LONGMONT, Colo. (AP) — The number of people unaccounted for from Colorado's devastating flooding has fallen dramatically as rescuers reach stranded victims, and electricity and phone services are restored to ravaged areas, allowing residents to contact family, friends or authorities.
But some of the stranded are refusing to leave their homes, prompting crews to show them photos of the surrounding destruction amid warnings that they could be cut off from essential services for several weeks.
Jennifer Hillmann, a spokeswoman for the Larimer County Sheriff's Office north of Boulder, said Wednesday that widespread airlifts have given way to "pinpoint" rescues and door-to-door searches.
Urban search-and-rescue teams with dogs and medical supplies began picking through homes, vehicles and debris piles for victims.
The number of people reported unaccounted for dwindled from a high of 1,200 to about 200.