Larimer County Sheriff's Office: 1,120 square miles of area involved that has damage

Despite the weather on Sunday limiting air evacuations, ground crews were able to rescue and evacuate 100 people in the Cedar Cove area. FEMA brought in two, 80-person search and rescue teams yesterday to assist with operations. The weather is more promising today and tomorrow for air evacuation operations.

LATEST INFORMATION

• There are 13 National Guard helicopters and 3 civilian helicopters to help with evacuations, surveillance and bringing in emergency personnel to areas needed. Helicopters are now in the air and resuming air rescue operations as of 1:00 p.m today.
• 1,000 residents remain in remote locations needing to be evacuated.
• There are now 398 unaccounted for persons, down from the original report of 643. 213 of the reported 643 unaccounted persons have been located and accounted for and there were a few entries without 1st or last names that had multiple entries and were consolidated.
• There are two confirmed reports of missing/presumed dead residents in the Cedar Cove area; however, at this time we still have no confirmed fatalities.
• There are approximately 1,120 square miles of area involved that has damage in Larimer County. Rist Canyon has minimal damage, Buckhorn Canyon has heavy damage, Poudre Canyon has minimal damage, Big Thompson Canyon has extensive damage, North Fork of Big Thompson has extensive damage, and South St. Vrain also has extensive damage
• Initial estimates show approximately 1,500 residential homes in Larimer County have been destroyed with an expected number of 4,500 homes damaged. There are also estimated 200 businesses destroyed and 500 businesses with damage in Larimer County as well.
• Three dams confirmed as failed in Larimer County; these are Sunset, Mirror Lake and Rainbow, which are all in the Big Elk Meadows area. These are earthen dams and very small so impact in the area was minimal from these breaks.
• Some areas in Larimer County experienced a 100 year flood and other areas experienced a 1,000 year flood. It all depends on where the heaviest rain fell. Areas with more extensive damage experienced the 1,000 year flooding.
• A Disaster Assistance Center (DAC) has been established by City of Loveland and Larimer County. This Center will open Wednesday, September 18 at 8 a.m. and will be open daily from then on from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The DAC is located at 815 14th Street SW, Building #B in Loveland. In addition the Disaster Distribution Center is now open for evacuees and is open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the 815 14th Street SW, Building #D, in Loveland. The distribution center provides things like water, clothing, diapers, non-perishable and non-perishable food to evacuees.