Obama declares major disaster in US state of Colorado

U.S. President Barack Obama has declared a major disaster in the U.S. state of Colorado, authorizing federal funds for flood victims and local recovery, the White House announced Sunday, after severe storms and floods left four people dead and over a thousand evacuated. Obama signed the declaration on Saturday night and ordered federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area affected by severe storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides since Sept. 11, said the White House on Sunday. The President's declaration has made federal assistance available to affected individuals in Boulder County. The aid can include temporary housing and home repairs, and low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses. Later on Sunday, Obama also called Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper for an update on the current situation in the state. Obama expressed his condolences to the victims' families and expressed his concern for those impacted by "the historic flooding, " said the White House. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Director Craig Fugate will travel to Colorado Monday to coordinate federal efforts with the state and local response. "As response efforts continue, FEMA encourages residents in affected areas to stay informed about changing flood conditions and follow the direction of local officials," said Fugate in a statement, adding residents affected in Boulder County can start registering for federal assistance on Sunday. The FEMA is now providing more than 65,000 liters of water and 22,000 meals and other supplies on site. The agency said crews are continuing to assess damage in other areas, as more counties may be designated disaster areas. Death toll from the storms and flood has risen to four since Wednesday, local authorities confirmed. More than 1,000 stranded residents have been evacuated. Another round of heavy rain started pounding in the flood- ravaged areas of Colorado on Sunday, causing rivers and streams to rise further, the Denver Post reported, saying the situation has deteriorated since early Sunday morning.