A "devastating storm," which dumped more than a foot of rain in Boulder, Colorado during a 19-hour period has caused widespread flash flooding in the state, CNN reported on Thursday. The floods' damage has already killed at least three people along Colorado's Rocky Mountain range, stretching from Boulder south to Colorado Springs.
Rescuers faced growing frustration overnight "by debris, impassable roads, mudslides and darkness in their efforts to reach those affected by the flooding," CNN also reported.
"We're not in direct threat but forecast for rain over the next 48 hours. We have a plan to leave if the water continues to rise. Citywide sirens have been sounding regularly to warn of flooding around creek beds," Boulder resident and photographer Ilan Sherman said
"The kids are tense and asking a lot of questions about the flood, but are still enjoying their day off school."
Sherman has 3 kids.
Mudslides and rockslides were reported in several areas, near and around Boulder, as dispatchers have received numerous calls of flooded homes and streets as well as submerged cars, the National Weather Service reported.
"Many of our friends' houses have been flooded, but we've been fortunate," Sherman adds. "Our synagogue is located right next to a bend in the creek and I'm worried about it. I called to see if there is a community effort to protect the structure, but so far there is minimal flooding, about two feet on the ground level."
Meanwhile local firefighters on a yellow dinghy bobbing in the swift waters rescued a man from an overturned car about 12 miles southeast of Boulder. The man, walked out of the water with the aid of firefighters, and was soon taken away on a stretcher.
The event was captured on TV.
As for Sherman, his concerned but optimistic 5-year-old son Razi, still sees a silver lining: "Maybe there will be a rainbow at the end of all this raining," he tells his Dad.
