The Trump administration has denied Colorado\u2019s two appeals for major disaster declarations, blocking millions in federal aid for communities recovering from historic floods and wildfires in rural parts of the state and limiting support for rebuilding and mitigation efforts.<\/p>\n
The federal decision blocks communities in northwestern Colorado from accessing FEMA public assistance after the Elk and Lee fires<\/a> scorched more than 137,000 acres in Rio Blanco County last August and caused damage initially estimated atalmost $27.5 million<\/a>. Severe flooding in southwestern Colorado two months later resulted in more than $13 million in damage<\/a> to infrastructure.<\/p>\n It is the first time in 35 years Colorado has been denied federal assistance as part of the major disaster declaration request, state officials said Monday.<\/p>\n \u201cThese disasters caused real damage to homes, infrastructure, and local economies, and Coloradans should not be left to shoulder these costs alone,\u201d Gov. Jared Polis said in a statement Monday night, calling the denials disappointing.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe will continue supporting impacted communities and exploring every available path forward, but the federal government must be a reliable partner in disaster recovery,\u201d the governor said.<\/p>\n FEMA\u2019s denial this week comes after Colorado\u2019s members of Congress earlier this year asked the agency to reverse its rejection of $41 million in federal aid<\/a>.<\/p>\n Sens. John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet on Monday called the denial of funds \u201ccallous\u201d and a decision that would leave rural Coloradans \u201cfooting the bill\u201d in recovery efforts.<\/p>\n \u201cDisasters are disasters, regardless of state lines or political parties,\u201d the senators said in a joint statement. \u201cCritical infrastructure remains unstable, costs continue to rise, and communities remain at risk. The President is solely responsible for this abdication of responsibility; the consequences of which will continue to be severe and long-lasting.\u201d<\/p>\n The state said it would continue to work with local partners to support rebuilding and reduce long-term risks to communities across Colorado. Since July 2024, the state said it spent more than $57.5 million in these natural disasters, among others.<\/p>\n The Lee fire was the fourth-largest in the state\u2019s history, while at the same time, the nearby Elk fire burned 15,000 acres. Together, the lightning-sparked fires covered more than 237 square miles, an area larger than the city of Chicago.<\/p>\n About $23.6 million of the damage was the destruction of two White River Electric Association high-voltage transmission lines serving oil and gas operations in the Piceance Basin.\u00a0<\/p>\n