Pueblo County joins list of communities requesting state aid to deal with flood damage

Pueblo County issued a disaster declaration Friday because of damage caused by this month’s flooding rains.

Commissioner Terry Hart said the declaration was made Friday because the cost to repair the damage has now exceeded the $500,000 threshold required to qualify for state aid.

A specific damage estimate is not currently available.

“The flooding isn’t done,” said Commissioner Liane “Buffie” McFadyen. “Just because we have a sunny day today, we know we’re going to see more rain, and there’s no question a lot of water is coming down from Colorado Springs into Pueblo County.”

McFadyen said the last time the county saw flood damage of this year’s magnitude was in 1999 when the Pion Bridge collapsed.

The county is currently working to reroute parts of Overton Road that have fallen into Fountain Creek. In Beulah, crews are working to rebuild Northcreek Road, which collapsed earlier this week.

“It’s absolutely worrisome that we know it could possibly get worse,” McFadyen said. “Beulah could get worse and certainly so could areas in northern Pueblo County.”

El Paso County and Colorado Springs have also requested help from the state to pay for storm-related damage.

Pueblo County residents with property damage from recent storms are asked to call Pueblo County Emergency Management Coordinator Karen Ashcraft at 719-583-6202.