Colorado’s U.S. senators and all eight members of its congressional delegation have signed a letter urging President Donald Trump to approve Gov. Jared Polis’ request for a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for the historic mid-October flooding that devastated communities across Southwest Colorado.
Polis submitted the formal request last week. If approved, the declaration would unlock FEMA Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funding for La Plata, Archuleta and Mineral counties, where days of intense rainfall triggered widespread flooding, debris flows, road failures and long-term watershed damage.
In Vallecito alone, nearly 400 homes were evacuated as water overran banks, flooded roads and overwhelmed aging drainage systems.
County officials say millions of dollars in damage has already been documented, with assessments still being totaled as crews continue to reach remote areas. Public assistance would help counties repair damaged roads, culverts, bridges and other public infrastructure, while hazard mitigation funds could support long-term flood resilience projects.
Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper, along with U.S. Reps. Jeff Hurd, Lauren Boebert, Jeff Crank, Jason Crow, Diana DeGette, Gabe Evans, Joe Neguse and Brittany Pettersen all signed the bipartisan letter, which was sent to the White House earlier this week.
The lawmakers wrote that federal support is critical to helping the tri-county region recover from a disaster “that far exceeds the capabilities of state and local governments.”
State officials have said the scale of damage – stretching from small mountain communities to downstream agricultural valleys – will require months of repair work and likely years of watershed restoration.
A major disaster declaration from Trump would unlock a wide range of federal assistance programs to provide long-term recovery assistance that local governments do not have the capacity to provide.
jbowman@durangoherald.com
