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The semi-arid land makes it hard for plants and pollinators to survive, however, the rain helped the growth and abundance of wildflowers and native plants, which means that there is more food for animals, shelter, soil stabilization and beauty.
“When you take away the vegetation, then you also take away the ability for this soil to stay stable,” said Sandy Holcomb, Highlands Ranch Metro District park ranger.
“So not only does it provide shelter for animals, we got pollinators and this is also a stabilization for soil.”
Native plants grow each year but the rain has increased the frequency of the plants.
Larkspur have been more prominent, cottonwoods are growing seed and one plant that has thrived is yucca.
“The water has been so good to them this year that they’re blooming like mad,” said Holcomb. “Usually you don’t see quite as many.” when you shop, bring your bag scan to learn more about our collective effort however, that family said USAA stated that they do not cover seepage. e family is currently waiting to get more documentation from the contractor that is working on their roof as he believes the chimney is part of the reason for the ooding. e exterior of the house was damaged by hail a few days after the major storm. e roof, windows, railing, and siding were damaged as well as their car. e estimate for the car is $8,000 and $52,000 for the roof and house.
The diversity of the plants include butterfly milkweed, prickly poppies, spiderwort, blue flax, chokecherries, three leaf sumac and purple prairie clover.
While this spring brought a different kind of weather pattern to the metro area, there is so much beauty that has resulted from it.
Insurance is covering the car and roof, but not the deductibles.
During the storm that passed over the metro area on June 22, the family’s basement experienced ooding once again.
Debbie said they took a video of the rain coming through the window and sent it to USAA. “ e good thing is we can clean up water,” said Debbie.“Water is not really the issue, it’s the fact that we had to demo the basement, we had to cut all the drywall in every single room. ere’s not a wall that hasn’t been cut.” ey lled a roll o dumpster with items such as Doug’s album collection that he had been collecting for 50 years and all their Christmas decorations.
Debbie said the drywall had to be cut out to avoid mold and the estimates to repair the lower level have ranged from $8,800 to $13,000.
Since the initial incident in May, the family has spent nearly $6,000 to have the water cleaned up and the drywall cut. e cleanup process has included buying shock vacs and fans and renting dehumidi ers.
Debbie and Doug have already spent thousands of dollars but that does not account for the thousands of dollars in household goods that were ruined and thrown away.
When Debbie was crying while holding up Christmas lights, one of her sons said they could get more at Walmart.
“I kind of looked at my son and said I’m not crying because of this, I’m crying because of the enormity of it all,” said Debbie. “I’m crying for the things we can’t get back.”
In addition, the furniture in the basement needs to be replaced as the legs were submerged in water for days along with their sons’ dressers.
Debbie said her sons have been living upstairs and sleeping on air mattresses in the kitchen.
“It’s just been such a - it’s been more than an inconvenience,” Debbie said.
As the family lives in a rural neighborhood, Debbie said she has been reaching out trying to get help but it has proved challenging.
Although Debbie works for a veterans group that helps veterans in times like these, due to her position in the company, she is unable to apply, which is a policy she agrees with.
“My husband and I are not - we’re not needy,” said Debbie. “We don’t need nancial assistance on a regular basis but something like this that you don’t budget for and that takes every resource you have, that’s when you need help.”
Debbie said she never thought in a million years that she expected her house in Colorado and to be on a hill to ood like it did.
“It is what it is,” said Debbie. “And like I tell everyone, no one’s hurt, no one’s dying and we have to kind of keep looking at that, keep looking at the positives. We ask people to be kind, we ask people to be nice to people going through a hard time.”
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