Explained: Uninsured and flooded out, a Colorado man worries if life will be normal again

Matthew Martinez, 60, has lived nearly his whole life in a canyon on the Navajo River in southwestern Colorado and had never seen severe flooding before now.

El Niño

A climate pattern involving warm Pacific Ocean water that disrupts weather, making heavy rains more likely and intense.

FEMA

Federal Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. government agency that responds to disasters.

Four Corners region

The area where Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah meet, hit by the recent storms.

flood insurance

A separate insurance policy covering flood damage, which Martinez could not obtain due to his home's proximity to the river.

emergency voucher

Temporary financial assistance Martinez is using to pay for an Airbnb after being displaced.