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La Junta Salvage Yard

LA JUNTA, CO - The City of La Junta's salvage yard had been operating since the late 1960s and had become a blight within the community. The property was under water whenever there was high water in the Arkansas River. The owner felt that the problem was going to get worse over the years.

 

The City of La Junta's objective for the acquisition project was to clear the floodplain of structures and/or flood proof the existing commercial structures to minimize the flood damages. The fear was that the next flood would wash debris into the properties and then into the Arkansas River Bridge downstream.

 

Five months after the salvage yard was cleared, a 50-year flood event occurred. The project prevented approximately $500,000 in damages to the Arkansas River Bridge and downstream properties.

 

Standard Homeowner's insurance policies do not cover flood damage. The National Flood Insurance Program makes Federally backed flood insurance available to homeowners, renters, and business owners in participating communities.

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