The weeks and months ahead will require the same dedication, energy, communication and spirit that has been shown over and over as neighbors helped each other along with churches, community organizations, individuals and local, county, state and national governments. The focus is on saving lives, offering assistance in dozens of ways and protecting property and animals.
The biggest immediate concern is the 1,253 people unaccounted for. This number is an estimate and it might be low. It is believed that many of these people are OK but not yet able to reach family, friends or emergency centers to let their status be known. Realistically, however, officials have cautioned, that it is likely that there will be more fatalities as a result of the flooding. Rivers including the Big Thompson, the St. Vrain and the South Platte and other tributaries have swelled to enormous sizes.
It appears that the weather pattern responsible for the tremendous and deadly flooding is moving away from Colorado, according to the meteorologists at AccuWeather. As recently as Sunday, weather conditions were still hampering rescue efforts.
Although residents frequently hope for more moisture in what is generally a dry climate, the rains of the past week were far beyond what the infrastructure of towns, cities and counties and the state's highway network was designed to handle, resulting in the natural disaster that occurred. The flood has been described as between a 100- and a 500-year event, and in some spots in Larimer County a 1,000-year event. Sheriff's departments in Larimer, Boulder and Weld counties have been central in the flood response from the beginning.
Fortunately, the years of planning and preparedness for possible disasters by local and state governments including by the Colorado National Guard that has played a significant role in the rescue efforts have helped to ease the situation and demonstrate once again that even though Colorado is vast and its geography is challenging even in good weather, our determination to assist all people needing assistance remains strong and unwavering. Three federal urban search-and-rescue teams including the Colorado Task Force 1, the Nebraska Task Force 1 and the Utah Task Force 1 have been rescuing people. The U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency is providing 22,000 meals and more than 65,000 liters of water. More help continued to arrive Monday
The impact of this flood on a wide number of locations including Loveland, Longmont, Fort Collins, Boulder, Denver, Aurora, Lyons, Estes Park, Weld County, Larimer County, Cedar Cove, Glen Haven, Drake, Fort Morgan, Jamestown, Johnstown, Milliken and Sterling illustrates the magnitude of the task ahead. The days to come will be difficult for many people as they cope with losses of a very personal and of a financial nature. By continuing to assist one another, over time Colorado will emerge from this flood even stronger than it was before.