http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/09/17/20536628-more-than-500-rescued-or-found-safe-in-wake-of-deadly-colorado-floods?lite9/17/13
More than 500 rescued or found safe in wake of deadly Colorado floodsAlmost half of the people who were declared unaccounted for or missing following devastating floods in Colorado have been found safe following an intensive search by rescue teams, officials said.
About 1,200 people hadn't been heard from early Monday, five days after the floods hit. But that number was reduced to 648 as rescue efforts were ratcheted up later in the day, according to figures released by the Colorado Office for Emergency Management late Monday.
Officials described Monday as a "productive day," reporting 215 air rescues, 11 ground rescues and 120 pet rescues. It said 567 people previously considered unaccounted for had been contacted.
The flooding has now affected 17 counties. It has killed eight people, damaged or destroyed 18,000 buildings, and forced 11,750 people to evacuate their homes, acccording to the OEM.
Craig Fugate, head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, also traveled to Colorado on President Barack Obama’s direction to meet with federal and state officials.
He joined more than 400 personnel from his organization who were supporting response efforts on the ground.
“FEMA continues to deploy resources in support of state and local response efforts, and to support residents and businesses in their recovery,” Fugate said in a statement issued by FEMA on Monday. “If you’ve been impacted by the flooding, let your family and friends know that you are safe and register with FEMA.”The death toll climbed to eight on Monday, the Colorado Office for Emergency Management confirmed. They were not able to give out any more details, but the Denver Post cited a police as saying an 83-year-old man was swept away in Idaho Springs.
Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper said 21 helicopters were scouring the affected area to look for people trapped by the waters.
More than half of those missing late Monday were in Larimer County. Two of the 398 who were unaccounted for in the county were presumed dead, according to the local sheriff’s office.
Kyle Fredin, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service, said 21 inches of rain fell in parts of Boulder city, northwest of Denver, during the week-long deluge, nearly double the area's average annual rainfall.
On Saturday, President Obama authorized federal aid to help state recovery efforts.
People in Boulder, Larimer, Adams, and Weld counties are eligible for assistance in temporary housing and home repairs and low-cost loans to cover uninsured property loss, FEMA said.
Counties eligible for other types of assistance include Arapahoe, Broomfield, Clear Creek, Denver, El Paso, Fremont, Jefferson, Logan, Morgan, Pueblo, and Washington.
Kyle Fredin, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service, said 21 inches of rain fell in parts of Boulder city, northwest of Denver, during the week-long deluge, nearly double the area's average annual rainfall. Meanwhile, authorities warned residents to be on the lookout for rattlesnakes that might be slithering to higher ground.
