Culture

Flooded Colorado Town Being Evacuated

Three dead; National Guard helping get folks out

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BOULDER, Colo. — Widespread flooding that's already killed three Coloradans forced fresh evacuations of thousands of residents Friday, as additional rainfall threatened already swollen rivers and creeks along a 150-mile stretch of the state's Front Range.

About 15 miles north of Boulder, the Colorado National Guard began evacuating up to 2,500 residents of Lyons — isolated, without power and running water because of flooded roads Thursday — at daybreak, according to the Boulder County sheriff's office. In South Boulder County, 500 residents in Eldorado Springs were also under evacuation orders. County emergency personnel said the Guard was using high-clearance trucks to move Lyons residents to safe areas.

"There's no way out of town. There's no way into town. So, basically, now we're just on an island," said Jason Stillman, 37, who was forced with his fiancee to evacuate their home in Lyons after a nearby river began to overflow into the street.