WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 7, 2023
VOLUME 36 | ISSUE 40
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THOMAS SUES Looking for attorney fees
County to get FEMA funds for tornado damage BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
County officials will be meeting with state and Federal Emergency Management Agency officials to go through all the expenses that were incurred related to the severe storms that took place across the state between June 8 and June 23. President Joe Biden issued a disaster declaration for the State of Colorado on Aug. 25 to provide funding to several counties for their efforts to make repairs in their communities.
Douglas, Elbert, Cheyenne, El Paso, Kit Carson and Lincoln counties — which saw flooding, severe storms and tornadoes — are receiving federal assistance. Colorado was approved for FEMA’s Public Assistance Grant Program. After an event like a tornado, earthquake, wildfire or flooding, the assistance program provides supplemental grants to state, tribal, territorial and local governments. Following the declaration, FEMA officials and public assistance experts will work with the state and
CALENDAR: 9 | VOICES: 10 | LIFE: 12 | SPORTS: 31
counties to formally go through expenses from the damage assessment. “We write out everything,” said Micki Trost, a state communications director for the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, when it comes to damage and recovery. “And then that’s approved by FEMA.” The funding is aimed at “qualifying expenses” for public infrastructure and does not include assistance to individuals, according to an email
SENIOR CENTER Healthy aging programs
LOCAL IMPACTS A look at Proposition HH
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SEE FEMA, P8
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