Flooding Affects More Than Property
Stress, anxiety, grief, sleep problems, and trauma responses are common after a flood. Rural residents may also face damaged roads, power outages, communication disruptions, lost income, and limited access to services. Even if you were not evacuated, you may still be affected.
Common Reactions After a Flood
- Anxiety or worry
- Trouble sleeping
- Difficulty concentrating
- Sadness or irritability
- Withdrawal from others
- Increased concern about safety
- Worry about future weather
These reactions are common and often improve with time and support.
Rural Recovery & Coping
Check in with neighbors, especially older adults, children, and people living far from town or services.
Practical Ways to Cope
- Maintain routines when possible
- Stay connected with others
- Limit disaster news and social media
- Ask for help when needed
- Check on neighbors and family
- Focus on one step at a time.
Recovery Involves More Than Property
Flooding affects more than property. It can affect people, families, and livelihoods long after the water recedes.
If stress, worry, sadness, or other reactions continue to make daily life difficult, consider reaching out for additional support. Call or text 988 for free, confidential emotional support at any time.
Recovery takes time, and you do not have to go through it alone. Asking for help is a practical step toward healing and recovery from a disaster.
Helping Rural Families Cope After a Flood
Children may show stress through:
- Sleep or eating changes
- Irritability or clinginess
- Trouble concentrating
- Headaches or stomachaches
Support children by providing reassurance, maintaining routines, and listening without judgment.
When to reach out for help
Seek support if distress:
- Lasts several weeks
- Interferes with daily life
- Affects work, school, or relationships
- Leads to increased substance use
- Includes thoughts of self-harm
Recovery includes caring for people as well as homes, land, livestock, and communities. Most people adjust and recover with time, support, and connection.
Visit CSU Extension’s Emergency Disaster Recovery page for additional disaster relief support.
Colorado Rural Support Resources
- Emergency: Call 911 for an immediate threat to life or safety.
- Colorado 988
- Call or text 988 for free, confidential crisis support, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- 988Colorado.com
- Colorado Agricultural Addiction and Mental Health Program (CAAMHP)
- 10 Free counseling sessions for people in agriculture from people who understand rural life.
- Colorado Department of Agriculture Behavioral Health Resources
- AgriStress Helpline
- Confidential support for farmers, ranchers, agricultural workers, and their families. Call or text 833-897-2474 (833-89-AGRI), 24/7.
- Farm AID
- Farmer Resource Network connects farmers to a network of organizations across the country that help farmers find the resources they need after a natural disaster.
- Call: 1-800-FARM-AID (1-800-327-6243)
- Farm Rescue
- Need Help? Farm Rescue assists Farmers and ranchers with the operational support they need in times of crisis