The recovery issues are going to be very numerous and difficult in CO, since several mountain towns have been evacuated totally.  With lack of basic, functional infrastructure, and with winter weather fast approaching, recovery is going to be very slow and difficult. The Diva would like to study the towns of Lyons and Estes Park, but funding for that work and the ability to travel there preclude that option for the time being. If there are readers and/or grad students in those locales who would like to help track the progress, please let me know.

Regarding the flooding, one account I read said that some places received rainfall that was twice their usual annual amount.

And this article raises questions about possible connection of the unusual rains with climate change: Colorado floods triggered by convergence of geography and climate, experts say. Some excerpts:

The torrent of water that gushed over and down the Rocky Mountains late last week resulted from a fateful confluence of geography and weather. While the deluge is unprecedented in the historic record, it may offer a window onto the new normal as the planet continues to warm.The exact role of global climate change in the deluge is uncertain, but it certainly played a part, according to climate, weather and policy experts.

As of Tuesday, more than 17 inches of rain had fallen since Sept. 12 in Boulder, Colo. The soaking, described as “biblical” by the National Weather Service, left at least eight people dead with hundreds more still missing and rendered untold millions of dollars in property damage.

Here is another take on the weather and climate details.