Aid For Colorado Wildfires Tops $23.5 Million
Release Date: July 19, 2002
Release Number: 1421-24
» More Information on Colorado Wildfires
Denver, CO --Disaster Recovery Update
- Colorado received a federal disaster declaration June 19 because of wildfires burning throughout the state. The declaration covers 56 counties and two Indian reservations.
- All areas were designated for the Individual Assistance Program, which provides assistance to eligible households and businesses in the form of grants or low-interest loans.
- To date, 2,287 residents and businesses have registered for disaster assistance.
- More than $201,000 has been approved for individuals to assist with temporary housing and minor home repairs.
- State officials have approved more than $311,000 in funds for Individual and Family Grant (IFG) assistance. IFG may be used to cover disaster-related expenses, such as essential home repairs, replacement of personal property, transportation, and necessary expenses not covered by insurance or other programs.
- Individuals and businesses may apply for disaster assistance by calling the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) toll-free registration line at
1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585 for speech- or hearing-impaired individuals. Lines are open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
- Federal/state Disaster Recovery Centers are located in Durango, Woodland Park and Conifer. The Conifer location is open until July 20. At these centers, individuals can meet face-to-face with disaster recovery officials to ask questions about disaster assistance.
- The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved $3.15 million in low-interest disaster assistance loans.
- Disaster Unemployment Assistance is available through the Colorado Department of Labor for those who lost income because of the disaster and are not covered by regular unemployment programs, including farmers, farm workers, and other self-employed persons. The deadline for filing an application is July 24.
- The American Red Cross has operated 18 shelters housing 1,605 people. The Red Cross has also provided 151,302 meals and snacks. The Red Cross has provided financial assistance to 815 households affected by the fires.
- The Salvation Army has served more than 280,000 meals and snacks to date. It is supporting the Disaster Recovery Centers with bottled water and refreshments. It is also providing emergency financial assistance and pastoral care at Glenwood Springs, Cañon City and Woodland Park.
- Areas included in the disaster declaration include the counties of Adams, Alamosa, Arapahoe, Archuleta, Baca, Bent, Boulder, Broomfield (including city), Chaffee, Cheyenne, Clear Creek, Conejos, Costilla, Crowley, Custer, Delta, Denver (including city), Dolores, Douglas, Eagle, Elbert, El Paso, Fremont, Garfield, Gilpin, Grand, Gunnison, Hinsdale, Huerfano, Jefferson, Kiowa, Kit Carson, Lake, La Plata, Las Animas, Lincoln, Mesa, Mineral, Moffat, Montezuma, Montrose, Otero, Ouray, Park, Pitkin, Pueblo, Rio Blanco, Rio Grande, Routt, Saguache, San Juan, San Miguel, Summit, Teller, Washington, and Yuma, and the Southern Ute and Ute Mountain Ute Reservation.
- In addition to the June 19 disaster declaration, Colorado has received federal assistance through 16 Fire Management Assistance declarations. FEMA Fire Management Assistance Grants are made available to state and local governments, including Indian tribes, to minimize immediate adverse effects, and to manage and control fires that threaten to cause major disasters. Under these grants, FEMA will pay 75 percent of eligible costs incurred by state and local governments in fighting the wildfires. On June 14, Colorado received a $20 million advance of these funds to battle the wildfires.
- FEMA Fire Management Assistance has been authorized in Colorado this year for the following fires: Snaking - April 23; Cuerna Verde - May 1; Black Mountain - May 5; Schoonover - May 23; Iron Mountain - June 2; Trinidad Complex - June 3; Ute Pass -June 7; Coal Seam - June 8; Hayman - June 9; Dierich - June 10; Missionary Ridge - June 11; Million - June 19; Wiley Ridge - June 23; Valley - June 25; Burn Canyon - July 15; and Big Elk - July 18.
Last Modified: Friday, 15-Aug-2003 10:07:26