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BOULDER, CO. - September 12: Tana Calderon-Griek using towels to direct water from Four Mile Creek away from her father's home near Upland and 19th St. in Boulder after overnight rains caused flash flooding and damage in Boulder, September 12, 2013 in Boulder, Colorado. (Photo By Joe Amon/The Denver Post) ( CD12boulder_JA20612 )

Sonia Chacon clears debris from around her family's home in north Boulder on Sept. 12, 2013. Nearly every road heading into the foothills of Boulder, Larimer and northern Jefferson counties was blocked by floodwaters or debris. Both of Chacon's family's cars were stuck in a foot of mud, and the first floor of their home was flooded. ( FLOODING_RJ22084 )

BOULDER, CO. - September 12: People watch the high water in Boulder Creek after heavy rains caused flash flooding and damage in Boulder, September 12, 2013 in Boulder, Colorado. (Photo By Joe Amon/The Denver Post) ( CD12boulder_JA21270 )

Three vehicles lie in a creek after raging floodwater undercut Dillon Road near U.S. 287 in Broomfield, Colo. on Sept. 12, 2013. The three motorists were rescued from the vehicles after emergency workers secured the vehicles with ropes and the motorists scrambled up the banks of the creek. ( CD12FLOODING_14972 )

RAYMOND , CO - SEPTEMBER 12: Homeowner Brad DeHaan, right, with his daughter, Elise, 8, and neighbor Kevin Duffy, check out the flooding damage to the road that leads to their houses on Conifer Hill Road in the roadside community of Riverside, about 12 miles west of Lyons, Colo. along Highway 7 on September 12, 2013. Heavy and continuous rains have created devastating and major flooding in many mountain communities. Some areas have had over 10 inches of rain in the last 24-48 hours. (Photo By Helen H. Richardson/ The Denver Post) ( cd13FLOODING_HHR_1001 )

Kim Schuler carries his wife, Cheryl, across water and mud Sept. 12, 2013. Son Kyle also exits the Boulder home with some of the belongings they could salvage. The first floor of the home was flooded with 4 feet of water. More heavy rain was expected that night, as the state braced for the worst flooding in its history. ( CD12boulder_JA21441 )

Casey Roy, 9, peers through a basement window at her family's home on Premier Place in north Boulder. Floodwater rose to 3 feet in the basement on Sept. 12, 2013. ( FLOODING_RJ22084 )

NEAR LYONS , CO - SEPTEMBER 12: Hwy 7 is completely blown out from the South St. Vrain river as a torrent of raging water rips through it about 12 miles west of Lyons, Colo. along Highway 7 on September 12, 2013. Heavy and continuous rains have created devastating and major flooding in many mountain communities. Some areas have had over 10 inches of rain in the last 24-48 hours. (Photo By Helen H. Richardson/ The Denver Post) ( cd13FLOODING_HHR_1327 )

BOULDER, CO - SEPTEMBER 12: A Rescue worker goes door to door checking on residents in north Boulder, September 12, 2013. Massive flash flooding is ongoing along the Front Range of Colorado. (Photo By RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post) ( FLOODING_RJ22084 )

BOULDER, CO. - SEPTEMBER12: A group of kids use a flooded field for skim-boarding at North Boulder Park in Boulder, Colo. on September 12, 2013. Record-breaking rain turned normally quiet creeks into raging, brown torrents that swept through Boulder, flooding homes, swamping cars and closing roads and schools. (Photo By Craig F. Walker / The Denver Post) ( 091213_FLOOD_CW18959 )

AURORA, CO - September 12 : People check Overland High School baseball field in Utah Park in Aurora, Colorado on September 12, 2013. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post) ( FLOODfloodHC1_6998 )

BOULDER, CO. - SEPTEMBER12: Water rushes down Linden Ave in Boulder Colo. on September 12, 2013. Record-breaking rain turned normally quiet creeks into raging, brown torrents that swept through Boulder on Thursday, flooding homes, swamping cars and closing roads and schools. (Photo By Craig F. Walker / The Denver Post) ( 091213_FLOOD_CW26920 )

LONGMONT, CO. - September 13: Rescued residents Julia Lebetkin and James Taylor rest at the LifeBridge Christian Church in Longmont after 2 days of being stranded by the flood waters in Lyons. September 13, 2013 Longmont, Colorado. (Photo By Joe Amon/The Denver Post) ( CD13LYONS_JA10334 )

Susan Elston, overwhelmed after being rescued from the flooded town of Lyons, receives help from a first-aid station at LifeBridge Christian Church in Longmont on Sept. 13, 2013. ( CD13LYONS_JA21905 )

BOULDER, CO - SEPTEMBER 13: Anatoliy Voythuov, a church volunteer, gathers muddy personal belongings at friend, Chris Vacek's house on Juniper Ave in Boulder Colorado on September 13, 2013. The Vacek's basement was a total loss. Everything was taken out and driven to the dump. (Photo By Andy Cross/The Denver Post) ( CD14BOULDERFLOODING_14972 )

BOULDER, CO - SEPTEMBER 13: An overturned vehicle sits on Linden Road near S. Cedar Brook Rd. in Boulder Colorado on September 13, 2013. (Photo By Andy Cross/The Denver Post) ( CD14BOULDERFLOODING_14972 )

LYONS, CO - SEPTEMBER 13: An aerial photograph shows the damage in Lyons from the flood, September 13, 2013. Massive flooding continues to hit Colorado. (Photo By RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post) ( FLOODING_RJ22637 )

Four Mile Creek, which usually dries up by the end of summer, roared in a pitch of churning water, tumbling boulders, cracking trees and destroying all roads through Salina, Colo. Boulder County Emergency Management said more than 1,500 people were evacuated with assistance from the area. Although most of the evacuees were physically fine, they had gone days without electricity, phone service and information. ( CD13SALINA_JA22879 )

SALINA, CO. - September 13: A motorcycle is wrapped around a tree in Salina which was mostly washed away after heavy rains caused flash flooding and major damage September 13, 2013. (Photo By Joe Amon/The Denver Post) ( CD13SALINA_JA22871 )

SALINA, CO. - September 13: The town of Salina in Four Mile Canyon was mostly washed away after heavy rains caused flash flooding and major damage September 13, 2013. (Photo By Joe Amon/The Denver Post) ( CD13SALINA_JA22333 )

The Alpine Rescue Team uses a high line and a sling stretched across Four Mile Canyon to rescue Darian Shaw from her Salina home. Shaw and three neighbors were brought across the rushing water. The Alpine Rescue Team, Four Mile Fire and Rocky Mountain Rescue Team worked to get people out after heavy rains caused flash flooding and washed away most of the town. ( CD13SALINA_JA22908 )

Rescuers help Salina resident Douglas Burger, 76, out of Four Mile Canyon. Floodwaters ripped through the mountain town of Salina, stranding residents and cutting off all roads into the town. Burger was brought across the rushing water in a sling with three neighbors. The Alpine Rescue Team, Four Mile Fire and Rocky Mountain Rescue Team worked to get people out Sept. 13, 2013. ( CD13SALINA_JA23199 )

The town of Lyons is flooded by the North and South Vrain Creeks on September 13, 2013. Rescuers in Lyons were scrambling to evacuate residents because the only bridge into the town was beginning to crumble. ( FLOODING_RJ13824 )

HYGIENE, CO. - SEPTEMBER 14: A truck rests flooded at the entrance to Ron Krenzel's property on 61st Street near Longmont, CO September 14, 2013. (Photo By Craig F. Walker / The Denver Post) ( 091413_FLOOD_CW27447 )

HYGIENE, CO - SEPTEMBER 13: Flood waters have consumed a house along Hygiene Road east of North 61st street and west of Hygiene, Colo. on September 14, 2013. Massive flooding continues in 14 continues in Colorado. (Photo By Helen H. Richardson/ The Denver Post) ( cd15FLOODING_DSC_1797 )

The Big Thompson River rages through the washed-out Loveland Water Storage Reservoir in Larimer County, Colo. on Sept. 14, 2013. ( CD15HELIFLOOD_14972 )

HYGIENE, CO. - SEPTEMBER 14: Cindy Pasquale wades through flood water on Hygiene Road in Hygiene, Colo. on September 14, 2013. Residents of Hygiene joined together to help one another salvage personal belongings from flooded homes. (Photo By Craig F. Walker / The Denver Post) ( 091413_FLOOD_CW10761 )

LOVELAND, CO - SEPTEMBER 14: The Big Thompson River overflowing its banks and causing widespread damage to Colorado on U.S. 34 in Big Thompson Canyon after recent flooding in Larimer County, Colorado on September 14, 2013. (Photo By Andy Cross/The Denver Post) ( CD15HELIFLOOD_14972 )

LOVELAND, CO - SEPTEMBER 14: A fishing boat floats out in a flooded plain in Loveland, Colorado on September 14, 2013. (Photo By Andy Cross/The Denver Post) ( CD15HELIFLOOD_14972 )

Brian Marquedt, left, and Scott Johnson, right, assist Dan Hull in leaving his flooded home on Hygiene Road in Hygiene, Colo. on Sept. 14, 2013. "I never would have gone alone," said Hull, whose two cats were rescued earlier. "I chose the people I wanted to go with me. When you get in a life-threatening situation, you want to be holding onto someone you trust, someone who is going to save your life." ( 091413_FLOOD_CW28429 )

LOVELAND, CO - SEPTEMBER 14: A destroyed home and what appears to be an intact, but heavily damaged home along Colorado U.S. 34 in the Big Thompson Canyon in Larimer County, Colorado on September 14, 2013. (Photo By Andy Cross/The Denver Post) ( CD15HELIFLOOD_14972 )

LONGMONT, CO - SEPTEMBER 14: Patty Mendoza uses a dust pan to scoop mud from behind the washing machines at Main Street Laundry in Longmont, Colorado on September 14, 2013. Clean up began in downtown Longmont following heavy flooding in previous days. (Photo by Seth McConnell/The Denver Post) ( CD15FLOODS )

LONGMONT, CO - SEPTEMBER 14: Jonas Habertape removes flood damaged sheet rock from an entry way at a home along Bowen Ave in Longmont, Colorado while helping a friend begin recovering from the flood on September 14, 2013. Clean up began on Saturday in downtown Longmont following heavy flooding in previous days. (Photo by Seth McConnell/The Denver Post) ( CD15FLOODS )

JAMESTOWN, CO - SEPTEMBER 15: A house lays completely demolished in what was the path of the recent floods that have destroyed the town of Jamestown, Colo. on September 14, 2013. No one has been able to access the town until crews finalized repairs of the upper portion of the road for emergency traffic only. The town has no infrastructure or running water. Some parts of town amazingly enough have electricity. A dozen or so residents stayed as most of the town was evacuated by helicopters. (Photo By Helen H. Richardson/ The Denver Post) ( cd16FLOODING_HHR_2046 )

JAMESTOWN, CO - SEPTEMBER 15: Jamestown mayor Tara Schoedinger, in blue, receives a piece of mail from a resident across the river in Jamestown, Colo. on September 15, 2013. The town has been split in two and people on one side cannot get to the other side so residents have set up a tryrolean to pass supplies and other items between the two side. The town has been completely destroyed from the recent floods. (Photo By Helen H. Richardson/ The Denver Post) ( cd16FLOODING_DSC_2603 )

Residents embrace near a washed-out home in Jamestown, Colo. on Sept. 14, 2013. Flooding hit the mountain community extremely hard, and residents have been trapped for three days with no road into or out of town. ( cd16FLOODING_HHR_2201 )

JAMESTOWN, CO - SEPTEMBER 15: An engine from Jamestown Fire Department and another car, are casualties of the flood in Jamestown, Colo. on September 15, 2013. The town has been completely destroyed from the recent floods. (Photo By Helen H. Richardson/ The Denver Post) ( cd16FLOODING_HHR_2545 )

JAMESTOWN, CO - SEPTEMBER 15: Jamestown mayor Tara Schoedinger, right and Charlie Schmidtman make their way past the Jamestown sign in Jamestown, Colo. on September 15, 2013. A dozen or so residents stayed as most of the town was evacuated by helicopters. The town has no infrastructure or running water. Some parts of town amazingly enough have electricity. (Photo By Helen H. Richardson/ The Denver Post) ( cd16FLOODING_HHR_2962 )

LONGMONT, CO - SEPTEMBER 15: Jimmy Walker works to remove four chickens from the roof of a shed and put them back in their coop in the backyard of a home along Bowen Ave in Longmont, Colorado on September 15, 2013. Heavy rains on Sunday continued to hamper recovery efforts in flood ravaged Northern Colorado. (Photo by Seth McConnell/The Denver Post) ( XX12FLOODS )

LONGMONT, CO. - SEPTEMBER 15: Hayden Court collapsed during the flooding of theTroxell neighborhood in Longmont, Colo. September 15, 2013. Evacuations are underway in some Longmont neighborhoods because the St. Vrain River is rising quickly. (Photo By Craig F. Walker / The Denver Post) ( 091513_FLOOD_CW11666 )

Colleen Keane tries to salvage clothing by washing it out in the gutter in front of her home near Iris Avenue and Ninth Street Avenue in Boulder, Colo. on Sept. 16, 2103. Keane rents the basement of this house which was completely flooded from the overflowing Two Mile Creek. Crews are working to clean up the mess, clearing all of Keane's and her roommate's belongings from the water and mud. Water reached the ceiling of the basement of the house. ( CD17FLOOD_AC_14972 )

MILLIKEN, CO. - SEPTEMBER 16: A unidentified man on ATV makes his way through pastureland outside Milliken. Aerial photographs of the South Platte River flooding cities and farms in Weld County Colorado. (Photo By Tim Rasmussen/The Denver Post) ( Aerial_FloodingTR2_5750 )

The Colorado National Guard escorts a woman and her child from one of its CH-47 Chinook helicopters at Boulder Municipal Airport. The helicopters were filled with residents rescued from areas west of the city. The National Guard was able to continue its efforts by air on Sept. 16, 2013, after being grounded the day before because of weather. ( CD16BLDRFLOODS_KO21688 )

A junkyard on East 37th Street and First Avenue in Evans, Colo., sits in rising floodwater from the South Platte River. ( Aerial_FloodingTR2_6038 )

Residents of homes along 37th Street in Evans carry belongings from their flooded homes on Sept. 16, 2013. Evans remained under a no-flush order as 260 homes were totaled or damaged by the Colorado floods. ( FLOODING_RJ14360 )

EVANS, CO. - SEPTEMBER 16: People walk down 37th street in Evans, Colorado, carrying belongings recovered from flooded homes in the area. Aerial photographs of the Platte River flooding cities and farms in Weld County Colorado. (Photo By Tim Rasmussen/The Denver Post) ( Aerial_FloodingTR2_6120 )

WELD COUNTY, CO. - SEPTEMBER 16: A unidentified man stands on County Road 61and looks at the damage caused when the South Platte River washed out a major part of the road. Aerial photographs of the South Platte River flooding cities and farms in Weld County Colorado. (Photo By Tim Rasmussen/The Denver Post) ( Aerial_FloodingTR2_6869 )

EVANS, CO - SEPTEMBER 16: Virginia Tucker, second from the left, gets hugs from friends and family after getting to dry ground in Evans, September 16, 2013. Massive flooding continues to hit Colorado. (Photo By RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post) ( FLOODING_RJ14665 )

BOULDER, CO - SEPTEMBER 14: Worker, Kenny Horton, working for Burggraf Disaster Restoration, based out of Oklahoma, dumps a bucket of water into a large plastic trash can from the basement of a home near Iris Ave and 9th St. in Boulder, Colorado on September 16, 2103. The basement was completely flooded out from the overflowing Two-Mile Creek. (Photo By Andy Cross/The Denver Post) ( CD17FLOOD_AC_14972 )

EVANS, CO - SEPTEMBER 16: Evans Resident Rito Romero heads back to his home to carry out belongings from his families flooded home, September 16, 2013. Massive flooding continues to hit Colorado. (Photo By RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post) ( FLOODING_RJ23362 )

BOULDER, CO - SEPTEMBER 14: Evacuated Jamestown Colorado residents, Maggie Fitzgerald, left, and Jan Dorsey, right, embrace on September 16, 2013 near the intersection of Lee Hill Drive and 5th St. in Boulder Colorado. Both met with a FEMA official at the intersection to get much needed assistance after their town suffered heavy damage in the flood. (Photo By Andy Cross/The Denver Post) ( CD17FLOOD_AC_14972 )

KERSEY, CO - SEPTEMBER 17: A gas well surrounded by flood water near Kersey, September 17, 2013. Massive flooding continues to hit Colorado. (Photo By RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post) ( FLOODING_RJ23816 )

EVANS, CO - SEPTEMBER 16: Evans Resident Rito Romero checks out the damage in his families flooded home, September 16, 2013. Massive flooding continues to hit Colorado. (Photo By RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post) ( FLOODING_RJ23362 )

EVANS, CO - SEPTEMBER 17: From left, Dale Reeves, Kathryn Reeves, and Trent Mayes helps their elderly family member in Evans carry out belongings from their flooded homes, September 17, 2013. Massive flooding continues to hit Colorado. (Photo By RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post) ( FLOODING_RJ23898 )

EVANS, CO - SEPTEMBER 17: Kathryn Reeves helps her elderly godparents in Evans carry out belongings from their flooded homes, September 17, 2013. Massive flooding continues to hit Colorado. (Photo By RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post) ( FLOODING_RJ23898 )

Sgt. 1st Class Keith Bart, based in Fort Carson, hoists two women aboard a UH-60 Black Hawk during a rescue near Jamestown on Sept. 17, 2013. Bart noticed the women as they waved red scarves from the deck of a home. State officials estimated about 600 people were still stranded in isolated areas. ( SP17RESCUEFLIGHT_JA12994 )

BOULDER, CO. - SEPTEMBER 17: Lol Smith works to divert water from the home of Kim Schuler on Upland Ave in Boulder, CO September 17, 2013. Schuler's property abuts Four Mile Creek and the home was flooded through out week. Colorado officials on Monday updated the number of people killed in the state’s floods to as many as eight, as rescue helicopters took to the skies and emergency operations continued. Flooding in 15 Colorado counties has destroyed 1,502 homes and damaged 17,494 leaving more than 11,000 people evacuated, according to the Colorado Office of Emergency Management. (Photo By Craig F. Walker / The Denver Post) ( 091713_FLOOD_CW12152 )

GLEN HAVEN, CO - SEPTEMBER 17: Glen Haven Fire Captain Tom Housewright high fives a fellow firefighter as the two cross on main street of Glen Haven, CO on September 17, 2013. (Driving the ATV is firefighter Clifton DeWitt.) The small mountain town of Glen Haven north east of Estes Park has been wiped out by the recent and massive flooding. (Photo By Helen H. Richardson/ The Denver Post) ( cd18FLOODING_DSC_2873 )

LONGMONT, CO - SEPTEMBER 17: A CDOT truck is submerged in water after blowing a tire and driving off road into a pool of flood water. CDOT employees on the scene provided no further information. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post ( CD18SPOTNEWS )

Standing amid an enormous debris field near the mouth of Big Thompson Canyon, a man holds his head while watching the river. A stretch of 20 miles of U.S. 34 between Loveland and Estes Park was severely damaged by flooding. ( loveland_FLOODHC2_1672 )

ELDORADO SPRINGS, CO - SEPTEMBER 18: A fiber optics sub-contractor crew walks underneath a section of Union Pacific railroad track, close to a large platform that completely washed out, just past tunnel #3, a few miles southwest of the town of Eldorado Springs, Colorado on September 18, 2013. Crews will work to fill the gap with rocks and dirt to shore up the platform that was washed down the valley from recent flooding. Crews were also repairing fiber optic cable that was damaged in the flood. (Photo By Andy Cross/The Denver Post) ( CD18ESTESPARKTOUR_14972 )

LYONS, CO. - SEPTEMBER 18: A chain link fence lays in Bohn Park, flooded by the St. Vrain River in Lyons, CO September 18, 2013. Business owners were allowed to return to town today and residents will be allowed to visit their homes tomorrow. As emergency personnel methodically make their way from door-to-door of flooded and damaged homes this week, the number of unaccounted-for Coloradans is dropping. The number in Boulder County has fallen to four. (Photo By Craig F. Walker / The Denver Post) ( 091813_FLOOD_CW13155 )

LYONS, CO. - SEPTEMBER 19: Lyons resident Perry Corn waits with his wife, Angie, at a checkpoint at the junction of highways 66 & 36 in Lyons, CO September 19, 2013. He said, "we're going to see what we can salvage and make sure no one runs off with the rest. We tried to tough it out till Saturday but with 3 dogs and the 2 of us we decided to heed the warnings." Now staying with friends he concluded, "my belief in the human spirit has been rejuvenated we'e been so fortunate to have great people around us, taking care of us." Residents were being allowed to return to their homes Thursday. (Photo By Craig F. Walker / The Denver Post) ( 091913_FLOOD_CW20209 )

EVANS, CO. - SEPT 18: Carolyn Cruz reads the warning sign that FEMA posted on her door. Cruz was returning to her home to fetch some of her belongings. (Photo By Erin Hull/The Denver Post) ( Evans Flood )

EVANS, CO - SEPTEMBER 19: Araceli Romero was overwhelmed as she went through her home, in Evans, looking for belongings to save after the flood, September 19, 2013. Residents start to clean up after a massive flood hit the area. (Photo By RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post) ( FLOODING_RJ24803 )

EVANS, CO - SEPTEMBER 19: Rito Romero finds a necklace and charm, that he gave his wife for their 20th wedding anniversary, in the muck of their destroyed home in Evans, September 19, 2013. Residents start to clean up after a massive flood hit the area. (Photo By RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post) ( FLOODING_RJ25004 )

LEFTHAND CANYON, CO - SEPTEMBER 19: A cabin teeters on it's foundation along a new found canyon that was formed along Lefthand Canyon Drive west of Boulder, CO on September 19, 2013. Residents say this had merely been a dry gulch with absolutely no water running through it until the torrential rains and floods ravaged the area bringing down huge trees, boulders the size of cars, and other debris. Like so many other major canyons in the northern part of Colorado's foothills, Boulder County's Lefthand Canyon, Colo. has stranded it's residents because the roads are destroyed on both ends. (Photo By Helen H. Richardson/ The Denver Post) ( cdXXFLOODING_DSC_3869 )

LYONS, CO. - SEPTEMBER 20: Scott Koester gets help from his nephew Kyron Brady, left, while carrying belongings from their home in Lyons, Colo. September 20, 2013. Koester expects that the home will be condemned after the recent flooding. He said, "we've been here 10 years now and it's all gone. I don't know how you'd save this house." Friday was the second day residents were allowed to return to their homes. (Photo By Craig F. Walker / The Denver Post) ( 092013_FLOOD_CW14605 )

LEFTHAND CANYON, CO - SEPTEMBER 19: Lefthand Canyon residents Scott Peoples, right, and his wife Hyung Joo Kim ford a small stream along a path next to Lefthand Creek in Lefthand Canyon Drive west of Boulder, Co on September 19, 2013 . The couple, after having stayed four days during the floods, then getting evacuated by helicopter, decided they wanted to move back into their home. Despite the fact that they are cut off on both ends of the canyon as the roads are destroyed, they would rather be at home than in a hotel or with friends. They have cars on both ends of the destroyed bridges and are able to get home as well as get to town and to work. They have a generator for electricity and their home phone works but they don't have running water. (Photo By Helen H. Richardson/ The Denver Post) ( cdXXFLOODING_DSC_4379 )

BOULDER, CO. - SEPTEMBER 21: Over 350 people joined together to honor Wesley Quinlan and Wiyanna Nelson during a memorial service at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colo. September 21, 2013. The couple died in the recent flood. (Photo By Craig F. Walker / The Denver Post) ( CD22FLOODFUNERAL_CW15273 )

BOULDER, CO. - SEPTEMBER 21: Sage Ebert and Nick Lutz embrace following a memorial service for their friends Wesley Quinlan and Wiyanna Nelson at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colo. September 21, 2013. Over 350 people joined together to honor the couple that died in the recent flood. (Photo By Craig F. Walker / The Denver Post) ( CD22FLOODFUNERAL_CW20717 )

EVANS, CO. - SEPTEMBER 21: A teddy bear clung to high ground inside the flooded Eastwood Village mobile home park in Evans. Residents of Evans continued the grim work of salvaging personal belongings from flooded homes Saturday afternoon, September 21, 2013. Photo By Karl Gehring/The Denver Post ( SP21PRPGAME_KG13540 )

KERSEY, CO - SEPTEMBER 23: Janelle Gill surveys the damage to her property along Highway 388 in Kersey, Colorado on September 23, 2013 after the Platte River flooded the week prior. Heavy rains caused the Platte River to flood destroying property and damaging roads. (Photo by Seth McConnell/The Denver Post) ( CDXXKERSEY )

LYONS, CO - SEPTEMBER 22: Colorado National Guard soldiers lead a group of CDOT and state employees during a tour to look at the damage caused by recent flooding in the area on U.S. Highway 36 between Lyons and Pinewood Springs. Pavement is missing in many section of the road that connects Lyons to Estes Park. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post) ( CD23FLOODUS36__AO11185 )

HIGHWAY 34 NEAR ESTES PARK, CO - SEPTEMBER 24: Kenneth Collins, who is helping to survey damage along the Big Thompson River, looks at a Hyundai Accent that is jammed under a bridge in the Big Thompson River along Big Thompson Canyon drive, or Highway 34, near Estes Park, Colo. on September 25, 2013. Many of the beautiful summer cabins, homes, and cars that sat next to the river have severe damage or have been completely destroyed from the flood. (Photo By Helen H. Richardson/ The Denver Post) ( cd26FLOODING_DSC_6818 )

ESTES PARK, CO - SEPTEMBER 27: A massive landslide behind the Aspen Lodge Resort and Spa near Estes Park Colorado after recent flooding seen Friday afternoon, September 27, 2013. The Aspen Lodge was heavily damaged by recent flooding and the landslide that damaged power lines, pipes, the water treatment system, electric lines and washed out all fire access roads. The owner of the lodge, Yun Xiang Tseng, known as Master Chen, a Taoist Priest, is still holding seminars at the lodge, on a limited basis, but has closed the lodge to the public for at least six months to recover and rebuild. (Photo By Andy Cross/The Denver Post) ( CD28ASPENLODGE_14972 )

Kody Payne, 7, and his sister Kaelyn, 10, walk along a dirt path next to what used to be U.S. 36 near Pinewood Springs, Colo. on Sept. 24, 2013. The siblings were heading back to Estes Park Elementary School for the first time since floods damaged the town. Kaelyn carries trays of cupcakes to celebrate her 10th birthday, while their parents, Judd and Sherami, walk behind them. The community of Pinewood Springs was left an island after the massive flood took out all major roads and bridges. Residents, who refused to evacuate, worked aggressively to make this path for access to Estes Park. They park their cars at Elk Meadows, above the damaged highway, then make the trek back and forth to cars on the other side to get home. The walk is about a mile. ( cd25FLOODING_DSC_6079 )

BOULDER, CO - Sept. 28: With Ellen Greenhouse leading the way, the group carefully crosses a culvert using two stones as a bridge. Friends and fellow Boulder artists gather to hike in to the home and studio of artist Marco Montanari to rescue and carry out his Encaustic paintings that need to be packed and sent to New York for a show in November. Montanari's home and studio did not suffer damage in the floods, but all roads leading in and out had been impassable up until just a few days ago. The group was able to drive a short distance up Wagon Wheel Gap Road and hiked the rest of the way in and out. (Photo By Kathryn Scott Osler/The Denver Post) ( CD28BLDRARTISTfilenamebase} )

GLEN HAVEN, CO - SEPTEMBER 30: Lauren Discher, 14, and her siblings Lexie, 11, and Drew, 7, carefully cover a tree above the muddy river bed of West Creek river in Glen Haven, Co on September 30, 2013 as an excavator clears rocks, trees and debris from a culvert. The Discher family came all the way from College Station, Texas just to help clean what they could in the town and help residents in any way they could. (Photo By Helen H. Richardson/ The Denver Post) ( cd01GLENHAVEN_DSC_8346 )

DRAKE, CO - OCTOBER 1: Drake resident John Claus helps cabin caretaker Doug Smith, with some of his personal effects, up a steep incline onto Highway 34 in Drake, Co. October 1, 2013. Claus, Smith and their neighbors were allowed into their homes for the first time since the floods almost three weeks ago. Many of the homes are still standing but the surrounding property, the bridge and the highway are destroyed. (Photo By Helen H. Richardson/ The Denver Post) ( cd02DRAKE_DSC_9866 )

BOULDER, CO - SEPTEMBER 29: Don Gulbrandson, center, owner of Bob's Piano Sales & Service, points upwards for his crew to watch for high voltage power lines above as they secure a 1933 Mason & Hamlin grand piano to chains from a crane parked below on Canyon Blvd in Boulder, Co on September 29, 2013. Piano teacher Carolyn Meyer, not shown, lost her house to the recent floods that ravaged Boulder county and 13 other counties in Colorado. The piano miraculously survived the flooding and mudslides that overtook the house. The piano weighs about 1,000 lbs and will be kept in storage until Carolyn finds a new place to live. The other workers are from left to right: Greg Newham, in blue, Gavin Geis, and Fallon Wacasey, right. (Photo By Helen H. Richardson/ The Denver Post) ( cd30PIANO_DSC_7170 )

GLEN HAVEN, CO - OCTOBER 8: Volunteers Katherine Dumont, middle, and Barb Trofholz help take flood damaged dry wall off of the walls of Tuck N' Tresures gift shop next to the historic Glen Haven Inn in Glen Haven, CO on October 8, 2013. The Inn was one of the only businesses that actually made it in the town but has been inundated with mud and debris. The water line along the walls suggest that the flood waters reached at least four feet inside the building. Owners Sheila and Tom Sellers have owned the Inn for over 20 years and have spent that same amount of time lovingly collecting antiques to create the victorian inspired interior of the Inn and restaurant. (Photo By Helen H. Richardson/ The Denver Post) ( cd09GLENHAVEN_DSC_2497 )

GREELEY, CO - DECEMBER 16, 2013: Norma Meza hugs her daughter Maria, 11, as Rosario Moreno, standing, and her husband Jose, seated, join some of the kids for dinner at the Meza's tiny home in Greeley, CO on December 16, 2013. The children seated at the table are from far right clockwise: Genoveva Meza, 14, Martin Meza jr., 17, Sergio Meza, 3, Janeth Moreno, 10, Edwin Moreno, 2, Yanna Moreno, 8. At left are brothers Jared, 5, and Ivan, 18, Moreno. The Meza family, which consists of four children, Norma and her husband Martin have taken in the Moreno family after they lost everything in the September floods. Rosario and her husband Jose have 5 children and are without a home at the moment. Norma says she will help out her best friend for as long as she needs to. The tiny house has 3 bedrooms and 2 small bathrooms and is home now to 14 people, 2 cats and 3 dogs. (Photo By Helen H. Richardson/ The Denver Post) ( cdxxFLOODING_HHR_4668 )