The Polis administration on Friday filed appeals with the Federal Emergency Management Agency after the agency rejected Colorado’s request for $41 million in disaster aid for Western Slope fires and floods.
“We are submitting these appeals to help ensure that the Colorado communities impacted can get the support they deserve to recover more quickly,” Gov. Jared Polis said in a statement.
“Whether fires or floods, Coloradans have been deeply impacted by these natural disasters,” Polis said. “With this appeal, we hope that the federal government steps in to help Coloradans recover stronger.”
In late December President Donald Trump denied two disaster relief requests to deal with damage caused by wildfires in northwestern Colorado and a flood in the state’s southwest.
The rejection of the relief requests drew criticism from state officials and U.S. Rep. Jeff Hurd, a Republican who represents the region.
“Western Colorado has long supported the president, and that support comes from communities now facing the real human and economic consequences of recent disasters,” Hurd said in a statement. “Local leaders and residents are seeking a consistent application of FEMA criteria so recovery efforts can move forward.”
The Lee fire was the fourth-largest in the state’s history, reaching more than 137,000 acres. At the same time, the nearby Elk Fire covered 15,000 acres.
The fires burned through rugged terrain between Aug. 2 and Aug. 29, and together covered more than 237 square miles, an area larger than the City of Chicago causing an estimated $27.4 million in damage.
About $23.6 million of the damage was the destruction of two White River Electric Association high-voltage transmission lines serving oil and gas operations in the Piceance Basin.
“This region is extremely valuable to Colorado and the nation due to the significant oil and gas production generated in the area,” the appeal said. “The assets in this region provide approximately 2 billion cubic feet of natural gas daily, which accounts for between 2% and 5% of the United States’ daily consumption,”
“We have submitted all of our information to the state for the appeal and are hoping for the best,” WREA spokesperson Kari Matrisciano said in an interview.
The Lee fire burned near oil and gas well pads southwest of Meeker on Aug. 4. (Jed Selby, Special to The Colorado Sun)In September, the state asked for a major disaster declaration from FEMA opening the way for federal aid. The state had spent $18.5 million for fire fighting and recovery, the appeal of FEMA’s decision said.
The fires, the appeal said, also impaired agriculture with mudslides and debris covering a wide area. Irrigation ditches have been filled with silt and fences have been damaged.
“There are approximately 6 miles of irrigation ditch maintenance required in the burn area,” the appeal said “A recent effort to clean only 1.8 miles of the ditch cost $86,000.”
Flooding affected all or parts of five counties
In southwestern Colorado, heavy rains between Oct. 10 and Oct. 14 swelled streams and rivers in the Vallecito, Piedra, San Juan River and South Fork Rio Grande basins — covering all or parts of five counties.
“The intensity and widespread impacts of the floods pulled significant resources from local and state partners,” the flooding aid appeal said. “This was compounded by other ongoing emergency incidents that required regional and state resources to be dedicated concurrently.”
The state spent about $6 million to help deal with the flood damage.
The floods damaged the infrastructure of counties, municipalities, and special districts causing $13.8 million debris removal costs and damage to roads, culverts, and other publicly-owned infrastructure, and high costs for debris removal.
“In Archuleta County alone, the per-capita indicator equates to more than $995 per person to repair damages to roads and other county infrastructure,” the appeal said. “The total annual road repair and maintenance budget for the county falls vastly short at approximately $7,000,000, when total costs exceed $13,292,000.”
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