El Paso County and the City of Colorado Springs learned Friday that President Biden approved its joint disaster declaration following severe storms, flooding, and tornadoes that occurred from June 8-23, 2023.
The declaration includes public assistance for emergency work and the repair and/or replacement of public infrastructure like roads, bridges, and other public facilities. Additionally, the grant supports actions to prevent or reduce long-term risk to life and property from natural hazards.
The disaster declaration enables the City and County to access resources and funding from state and federal agencies to address damages across Colorado Springs and El Paso County caused by June's unprecedented weather events and flooding. The funding also supports ongoing response and recovery efforts. Additional designations may be made later if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.
"We're grateful the President and FEMA officials approved our submission on behalf of residents of the Pikes Peak region," said Andrew Notbohm, director of the Pikes Peak Regional Office of Emergency Management. "This federal support allows us to repair and protect our public infrastructure and support ongoing recovery efforts from this incident.
We also thank Governor Jared Polis, our County Commissioners, Mayor Yemi Mobolade, and the City Council for their support of our efforts and for working together to gain this federal support."
"I applaud the White House for this action and thank the Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and local officials who worked closely together to assess damages and determine if and when a county needs support from the state or federal government to enhance their efforts in providing support for Colorado communities," said Governor Polis.
The declaration, in addition to including El Paso County, covered the counties of Cheyenne, Douglas, Elbert, Kit Carson, and Lincoln.
City and county officials now start the process to scope projects and determine eligibility before submitting them for federal approval. This collaborative effort aims to ensure a swift recovery for affected communities while working towards a more resilient future in the face of natural disasters.
Federal disaster public assistance funding is focused on public infrastructure needs to restore community services such as roads and public facilities. It is not applicable to private property repairs, including businesses. Private property owners should contact their respective insurance agencies for coverage options. Some resources for individual members of the public may be available depending on financial ability and other factors; call 211 for more information.