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Volunteers sought to help clean up Manitou Springs after flooding, mudslides

Flash flood watch issued for west of city Tuesday
Posted at 10:11 AM, Jul 24, 2018
and last updated 2018-07-24 12:16:52-04

MANITOU SPRINGS, Colo. – The city of Manitou Springs is looking for volunteers Tuesday to help clean up after mudslides and flash floods tore through the city Monday afternoon.

The call for volunteers comes as flash flood watches were issued for most of the foothills west of where much of Tuesday’s flooding occurred.

Manitou Springs says there were no injuries or missing people reported in Monday’s flooding, which damaged or destroyed several roads in town and flooded some businesses.

PHOTOS | Monday's severe weather outbreak on Colorado's Front Range

Hundreds of homes and businesses were evacuated as U.S. Highway 24 was shut down due to the mudslides.

There are currently five Public Services employees working across the city but volunteers are being sought to help assist. Anyone wishing to volunteer is asked to report to the Manitou Springs Fire Station, located at 620 Manitou Ave., at 10 a.m. for instructions and supplies.

There are a host of roads still closed Tuesday for cleanup: El Paso is closed from Mayfair to Garden of the Gods; Manitou Ave. is closed from Beckers to Columbia; and engineers are doing bridge assessments.

The city says the water pipeline project is being assessed and that it believes the pipeline “suffered major damage.” Crews are also assessing Hiawatha Gardens for water and hail damage, the city said Tuesday morning.

There is a chance of rain and storms again across the Front Range Tuesday. The flash flood watches for the areas west and south of Manitou Springs, which were issued Tuesday morning, are currently set to expire at 10 p.m.