UPDATE: Spring storms: Bach signs local disaster declaration
Colorado Springs Mayor Steve Bach has signed a local disaster declaration because of damage caused by heavy rain and hail from May 3 through May 12.
The declaration, which the mayor signed on May 18, 2015, outlines a preliminary estimate of $8,214,638 in damages to city roads, stormwater infrastructure, parks and trails, according to the city of Colorado Springs.
The city says the breakdown is as follows:
Public Works Department
Total: $5,349,775
Stormwater: $5,068,775
Streets Division: $281,000 (sinkhole damage only)
Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services
Total: 2,864,863
The city says that the local declaration will be sent to the Colorado Division of Local Affairs for review and then to Gov.John Hickenlooper.
If the governor submits a federal disaster declaration and it is approved by President Barack Obama, the city of Colorado Springs would receive 75 percent reimbursements from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for repairs.
El Paso County submitted a similar declaration last week.
Private land owners will not get any money if FEMA does reimburse the city.
Doris Munson and her neighbor Monika Buckley own properties that connect with city land. The city’s land around a section of Rockrimmon creek has deteriorated under heavy rain. It’s caused the hill along the creek to collapse, dragging portions of the two properties along with it.
“We woke up Saturday and our worst fears had some true,” said Munson.
Buckley had to cut her deck off her house. It was dangling from her house after the land beneath it collapsed. Munson is worried her deck will be next. Both women have packed up bags, prepared to evacuate.
The two neighbors are fearful of more rain in the forecast through Tuesday night.
“That’s the scary part tonight. I don’t think I am going to bed, it’s just so scary. I haven’t slept since it happened. You know maybe a couple hours, but not a whole night. It’s just too scary,” said Buckley.
They have contacted their city council representative, hoping to push the city to move more quickly on repairs to the section of the creek.
“He wrote in his reply, and I had to laugh, ‘If you haven’t heard in a few weeks, let me know.’ And I wrote back, ‘In a few weeks my house might not be here,'” said Buckley.
While damage from the city’s properties have lead to damage on their properties, the homeowners don’t think they will be reimbursed for any work done on their properties. They have expressed concern about the area around the creek long before this incident, pleading with the city to take care of erosion problems they saw.
“It’s a huge problem, huge. We have been talking to the city for a long time about it,” said Munson.
The city does not know when it will hear back from the federal government about getting reimbursed for flood repairs. They expect it to take several months.
