Colorado Disaster Recovery Update
Release Date: July 5, 2002
Release Number: 1421-15
» More Information on Colorado Wildfires
- 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, 1,743 residents and businesses have registered for disaster
assistance.
- More than $136,000 has been approved for individuals to assist with
temporary housing and minor home repairs.
- State officials have approved more than $99,000 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 have been established at Ca?n
City, Durango, Woodland Park and Glenwood Springs. 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 more than
$457,000 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 23 shelters housing 1,605 people.
One shelter remains open, housing 31. The Red Cross has also provided
more than 132,000 meals and has four service centers open serving those
affected by the fires.
- The Salvation Army has served a total of 308,425 meals and snacks
to date. They are supporting the Disaster Recovery Centers with bottled
water. They are also providing emergency financial assistance at Glenwood
Springs, Ca?n 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 14 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.
- 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; and Valley - June 25.
Last Modified: Friday, 15-Aug-2003 10:34:47