LYONS, Colo. — The number of people missing in Colorado's flooding dropped dramatically to 200 as authorities reached more victims, and residents evacuated from the hard-hit canyon town of Lyons were allowed past a National Guard roadblock Thursday to salvage what they could from their homes.
''We're a little anxious. We've never gone through something like this before,'' Gloria Simpson said as she waited in a long line of cars to Lyons, a community of about 1,600 in the Rocky Mountain foothills.
Guard troops allowed residents a few hours to inspect their homes and grab belongings before nightfall. Simpson hoped to leave with anything she could.
Mystie Brackett wanted to remove spoiled food from her refrigerator and get some clothes.
''It's a weird feeling,'' Brackett said. ''There is survivor's guilt because my house is fine and my business is fine.''