RBC | In our Aug. 20 letter we wrote, “In coming weeks, Rio Blanco County and partners will be assessing damage, evaluating and re-evaluating recovery needs. We’ve established work recovery areas to address these needs and appointed leads for each focus area. This coalition will guide the recovery process when state emergency managers depart on Friday afternoon.”
The work we described continues.
We can’t fix things we don’t fully understand, and we can’t ask for help if we can’t accurately describe our situation. Over the past month, we’ve been cataloging and documenting damaged infrastructure and impacts across the county. This information, with the Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) team’s findings, NRCS’s Emergency Watershed Protection analysis, and USGS’ water monitoring is being used to convey our need and find appropriate avenues for assistance.
The information we compiled and a subsequent report by the Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM) was provided to Governor Polis, and on Friday the Governor officially requested a Major Disaster Declaration from President Trump and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
We continue to pursue other funding opportunities in addition to this FEMA request.
Throughout this process, daily needs persist and change is constant. Every time rains bring flooding, Rio Blanco County crews assess new damage and balance these needs, often pivoting from planned projects to prevent further damage. Our Public Works crews have spent nearly 1,000 hours clearing debris — sometimes until well past 3 a.m. Not many will witness their work at this hour, but we all benefit.
We’d also like to congratulate the White River Conservation District on their behind-the-scenes work and success in winning a $531,000 USDA Community Wildfire Defense Grant to mitigate severe wildfire risks in areas that impact our White River watershed. Recent events demonstrate the importance of watershed protection, and this proactive work improves resilience and that benefits all of us.
Thanks to all who continue this work to support our community on the front lines and behind the scenes.
We recover together.
By RBC Commissioners
Jennifer O’Hearon,
Doug Overton and
Callie Scritchfield