May 22, 2008—Colorado Tornado One-Year Anniversary
Multiple Agencies Contribute to Disaster Recovery
Denver - The EF3 tornado that struck Weld and Larimer counties approximately one year ago on May 22, 2008, left behind destruction but also demonstrated the cooperation and strong local leadership that is necessary for successful disaster recovery. Since the tornado multiple agencies have supported recovery efforts in the community. Some of this assistance has included:
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According to the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association (RMIIA) the tornado added up to an estimated $193.5 million in insured damage from approximately 24,000 auto and homeowner claims - making it Colorado's most expensive tornado.
(Contact: Carole Walker, RMIIA, 303-790-0216)
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The U. S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved more than $3 million in disaster loans to individuals and businesses in Weld County who suffered damage from the May 22, 2008, tornadoes and severe storms. SBA is the federal government's primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and covers the cost of replacing lost or disaster damaged personal property. These disaster loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations. Below is the breakdown of the loan approvals for Weld County, which includes the Town of Windsor:
Home Loans: $2,125,100
Business/Economic Injury Loans: $635,200
Non-Profits: $284,300
(Contact:SBA Field Operations Center - West, 916-735-1500)
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Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) assistance to individuals and households not already covered by insurance included:
- 90 applicants received $170,022 in Housing Assistance grants to provide a safe living environment in the immediate aftermath of the tornado
- 96 applicants received $246,813 in Other Needs Assistance to repair or replace disaster damaged personal property not covered by insurance, disaster-related medical and dental expenses, transportation and other items
- 3 applicants received Disaster Unemployment Assistance totaling $10,144
- 1,579 people applied for federal assistance
- 1,038 people visited the Federal/State Disaster Recovery Centers set up immediately after the disaster in Windsor, Gilcrest and Wellington
(Contact: FEMA Region VIII News Desk, 303-235-4908)
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Through an additional $542,070 FEMA grant, crisis counselors from North Range Behavioral Health conducted home visits, group counseling sessions and distributed information to help individuals through their recovery process. Through April, crisis counselors made 37,454 contacts in tornado-impacted communities. Crisis counseling provides crucial support to individuals impacted by a disaster by helping them navigate their own recovery process, deal with the emotional trauma resulting from a disaster and provide access to community resources that can assist in their recovery.
(Contact: Dana Wellman, North Range Behavioral Health, 970-313-1143)
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has provided the following assistance:
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Food Nutrition Service provided Disaster Food Assistance Benefits, which included $29,795 in Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (DSNAP) and $5,736 in replacement and supplemental benefits.
(Contact: Cheryl Kennedy, USDA, Food Nutrition Service 303-844-0306)
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Rural Development has provided
- 13 Guaranteed Rural Housing Loans for the purchase of homes totaling more than $2.2 million
- A $50,000 Rural Business Enterprise Grant
- An application for a $2.67 million loan and $800,000 grant for the Windsor Police facility are currently in process
- Rural Development also worked with insurance and state lenders to assist residents displaced from the 37-unit Cottonwood Apartments damaged by the tornado
(Contact: Amy Mund, Public Information Coordinator, 720-544-2906)
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The U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) provides payments for retirees and their dependents, survivors and disabled individuals. Each month SSA pays approximately $43.7 million to 40,694 beneficiaries in Larimer County and $28.2 million to individuals in Weld County. The Agency also provides Supplemental Security payments to 4,938 aged or disabled individuals who have low income and resources. These payments add about $2.1 million to the economy in Larimer and Weld counties. Fortunately, only a few individuals needed assistance with their payments as a result of the tornado. SSA issued emergency payments to those individuals and provided referrals to a number of people who needed assistance from agencies other than Social Security.
(Contact:Jan Foushee, Regional Communications Director, 303-844-0840)
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Local, state, federal and volunteer agencies have worked together to support community-wide long-term recovery under Emergency Support Function 14. Recovery projects have included:
- Rebuilding entry way corridors damaged by the storms
- Re-building Green and energy block grant applications
- Notification and disaster communications systems in rural areas
- Long-term individual and family recovery
- Repair or rebuild of damaged municipal buildings and facilities
- Mitigation projects and potential use of state Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to support disaster recovery
(Contact: FEMA Region VIII News Desk, 303-235-4908)
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The Northern Colorado Tornado Long-Term Recovery Team has provided recovery assistance to individuals impacted by the disaster. This group includes faith-based organizations, service clubs, United Way, American Red Cross, Stepping Stones, local human service organizations, private companies, individual volunteers, and local, state and federal government agencies.
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As of May, long term recovery assistance to individuals and the community has included:
- Total Contributions and Grants: $323,692
$207,254 in private contributions
$116,438 in Restricted CDBG * - Distribution of Funds:
Immediate Response Grants ** $ 27,495
Long Term Recovery Grants *** $296,197
$116,438 Restricted CDBG
$114,237 Allocated for Recovery Assistance Grants
$ 65,522 Currently Reserved for Pending Cases
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Total Funds to Be Disbursed for
Tornado Assistance to Clients $323,692
* Restricted CDBG Funds can only be allocated for debris removal expenses.
** Immediate Response Grants covered immediate needs of people impacted including money for gasoline, food, debris removal costs not covered by other assistance programs, storage and items for families who had exhausted other immediate response resources
*** Long-Term Recovery Grants have helped people with unmet needs. Funds are helping with the recovery process where other financial and community resources were not available to help, have reached their maximum or could not be covered do to restrictions. Examples include home rebuilding, uninsured property loss, displacement related expenses, lost property not covered by renters insurance, removal of glass from grass, which is causing a safety concern for families, helping with costs and expenses not covered by insurance, helping with expenditures that have been a significant burden on people and directly related to the tornado.
(Contact:Bob Hinderaker, President of Signature Bank and Chair of the Long Term Recovery Team, 970-674-3604)
- Total Contributions and Grants: $323,692
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Local leaders also have offered their success stories and lessons learned from last year's tornado to communities trying to recover from disasters, including a tornado in Bulgaria and Hurricane Ike in South Texas.
(Contact: Dawn Jaeger, Town of Windsor, 970-674-2414)
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The Town of Windsor has undertaken several rebuilding initiatives and is currently a finalist for the 2009 All-America City Award (http://www.ncl.org/), which celebrates partnerships and community collaboration. Rebuilding initiatives include:
- Repair and Remodel of Town Hall, a 1910 building, with a new board chamber and an elevator, increasing aesthetics, functionality and accessibility of the tornado impacted building, with grant assistance through the Colorado Department of Local Affairs
- Repair and Remodel of the 1909 Art & Heritage Center that lost its roof in the tornado. This building is on the historic register and was the town's original town hall. It is being repaired with insurance funds and remodeled with a grant from the state historic fund.
- Re-Creating Chimney Park, which was destroyed by the tornado, by gathering $1.2 million in community donations from 69 companies and various community and individual volunteers
- Monitoring the rebuilding and repair of 418 structurally tornado-damaged homes, all of which are currently in a state of progress and recovery
- Rebuilding tornado impacted buildings with Green or energy efficient systems through a $47,200 grant from the Governor's Energy Office
- A new police facility will break ground in August 2009
- Master planning is ongoing for the downtown corridor, which was heavily impacted by the storm with funding assistance from the Department of Local Affairs
(Contact: Dawn Jaeger, Town of Windsor, 970-674-2414)
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The State of Colorado also provided funding for tornado recovery efforts through the Colorado Department of Local Affairs Division of Emergency Management, Division of Local Government, and Division of Housing, including:
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An executive order making $500,000 in state funding available to assist in disaster response and recovery efforts. To date $204,603 has been spent and another $24,016 has been allocated and is awaiting dispersal.
(Contact: Brandon Williams, CO Division of Emergency Management, 720-852-6630)
- The Division of Local Government has provided the following funding through Energy and Mineral Impact Assistance Fund Grants:
- Windsor Town Hall Renovation and Tornado Repairs - $1 million
- Windsor Downtown Master Plan - $13,000
- Windsor New Police Station - $646,642
- Windsor Tornado Recovery Staffing - $89,208
- Windsor-Severance Fire Protection District Fire Museum Rebuild - $198,544
- Technical Assistance (Colorado State University) - $6,000
- Weld County multi-level tornado early warning system - $486,300
- Gilcrest tornado recovery (covers public facility repairs not covered by insurance) - $757,910
- Gilcrest Purchase of replacement police car (paid for difference not covered by insurance) - $17,000
(Contacts: Linda Rice, CO Department of Local Affairs, 303-866-6249;
Dawn Jaeger, Town of Windsor, 970-674-2414) -
The Division of Housing amended the existing CDBG Program - Homeless Services contract with Larimer County to address displaced residents. The amendment allowed the Division to contribute an additional $116,438 to recovery efforts.
(Contact: Linda Rice, CO Department of Local Affairs, 303-866-6249)
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An additional $589,561 in CDBG funding has also been earmarked, pending applications from local agencies, for disaster recovery in Weld County.
(Contact: Linda Rice, CO Department of Local Affairs, 303-866-6249)
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Last Modified: Thursday, 21-May-2009 17:59:41 EDT