Governor Polis Submits Appeal on Major Disaster Declaration for Elk and Lee Fires, and Western Flooding in Colorado

DENVER - Today, Governor Polis submitted appeals to President Trump, who denied Colorado's two Major Disaster Declaration requests for the Elk and Lee Fires, and the flooding in Western Colorado.

"We are submitting these appeals to help ensure that the Colorado communities impacted can get the support they deserve to recover more quickly. Whether fires or floods, Coloradans have been deeply impacted by these natural disasters. With this appeal, we hope that the federal government steps in to help Coloradans recover stronger," said Governor Jared Polis.

Elk and Lee Fires

The Lee Fire was a record-setting event in Colorado. It grew to become the fourth-largest fire in the state's history, reaching over 137,000 acres. Concurrently, the Elk Fire ramped up a few miles away, reaching nearly 15,000 acres. The fires burned through complex and rugged topography, together burning over 237 square miles, larger than the City of Chicago. The size, intensity, and close proximity of these fires pulled significant resources from local and state partners. As shown by conducting a series of local and state damage assessments, and verified through FEMA's Joint Preliminary Damage Assessment, this incident caused $27,491,064 in damage.

Western Colorado Flooding

The floods caused consequential damage to the infrastructure of counties, municipalities, and special districts, as well as to valuable natural resources. Individuals, households, and businesses that rely on the landscape and infrastructure that existed pre-disaster were immediately impacted and still face impacts today. After conducting a series of local and state damage assessments, verified through FEMA's Joint Preliminary Damage Assessment, this incident caused $13,820,036 in damage to roads, culverts, and publicly-owned infrastructure, and high costs for debris removal.

In Archuleta County alone, the per capita indicator equates to more than $995 per person to repair damages to roads and other county infrastructure. The total annual road repair and maintenance budget for the County falls vastly short at approximately $7,000,000, when total costs exceed $13,292,000.

Read the appeal for the Elk and Lee Fires, and for the Western Colorado flooding.

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