President Obama issued a
major disaster declaration for the State of Colorado today. The declaration triggers the release of
Federal funds to help our Colorado communities recover from the Severe Storms,
Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides that occurred May 4 to June 16,
2015. The current declaration includes 11 counties: Baca, Elbert, El
Paso, Fremont, Logan, Morgan, Pueblo, Saguache, Sedgwick, Washington and Yuma.
The State has been
awarded the Public Assistance and the Hazard Mitigation grant programs. The Public Assistance program is for
emergency work and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged
facilities. The Hazard Mitigation
program provides assistance for actions taken to prevent or reduce long-term
risk to life and property from natural hazards.
All counties in Colorado are eligible to apply for the Hazard Mitigation
Grant Program.
“We are appreciative to
the President for authorizing the major disaster declaration to the State of
Colorado. It will bring much needed financial assistance to our community hit
by the devastating spring storms.” said Colorado Division of Homeland Security
and Emergency Management (DHSEM)
Director Kevin Klein. “We look forward to continuing our partnership
with FEMA during this recovery process.
Our staff is committed to our continued work with local jurisdictions to
complete additional damage assessments in order to add the communities to this
disaster declaration.”
This declaration allows
additional designations to be made at a later date. The Colorado DHSEM continues to work to
conduct damage assessments in other areas of the state impacted by the spring
storms.
