Hundreds missing in flood-ravaged Colorado

Aerial photo shows flood damage in Boulder, Colo., on Sept. 14.(Photo: U.S Army photo via epa)

A woman walks in an evacuated neighborhood in Hygiene, Colo., where many homes are inundated with water from overflowing canals after days of flash floods and intense rain.  Brennan Linsley, AP

Loaders scrape up mud from flooding that swept through Estes Park, Colo.  Jeri Clausing, AP

Volunteer Ella Kuhlman, 5, helps sort donations at the evacuation shelter staged at Timberline Church in Fort Collins, Colo.  Dawn Madura, The Coloradoan, via AP

Robert Frawley, of Burggraf Disaster Restoration, carries destroyed belongings out of a flooded home on Iris Avenue in Boulder, Colo.  Jeremy Papasso, The Daily Camera, via AP

The Boulder Sheriff's Office has reported that mudslides, debris and water have destroyed or made impassable mountain roads in Boulder Canyon and other canyons west of the city.

Harburg said, though, that media pictures showing extensive flood-related damage – particularly in hard-hit, nearby Lyons — are not representative of downtown Boulder. He said he has encountered roadblocks blocking some city streets, but he has usually been able to drive without obstruction through the city.

He said many college students were making the best of the situation, "dancing in the rain and running around in bikinis" on the hill above campus.

He praised city officials, because "our infrastructure — roads, storm sewers and drainage systems — has held up."

About 14,500 people have evacuated from flooded areas in 15 counties, and 1,329 stayed overnight Saturday in 26 emergency shelters, Trost said.

Many displaced residents are staying with family or friends or in hotels, she said.

Rain fell intermittently Saturday, and 4 inches of rain were expected Sunday.

Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper said Sunday he expects the weather to clear Monday morning or afternoon.

The state has "a lot of broken roads and broken bridges, but we don't have broken spirits," he said.

Hickenlooper said helicopters rescued more than 2,000 people in need of evacuation in flooded areas.

At least four people have died in Colorado, where days of relentless rain has caused the US state’s worst floods for centuries.

The National Guard is helping emergency crews carry out mass evacuations across the northeast of the state.

Lieutenant Colonel Mitch Utterback of the Colorado National Guard told reporters: “People are signalling helicopters with lighters and pen lights and little flash lights and little pinch lights on the end of your key chain. 

Night vision goggles can see that, and that’s how some people are getting picked up.”

Around 500 people are missing and authorities have warned that the death toll is likely to rise.

In Weld County, commissioner Sean Conway said the region was dealing with a “500-1,000 year flood”.