Disaster Aid for Colorado Flooding Exceeds $5 Million 

Release Date: June 21, 1999
Release Number: 1276-29

» More Information on Colorado Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- As of June 21, disaster assistance for individuals, families and businesses in Bent, El Paso, Larimer, Otero, Pueblo and Weld counties exceeded $5 million, state and federal recovery officials said today. More than 2,269 residents have applied for assistance as of June 21.

Federal Coordinating Officer Scott Logan of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) said housing grants for 1541 households have reached $1,438,295 in the six counties to fund essential emergency repairs that make a home livable or to cover the cost of alternate housing for homeowners or renters whose dwelling is unlivable due to the flooding.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved $3,270,900 in low-interest disaster loans for businesses and individuals. SBA loans are the primary means of restoring or replacing uninsured or underinsured disaster-damaged real estate, personal property and business facilities.

State Coordinating Officer Tommy Grier said the state-administered Individual and Family Grant Program has assisted 284 households in the declared counties with a total of $542,180. The Individual and Family Grant Program, funded 75-percent by FEMA and 25-percent by the state, helps to meet serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance or other assistance programs.

The Presidential disaster declaration issued for Colorado on May 17 makes residents eligible to apply for a variety of state and federal disaster assistance programs. Although flooding caused the majority of disaster losses, other storm-related damages may also qualify. Anyone with disaster related losses should call FEMA's toll-free registration number 1-800-462-9029 (TTY 1-800-462-7585) to begin the assistance process.

If you have already applied for assistance and need information about disaster-related programs or the status of a filed application, call the Disaster Helpline at 1-800-525-0321 (TTY: 1-800-462-7585) or visit a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) in La Junta at 215 Raton or in Colorado Springs at 1521 Hancock Expressway (the Colorado Springs DRC will close permanently at 7 p.m. on Thursday, June 24).

Last Modified: Tuesday, 16-Dec-2003 15:14:17