Devastation and Cleanup in Manitou Springs

Update: Sun 1:40 PMPer the El Paso County Sheriff's Office, the mother of missing person Juston Travis has reported she's spoken to him and he is safe. One person still unaccounted for. As described yesterday, she is a petite blonde female, wearing black shirt over tan pants. MSPD Chief Joe Ribeiro: “Seen near the creek at one moment hanging in a tree, and then not seen the next.”

One of several "bucket brigades" in #ManitouSprings today. #waldoflood https://t.co/K1KjlQRQCB

— Andrea Chalfin (@AndreaChalfin) August 11, 2013

Update: 8:30 PM Press Conference:  The missing person described below as "Steve," living at or near 3 Narrows, has been located.  The other two remain unaccounted for.  Six buildings have been declared unsafe, two of which were originally declared unsafe after the July 1st flood event.  11 buildings are deemed "limited entry," while 23 had lighter damage.  40 cars were removed.

If you're heading to Manitou Springs on Sunday to volunteer, officials ask that you check in and check out at a station in the Tajine Alami parking lot for safety and accountability reasons.  Two volunteers sustained injuries on Saturday.  The check-in point Sunday will be open from 9-3:30.

Original post: Cleanup efforts in Manitou Springs and along Highway 24 continue even as the region faces another flash flood watch through Saturday evening. Three people remain missing and one is confirmed dead after yesterday’s devastating flood.

Descriptions of the missing are as follows:

- Petite blonde female, wearing black shirt over tan pants. MSPD Chief Joe Ribeiro: “Seen near the creek at one moment hanging in a tree, and then not seen the next.”

- Juston Travis. White male, 24 years old, 5’10” 200 lbs. with a lot of tattoos and balding, and sometimes wears glasses. His mother reported him unaccounted for.

- Steve, lives at or near 3 Narrows. Neighbors report they haven’t seen him since yesterday.

Anyone with information about these individuals should call El Paso County Dispatch at 719-390-5555.

The deceased has been identified as 53-year-old John Collins of Teller County. According to the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, the body was recovered from under a large amount of debris that covered the westbound lanes of Highway 24. His vehicle was nearby. The cause of death appears to be drowning.

The Red Cross shelter will remain open overnight, located at 103 Pawnee Ave. in Manitou Springs.

Credit Andrea Chalfin