- Recorder Online - https://www.berthoudrecorder.com -

Flood Update: Larimer County: Sept. 17

Larimer_Sheriff

The following information update has been made for: Flooding in Larimer County

Despite a delay in getting the helicopters up in the air Monday because of the weather, crews were able to evacuate 420 people yesterday, which include 250 people from the Pinewood Springs area.  Weather today is expected to be very good and is allowing for a full day of rescue operations.  Weather outlook for the rest of the week looks favorable with only slight chances for afternoon storms in the middle of the week.

LATEST INFORMATION
·         Air rescues continue today and there are approximately 600 stranded people left to evacuate in isolated areas.
·         FEMA’s two, 80-person search and rescue teams along with Larimer County Sheriff’s Office Deputies were dropped into numerous locations to begin assessing the damage and searching for stranded residents.
·         420 people were rescued yesterday, September 16th.  250 of those rescued were from the Pinewood Springs area.
·         Total number of rescued as of Tuesday morning, September 17th is 1,041 people.
 
DISASTER ASSISTANCE CENTER AND DISTRIBUTION CENTER
EVACUATION AREAS/SHELTERS
·         Search and Rescue teams are being dropped into numerous areas to assess the situation and contact stranded residents.
·         Red Cross Shelters have been set up in the following areas:
                        Thompson Valley School Administration Building in Loveland – 800 S. Taft Avenue
                        Estes Park Conference Center in Estes Park – 101 S. Saint Vrain
·         Additionally there is a Shelter in Fort Collins at:
                        Timberline Church – 2908 S. Timberline Road
·         The Ranch in Loveland is accepting large animals from evacuees.
·         Shuttle buses are being facilitated from the evacuation centers to take evacuees to the Disaster Assistance Center and the Disaster Distribution Center.
  
TRAVEL INFORMATION AND ROAD CLOSURES/OPENINGS  

The National Guard is assisting with traffic control and roadblocks.

For a complete list of County Road closures, please refer to the website:
http://larimer.org/roads/road_closures.cfm [2]
For a complete list of road closures State wide, a web page has been set up at:www.coloradodot.info/travel/colorado-flood-highway-updates [3].
BUILDING/ROAD SAFETY
·         It is critical for your safety that you not attempt to reenter evacuated areas or closed roadways/bridges without updated information.
·         DO NOT DRIVE THROUGH WATER OR PASS ROAD BLOCKS – You are putting your life and those of emergency responders at risk if you do. Drivers are reminded not to circumvent roadblocks either by bypassing them or using alternate routes to get into the area.  Roads are not safe even if they appear to be.  It is dangerous to be on closed roads.  Violators will be ticketed.
FINDING MISSING FRIENDS AND FAMILY
·         To report a missing or unaccounted person in Larimer County, please call 970-498-5500.
·         The American Red Cross Safe and Well website should be used to find someone or post information about your location for your family and friends.  This website is www.safeandwell.org [4].  The Red Cross is currently working on registering all evacuees at the local shelters.
 
PHONE/SOCIAL MEDIA INFORMATION
·         The public information line is 970-498-5500.  This number can also be used to report missing or unaccounted person(s) in Larimer County.  For life threatening emergencies, dial 9-1-1. Sign up to receive emergency notifications on your cell phone and email at leta911.org [5].
·         Local Residents can call United Way 211 for to volunteer, give donations, get shelter information and community information.  Non-local residents can call 1-866-485-0211 for the same information.
·         The most current updates can be found on our Facebook and Twitter sites:
www.facebook.com/larimersheriff  and @LarimerSheriff
·         Website updates at:
            www.larimersheriff.org
            www.larimer.org/emergency
            www.larimer.org/flooding2013/ [6]
 

For complete information on this emergency, seehttp://www.larimer.org/emergency/emergency_detail.cfm?nam_id=100 [7]