heroic efforts of the oil and gas industry are preventing any releases from being affected, but we re not going to know until the water recedes. we hope it works out, we don t know. we would like you to think about the heroes and we ll check on everything once the waters recede. well, today, the waters are receding. what is the extent of the damage? and was the industry ready for this? and what needs to be done to account for the flooding now that it has happened? the third largest oil and gas company in colorado today already announce that had 150 wells that it shut down due to the flooding are back up and running now already. joining me now, a senior scientist with the natural resources defense counsel. thank you very much for being with us tonight. thank you so much for having me. so the industry in colorado says they are unsure what kind of impact this flooding will have on their facilities in colora colorado. they hope that kepts have not
fortunately it is shut off. well, how about the other thousands of similar sites across the county and state? the local cbs affiliate in denver asked the head of the colorado oil and gas association, the trade group there, just that question. what was in those tanks? what is now in the waters that are flowing down stream? the tanks that we know of were empty. and the tanks that are askew may have things like small amounts of condensate, which is a flow back water. is it possible that parts of that will be in the water down stream? we hope that our emergency response plans and the really heroic efforts of the oil and gas industry are preventing any releases from being affected, but we re not going to know until the water recedes. we hope it works out, we don t know. we would like you to think about the heroes and we ll check on everything once the waters recede. well, today, the waters are receding.
after a nasty day on sunday with a lot of rain. so they expect to get several hundred out again today. also, there s a ground search and rescue under way in the same area. they are focusing on the health and welfare of the people. so far 14,000 have been evacuated from ground and air searches. that will continue. there s concern that the death toll which now stands at 8 will increase after people return to their communities. and when the water recedes, officials will go in again and do a more extensive search, when they are afraid they ll find more bodies. the search could take weeks, possibly even months. leanne, thank you very much for the latest from the the continuing flight those people are suffering in colorado. a nationwide amber alert for a georgia teenager believed to be in quote, extreme danger, tops our look at stories around the news nation today.
yesterday more than 200 people were airlifted out. about 1,000 were originally thought to be stranded. when the day started 600 people were still unaccounted for. by the end of the day officials say that number should drop by hundreds as people are able to communicate with their friends and family members. you mentioned the death toll now at eight, but that number is expected to go higher when people can get back into the flooded areas. when the water recedes, an extensive certainly once again will take place. officials say it will take weeks, possibly even months. the good news, the weather. the sun is out. for most of the flood regions, it s expected to be nice the rest of the week, not the case for everywhere in colorado but at least some of the major flood areas good weather until the end of the week. andrea. leanne gregg, thanks so much for that somewhat hopeful update. we appreciate it.
town of james toup outside of boulder a building collapsed because of the high water. they ordered everyone to higher ground. the city is impassable. they told the police and fire trucks to go to higher ground until the water recedes. no access to these small towns in the foot hills in colorado. horrible situation and it continues to rain. as far as other concerns today. areas in the northeast, strong cold front going through means thunderstorms just like yesterday. watch out from scranton through the catskills to albany, vermont, new hampshire and airports in the big cities later this afternoon could have significant delays as those thunderstorms roll through and bring in a much cooler air mass after yesterday s heat wave. the rest of the country looks okay, morning rain for you in illinois and indianapolis but by far the worst weather this morning in colorado, a city of boulder under a flash flood emergency. you re watching morning joe on this thursday.