On Saturday, Dec. 20, the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) denied Colorado’s two disaster requests, including the one for the flooding that occurred in southwest Colorado in October.
The other request was for support following the Elk and Lee fires in Rio Blanco County.
The following day, Dec. 21, Gov. Jared Polis and Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper announced appeals would be filed soon after the “late Saturday night” denial and called on President Donald Trump to reverse the decision.
Regarding the flooding in Archuleta, La Plata and Hinsdale counties, the denial letter states:
“This is in response to your November 12, 2025, request for a major disaster declaration for the State of Colorado as a result of severe storms, flooding, landslides, and mudslides during the period of October 10-14, 2025. You specifically requested Public Assistance for Archuleta, La Plata, and Mineral Counties and Hazard Mitigation statewide.
“Based on our review of all of the information available, it has been determined that supplemental federal assistance under the Stafford Act is not warranted. Therefore, I must inform you that your request for a major disaster declaration is denied.”
The letter, signed by Karen S. Evans, the senior official performing the duties of the administrator, also notes the denial may be appealed within 30 days of the date of the letter.
The Stafford Act — the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act — was signed into law in 1988 and covers, among other things, aid to states for disaster relief and assistance.
In its Dec. 21 press release, the state of Colorado notes, “These federal declarations would have unlocked FEMA funding to support the recovery efforts for each of these disasters, providing critical aid to impacted Western Colorado residents and businesses.”
Polis suggested the denial is related to political games.
“Coloradans impacted by the Elk and Lee fires and the flooding in Southwestern Colorado deserve better than the political games President Trump is playing,” he said. “One of the most amazing things to witness as governor has been the resilience of Coloradans following a natural disaster. Their courage, strength, and willingness to help one another is unmatched — values that President Trump seems to have forgotten. I call on the President’s better angels, and urge him to reconsider these requests. This is about the Coloradans who need this support, and we won’t stop fighting for them to get what they deserve. Colorado will be appealing this decision.”
Bennet — who is running for governor — called the denial “unacceptable” and blamed political games.
“President Trump’s decision to deny Colorado’s request for critical federal assistance is unacceptable,” he said. “Communities in Western Colorado are in serious need of help after the life-threatening flooding and historic wildfires earlier this year. Trump continues to use Coloradans for political games; it is malicious and obscene. A disaster is a disaster, regardless of what state in the country it took place. Together with Governor Polis and the Colorado delegation, I will take every available step to appeal this decision.”
Hickenlooper also called it a game.
“Coloradans are trying to rebuild their lives after fires and floods destroyed homes and communities across our state. Trump’s decision to reject our disaster requests, and therefore withhold resources as our communities continue to recover, is unacceptable. This isn’t a game. These are people’s lives,” said Hickenlooper via the press release.
Attempts to reach Congressman Jeff Hurd’s offices were unsuccessful by press time Tuesday, but, according to a Colorado Public Radio article on the denials, Hurd “noted that Western Colorado has long supported Trump, and now the same areas are ‘facing the real human and economic consequences of recent disasters.’”
“‘Local leaders and residents are seeking a consistent application of FEMA criteria so recovery efforts can move forward,’ Hurd said in a statement. He’s asking the Administration to work with the state on an appeal.”
Locally, Town of Pagosa Springs Manager David Harris called the denial disappointing.
Harris explained that throughout his career he’s seen a lot of disasters funded, both larger and smaller, calling the denial “atypical.”
He acknowledged there were about a dozen disasters that were still pending at the federal level for relief at the time of the local floods.
He added the area is going to have to do “a lot of this ourselves.”
He explained the town has started reaching out, finding grants from other state and federal agencies for repairs that need to be done, adding a handful of grants have been identified and are in process.
Harris further explained the donations made to the Community Foundation serving Southwest Colorado were able to fund a team from the Southwest Conservation Corps to address debris, mostly in the parks, and start the cleanup process.
He added some of the big projects the town is still facing include the river cleanup, including riverbank stabilization and repairing recreational features in the river.
He added the town is also using the disaster declaration to help it fast-track some projects, such as what will be a lift station near the museum and the 1st Street bridge where the sewer pipe was taken out by debris during the flood.
That lift station, he explained, will be done in conjunction with a planned pedestrian bridge in the same area.
“We’ll find a way forward,” he said, adding that Pagosa Springs was fortunate and things could have been a lot worse.
Warren Brown, vice chair of the Archuleta County Board of County Commissioners, also expressed disappointment with the decision.
“Without the funding, we have limitations of what we can do,” he said, and the county won’t be able to move forward with needed repairs. “Right now we are getting by, but that doesn’t mean it’s getting fixed right.”
Brown also noted in calling the denial disappointing that “our community is comprised of very hardworking people who keep their head down and take care of their families” and who ask very little of the federal government.
According to the state’s press release, “A recent study shows that for every $1 Coloradans pay in federal taxes, we only receive $0.90 in federal investments. The state of Colorado invested over $57.5 million in these and other disasters since July 2024. The State does not have the capacity to continue to provide assistance to local communities to support the recovery efforts without federal assistance. The losses from both of these disasters exceeded FEMA’s threshold to approve a federal disaster declaration.”
Historic floods
Pagosa Country experienced two historic floods in four days thanks to moisture from the remnants of a pair of tropical storms, Priscilla and Raymond, with peak flows occurring on Oct. 11 and 14.
The flooding for the San Juan River at Pagosa Springs peaked at 8,270 cubic feet per second (cfs) and 12.66 feet at 6 p.m. on Oct. 11 and again at 8,560 cfs and 12.82 feet at 5:15 a.m. on Oct. 14, putting the two events as the fourth and third highest on record, respectively, behind floods in October 1911 and June 1927.
Other area river levels were also significantly impacted, including the Piedra and Blanco rivers.
The increased moisture also led to a significant increase in the level of Navajo Lake Reservoir. On Oct. 9, Navajo was at 6,020.44 feet elevation. By Oct. 21, that had increased by 12.10 feet to 6,032.54, according to the Lake Navajo Water Database.
Flooding also took place in La Plata and Hinsdale counties over the same span.
Polis verbally declared a disaster emergency on Oct. 12, activating the State Emergency Operations Plan and authorizing initial state support. That was later memorialized in Executive Order D 2025 021, which unlocked $6 million in state funding for flood response and recovery.
The press release notes the state sent field and emergency operations personnel to all three counties, and led extensive damage assessments alongside local partners.
The press release adds local jurisdictions declared their own emergencies beginning Oct. 11 and requested state assistance “as hundreds of homes were threatened or inundated, levees broke, and roadways washed out across the region. Despite this damage, thankfully no fatalities or injuries were reported.”
The release notes more than 60 miles of road and associated culverts, drainage structures and embankments were destroyed or severely compromised in the three counties. Additional verified damages include widespread debris removal needs, significant impacts to water control facilities such as the Big Meadows Reservoir, major sewer system failures in Pagosa Springs and the San Juan River Village Metro District, and severe damage to parks, riverwalks, and recreation infrastructure that support local economies.
“Damage totals exceed $13 million and are expected to rise as further assessments continue. Again, these losses exceeded FEMA’s threshold to approve a federal disaster declaration,” the press release notes.
The flooding, it adds, “destroyed or damaged essential drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, including near-total sewer system failures in the Pagosa Springs area. Floodwaters breached levees, triggered evacuations for nearly 400 homes, prompted multiple boil-water advisories, and caused at least 11 high-water rescues by local first responders. Rivers reached historic levels — including the San Juan River’s third-highest crest since 1911 — and debris flows, sediment deposits, and rechanneling of waterways have created long-term risks for residents living along Vallecito Creek, the Piedra River, and the San Juan River basin.”
Elk and Lee fires
Polis verbally declared a disaster emergency on Aug. 3 for the Elk Fire, which was updated on Aug. 6 to include the Lee Fire.
The governor also authorized the deployment of the Colorado National Guard and unlocked over $18.5 million dollars in state funding for suppression, response and recovery efforts, the press release states. This verbal declaration was later memorialized through an Executive Order on Aug. 28.
“The state has demonstrated, and FEMA validated, an initial $27,491,064 in damages from these fires and mudslides, which is expected to grow over time,” it states.
The press release notes Rio Blanco County’s economy is driven largely by energy production, particularly from the Piceance Basin, which produces approximately 2 to 5 percent of the United States’ daily consumption of natural gas.
“This local industry is powered by two local utility providers who have sustained over $24 million in damages to their infrastructure. Without support to recover local utility infrastructure, stalled production risks the local economy, major rate increases on Coloradans and beyond, and local economic collapse.”
randi@pagosasun.com
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