder County alone. More rain began to fall Saturday afternoon.

Multiple towns are completely surrounded by water. Others are cut in two, with north and south separated by raging rivers.

Over Friday night, helicopters used thermal imaging to search for trapped residents, in several towns. Search and rescue teams and National Guard units went in Saturday to rescue more trapped people.

National Guardsmen stand in 3 feet of water

On Saturday, Goodrich, Orchard, and Weldona were added to the mandatory evacuation list, while Evans was placed on the list of towns completely surrounded by water. Residents in Evans were warned to boil their water and let it cool before drinking. The town's water treatment facility was contaminated by the flood waters.

Parts of Boulder were moved from mandatory evacuation to preevacuation status, allowing residents to return home if they wished to do so. Several areas of Boulder are completely off limits, with anyone who enters them facing arrest.

As the waters continue to move eastward, towns such as Fort Morgan prepare for the possibility of flooding. Part of the preparations include shutting down highways whose bridges might be threatened. Residents along rivers were given preevacuation notices.

Saturday's rain and hail brought expanded flooding to areas in Aurora and Parker. Nearly a half inch of hail fell within half an hour, clogging drainage systems.

Various highways and roads throughout the region remain closed due to damage they endured in the flooding. Others are still completely underwater. Officials warn that some of the clean up may take weeks.