Colorado flood: New numbers released for unaccounted-for people

Kieran Nicholson in the Denver Post: The number of people unaccounted for in the Colorado floods was downgraded Tuesday morning to 648, according to the Colorado Office of Emergency Management. The number reflects totals statewide. Officials have repeatedly explained that their count does not mean all of those people are thought to be missing; many people simply are physically unable to let friends and loved ones know they are OK.

The floods that started Sept. 11 have so far claimed eight lives, the state said: three in Boulder County, two in El Paso County, two in Larimer County, and one to be announced. Early morning fog has given way to blue skies in northeastern Colorado, but flood warnings continue for several areas on the eastern plains and in the foothills, continues Tuesday.

...Meanwhile, in the foothills of Boulder and Larimer counties, helicopter evacuations continue Tuesday for people who have been stranded behind washed-out roads. "We still have air operations Tuesday," Trost said. "We also have FEMA search and rescue teams hiking through the canyons, as well," looking for anyone who made need help.

At 2:30 a.m. the South Platte near Balzac was staging at 11.3 feet, more than a foot above flood stage in the area, the weather service reports. The river should continue to stage at about 11 feet in the area through Wednesday morning....

County map of Colorado highlighting 14 counties declared disaster emergencies on September 13, 2013 by governor in 2013 Colorado flooding: Adams, Arapahoe, Broomfield, Boulder, Denver, El Paso, Fremont, Jefferson, Larimer, Logan, Morgan, Pueblo, Washington and Weld. Map by Augiasstallputzer, who released it into the public domain