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Colorado Flooding Causes E. Coli Contamination

Kaitlyn Mullin |
September 24, 2013 | 7:28 a.m. PDT

Staff Writer

Colorado National Guardsmen respond to floods in Boulder County, Colorado, United States (Sgt. Joseph K. VonNida, Wikimedia Commons)
Colorado National Guardsmen respond to floods in Boulder County, Colorado, United States (Sgt. Joseph K. VonNida, Wikimedia Commons)

Residents of Colorado are struggling amid ongoing recovery and cleanup efforts following the recent flooding. Severe damage remains after several days of intense rainfall in the mountains north of Denver that began on September 12.

Preliminary estimates put flood damages at more than $2 billion with an estimated 1,500 houses destroyed and another 17,500 damaged by heavy rain, flash floods, and mud slides, according to an Eqecat report. Damage to storage facilities at oil companies lead to oil spills of up to 25,000 gallons.

In addition to damage to homes and businesses, local authorities confirmed the eighth storm-related death Monday evening. 

Six people are still reported to be missing and another two are presumed to be dead. More than 10,000 people have been displaced from their homes.  

The residents of Lyons, one of the towns hit hardest by flooding, are now facing another potentially deadly threat in the aftermath of the flood. 

Escherichia coli or E. coli, a bacteria known for an outbreak causing four deaths and more than 500 cases of illness in 1993, has been discovered in the water supply

The town is almost completely evacuated as a result of the floods, but the infected water could delay the residents’ return. 

In a letter to Congress on Monday, Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper asked that the Emergency Relief Program cap be raised from its current $100 million limit to help the state rebuild its many damaged highways. 

The floods “may prove to be the worst natural disaster in the history” of the state said Hickenlooper. 

Vice President Joe Biden visited the state on Monday to view the damage. Biden said $35 million of federal funds will be allocated to road repair and other projects, and will not be affected by a potential government shutdown. 

Read more about the flood damage here.

Read more about the E. coli-infected water supply here

Contact Kaitlyn Mullin here and follow her on Twitter.

 



 

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