Boulder Office of Emergency Management spokeswoman Gabrielle Boerkircher says volunteers are trying to help stranded people until emergency crews can arrive because many roads are impassable.
The Larimer County office of emergency information says an earthen dam in the Big Elk Meadows area southeast of Estes Park has given way and residents of Pinewood Springs and Blue Mountain should be ready to evacuate.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
Days of heavy rains caused flash flooding in Colorado's Boulder County early Thursday that has flooded streets, triggered mudslides, prompted evacuations, and left one person dead.
The National Weather Service issued a flash flood emergency for the county and northwest Jefferson County, while a mandatory evacuation order was in effect for the tiny community of Jamestown and the Fourmile area.
"The rains have been sitting over that area," Boulder Office of Emergency Management spokeswoman Gabrielle Boerkircher said.
Hundreds of university students living near a creek in the city of Boulder have also been evacuated.
The Weather Service said that county officials reported some homes had collapsed in Jamestown, where dozens of people live, according to a report by The Denver Post.
Boerkircher told The Associated Press that one person was killed when a structure collapsed in Jamestown, but that she didn't have any other details because rescuers haven't reached the scene. She also couldn't confirm that any other buildings had collapsed.
"There are mudslides prohibiting us from getting to that area," she said.
The office said there have been no other reports of any deaths or injuries.
An evacuation center for the mountain residents has been sent up in nearby Nederland, officials said.
Meanwhile, about 400 students at the University of Colorado housing in Boulder were evacuated and classes canceled Thursday because of the flooding, Boekircher said.
"We've asked people in low-lying areas all through the county to evacuate," said Andrew Barth, another Emergency Management spokesman.
In addition to the two counties where there were flood emergencies, the Weather Service posted flash flood warnings for parts of Broomfield, Adams, Weld, Larimer, and El Paso counties.
Mudslides and rockslides were reported in several areas, with parts of U.S. 6, Boulder Canyon, Colorado 14 and U.S. 287 all reporting problems and temporary blockages during the evening, the Denver Post said. Lefthand Canyon was reported blocked by one of the many slides.
The Weather Service said early Thursday that more than four inches of rain had fallen in some areas since noon Wednesday.
Boulder police dispatchers were receiving calls of flooding basements and homes and of flooded streets and submerged cars. Authorities said the flooding has made many Boulder streets impassable.
Emergency Man
agement Director Mike Chard.said people should avoid creeks and waterways, and not attempt to cross flooded intersections in their cars.
"We're also asking people who are OK to shelter in place Thursday, just because the roads are so bad," Barth said.
As the flooding began Wednesday evening, the city of Erie was the hardest hit in the county with up to a foot of water across Erie Parkway, according to a report by KCNC.
As the rains continued, conditions deteriorated early Thursday across the region.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2013/9/265489