Thousands of residents have been evacuated as major flooding hit a 4,500-square-mile area in the state of Colorado.
Aerial footage shows people being taken to safety in inflatable rafts, as entire houses were submerged by rising floodwater.
Cattle could be seen gathering on higher ground and some evacuees on horseback had to be escorted to safety through the deep water.
President Barack Obama signed an emergency declaration on Thursday night, freeing federal aid and allowing the Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate disaster relief efforts.
Four people have died as a result of the floods and local media reports say 172 people remain unaccounted for.
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