Colorado Helicopters Grounded Due To Bad Weather

Rescue operations were suspended in battered Larimer County, Colorado when helicopters were grounded due to poor visibility because of low clouds.

Thick clouds suspended operations, on Monday, aimed at rescuing more than 1,000 people in Colorado who remain missing after devastating floods have hit the area.

At least seven people have been killed during the unprecedented floods and about 1,200 are without communications in Larimer County, which has suffered the worst of the bad weather.

Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper said the helicopters would continue their efforts once clouds lifted, according to UPI.com.

Two teams of 80 Federal Emergency Management Agency employees have joined state and local rescue operations in an effort to get to those stranded due to washed up roads.

Governor Hickenlooper says he is hopeful the stranded people will be found safe and sound, but admits the number of casualties related to the floods will likely rise.

The grounding of the Colorado helicopters for part of the day on Monday, comes after rescue personnel has urged those in need of assistance to use white sheets, mirrors, flares, and signal fires to help attract the attention of pilots, and to be ready with important personal effects when help arrives.

Residents were asked to pack medications and other personal belonging since they don’t know how long it will be until they are allowed to return home.

According to reports telephone land lines, cell phone towers, and Internet connection has been knocked down by the heavy rain and if it is available, it cannot be depended upon.

Rain continued to fall along Colorado’s Front Range on Monday, making it dangerous for rescue personnel to continue with their duties.

Some of the National Guards assisting with the operations had to be rescued themselves when they became victims to the flood waters on Sunday.

The state of Colorado helicopter operations is set to resume as soon as weather conditions improve.

[Image via Helen Richardson/The Denver Post]