Aid For Colorado Wildfires Tops $28.3 Million Disaster Recovery Update
Release Date: August 13, 2002
Release Number: 1421-38
» More Information on Colorado Wildfires
- The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved $7.9 million
in low-interest disaster assistance loans.
- As of Aug.13, a total of 2,652 Colorado residents and businesses have
registered for disaster assistance.
- More than $247,000 has been approved for individuals to assist with
temporary housing and minor home repairs.
- State officials have approved more than $392,000 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.
- A total of 134 Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) claims have
been filed and $42,055 in assistance has been disbursed. The deadline
for filing an application has been extended to Aug. 23.
- Individuals and businesses may apply by calling the
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) toll-free 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. weekdays. The deadline to register for assistance has been
extended to Sept. 9.
- Colorado received a federal disaster declaration June 19 because of
wildfires burning throughout the state. The initial declaration covered
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.
- On Aug. 1, the declaration was extended to cover Jackson, Larimer
and Weld Counties because of the Big Elk fire.
- Areas included in the disaster declaration are Adams, Alamosa, Arapahoe,
Archuleta, Baca, Bent, Boulder, Broomfield (city/county), Chaffee, Cheyenne,
Clear Creek, Conejos, Costilla, Crowley, Custer, Delta, Denver (city/county),
Dolores, Douglas, Eagle, Elbert, El Paso, Fremont, Garfield, Gilpin,
Grand, Gunnison, Hinsdale, Huerfano, Jackson Jefferson, Kiowa, Kit Carson,
Lake, La Plata, Larimer, 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,
Weld and Yuma counties, and the Southern Ute and Ute Mountain Ute reservations.
- Colorado has received 17 Fire Management Assistance (FMA) declarations
this year. FMA Grants are made available to state and local governments
and 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 (includes Spring - June 3 and Fisher - 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; Big Elk - July 18; and Panorama - July 31.
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Last Modified: Friday, 15-Aug-2003 09:45:32