Holly Sturgon never imagined that the home she thought would be her “forever home” would turn into a heartbreaking project of dismantling, piece by piece. Eleven years ago, when she first moved in, it felt like the start of a long, happy chapter.

But fast-forward to today, and that dream has crumbled – literally. Her once-beloved house now resembles more of a garage sale, with everything from toilets to pendant lights up for grabs. The reason? A devastating flood unearthed a secret that no homeowner should ever face.

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Sturgon’s home, along with a few others in her Colorado neighborhood, had been built on land that was never supposed to have homes on it in the first place. Beneath her house lay what used to be a retention pond, a safety net meant to catch excess water during floods. But decades ago, developers had filled in the retention pond and built homes without warning buyers of the looming risk. 

In 2023, the reckoning came. An unprecedented flood rolled in, and the water returned to where it once belonged. Sturgon’s house, along with others, stood no chance. The flood wreaked havoc on the homes, revealing their fragile foundations.

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“People walking by must be thinking, ‘What in the world is happening here?'” Sturgon told 9News, visibly emotional as she recalled the day it all came crashing down. “It’s been an emotional roller coaster. For a while, I cried every day.”

The emotional weight of it all has been crushing. But Holly isn’t alone in her grief. Her story echoes across the country as natural disasters grow more frequent and fierce, from wildfires to hurricanes. Climate change is rewriting the rules, and places like Johnstown, Colorado, face the consequences head-on. 

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Once overlooked or repurposed, retention ponds are now seen as vital infrastructure to prevent future flooding. In Sturgon’s case, that meant the unthinkable – her home had to go. Officials decided that to protect the community from future floods, they needed to restore the land to its original purpose.

“I’m going to miss this place,” Sturgon said softly, her voice heavy with sadness. “What hurts the most is saying goodbye to the people we’ve grown close to. We didn’t just build a house here, we built relationships.”

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The emotional toll doesn’t end there. Although the town agreed to repurchase the homes for a fair price, staying in Colorado is no longer an option for Sturgon’s family. With the average home price in the state at a staggering $514,618, finding another home within their budget is impossible. 

For the Sturgons, affording another home in the state they love is simply impossible, thanks to the rising housing costs. “We’re being priced out,” Sturgon admitted. “It’s heartbreaking. We love Colorado, but staying here is no longer an option.” With no affordable alternatives, Holly and her family are making the difficult decision to relocate to Georgia, where home prices are more reasonable and they can be closer to family.

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