I wasted time this morning looking at a FEMA database that can be used to demonstrate the property value of structures in the floodplain so people have more incentive to do something like elevate their buildings.

Did I tell you I found out that elevating the red cabin would not qualify for FEMA assistance, regardless of what the county people have said? This is because it would have had to have been covered by flood insurance before the big flood, and had flood claims at least twice in the past 10 years. And more than 50% damaged. None of that applies to me. I'm glad to have found this out so I can start feeling guilty for not seeking that financial assistance. I hadn't planned on seeking that assistance because if I took it, flood insurance would be mandatory, and I don't want to get into that position because the premiums are no longer regulated and could go as high as $10,000 or more a year.

Finally, about 11 am I got my electric heat gun and went over to the red cabin to try to remove enough paint from the hinges of the china cabinet to remove the screws. It wasn't totally successful, but might work if I can find a power screwdriver to supply more torque. I hauled more stuff over to the porch of the Brown Palace and removed the shower doors. All in all, I got a lot done, and it was only an hour and a half.

It was a lovely, warm day with a 100% chance of snow tomorrow, so I decided to take my cell phone to my town friend's house today instead of tomorrow. I called her, and she was in Boulder, so I told her I'd leave it in her front flower bed.

On the way out of the canyon, I saw that one of the flood ladies who lost her whole house was on her property, so I stopped and we had a nice chat. She showed me around her property. She lost a lot of land as well as her house, and she is trying to get the county to let her build a new house, but it will probably end up right on the highway, which is so noisy.

She did so much work on that house, and the day the flood started, her builders were just finishing the installation of French doors looking out at the river. She never got to see those doors. That building used to be a restaurant back in the 1970s, and it survived the 1976 flood that was a lot like this one, so she thought it would be at least still standing. But someone gave her aerial photos so she could look at her property, and she couldn't believe her eyes - the house was gone.

This is after the 1976 flood, when it was a restaurant:



This is after the last flood - that turquoise item is where her house was, in the middle of a large area of sand. The structure is destroyed with the roof lying off to the side.



A couple of weeks ago, some of us were talking about how before the flood we just drove past all these houses in the canyon and we didn't know any of the occupants. Now, thanks to the flood, if we see someone out in their yard we honk and wave or stop and say hello, and we know a lot about who lives where and what their story is. This is great. But you know what? If we could choose between not having the flood at all or getting to know these people, we'd choose no flood.