DENVER ~ Governor Jared Polis of Colorado has submitted appeals to President Trump after the state's two Major Disaster Declaration requests were denied for the Elk and Lee Fires, as well as the flooding in Western Colorado.

In a statement, Governor Polis expressed his concern for the impacted communities and their need for support in recovering from these natural disasters. He emphasized that Coloradans have been deeply affected by these events and hopes that the federal government will step in to provide assistance.

The Lee Fire, which grew to become the fourth-largest fire in Colorado's history, burned over 137,000 acres. At the same time, the Elk Fire also caused significant damage, reaching nearly 15,000 acres. The fires burned through complex and rugged terrain, covering a total of 237 square miles - an area larger than the City of Chicago. Due to their size and intensity, these fires required significant resources from local and state partners. According to local and state damage assessments as well as FEMA's Joint Preliminary Damage Assessment, the fires caused $27,491,064 in damages.

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The floods in Western Colorado also caused extensive damage to infrastructure such as roads, culverts, and publicly-owned structures. This has had a significant impact on individuals, households, and businesses that rely on these resources. After conducting local and state damage assessments verified by FEMA's Joint Preliminary Damage Assessment, it was determined that this incident caused $13,820,036 in damages.

In Archuleta County alone, it is estimated that each person would need more than $995 to repair damages to roads and other county infrastructure. However, with an annual road repair budget of only $7 million for the entire county while total costs exceed $13 million - there is a significant shortfall.

Governor Polis has appealed for both incidents - the Elk and Lee Fires as well as Western Colorado flooding - urging President Trump to reconsider providing federal assistance to help Coloradans recover and rebuild stronger. The full appeal can be read for more details on the damages and the need for support.

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