Number of Colorado flood missing drops as evacuees salvage belongings
Raging water destroys homes, bridges, section of road and trailer park
LYONS, COLO. — The number of missing in Colorado’s flooding dropped dramatically to 200 as authorities reached more victims, and residents evacuated from the hard- hit canyon town of Lyons were allowed past several National Guard roadblocks Thursday to salvage what they could from their homes.
“We’re a little anxious. We’ve never gone through something like this before,’’ Gloria Simpson said as she waited in a long line of cars to Lyons, a community of about 1,600 in the Rocky Mountain foothills.
The raging St. Vrain River destroyed dozens of homes, a trailer park, two town bridges and sections of the only road into and out of town Sept. 9.
Under tight security, Lyons evacuees were given two hours to check on their homes and leave. They had to clear several roadblocks, and Boulder County sheriff ’ s deputies checked their IDs — concerned that overcrowding would interfere with crews using heavy machinery to clear storm debris and restore electricity, water and sewer systems.
Bob Ruthrauff, 84, found his home intact but was repelled by the smell of rotting food when he opened his door. He spent his two hours in town getting rid of the spoilage but was grateful.
“We’re very lucky. We came home to a dry home,’’ Ruthrauff said.
Nearby, people picked through damaged homes; a white pickup, a lawn tractor and telephone poles sat in the river.
Across the Front Range, the number of people unaccounted for plunged from a high of 1,200 to about 200 thanks to rescues and the restoration of phone service in more areas that allowed residents to contact family and authorities.
Six people died, and two Larimer County women were missing and presumed dead. Larimer County reported Thursday that a third person, a 46- yearold Drake man, was missing and presumed dead after his home was washed away.
In a sign of things to come, Trail Ridge Road through Rocky Mountain National Park — a key supply route to the flood- ravaged town of Estes Park — was temporarily closed because of snow early Thursday. The high- elevation road normally shuts down in October for the winter.