BOARD02309

• Board Meeting Date: 9/27/1999
• Description: Flood section - 1999 Flood Response Update
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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Note No. I: In 1999, the State of Colorado received $897,475 in grant funding from FEMA for
hazard mitigation projects. These dollars must be matched by non-federal dollars, which makes .
the total funds available at 1.2 million dollars. The State hazard Mitigation Team (SHMT) made
a recommendation that priority would be given to non-structural applications. The SHMT
received 15 applications totaling 4.4 million dollars. In 1997, the State of Colorado received
$2.0 in grant funding from FEMA for hazard mitigation projects. In 1997, the non-structural
condition was not placed on the applications and the SHMT received 33 applications totaling
over 40 million dollars.

Note No.2: A requirement of a Presidential Disaster Declaration is the prepation of a "Colorado
Flood Hazard Mitigation Plan - 409 Plan". The CWCB prepared the first plan in 1984. The 409
plan was updated in 1998 in response to the 1997 Disaster Declaration and the plan must be
updated again in 1999 - No submittal or comment in this memorandum, but the Board will be
presented with the 1999 recommendations at its January or March 2000 meeting.

LESSONS LEARNED AND STATE NEEDS

I. In the 1990's, the State of Colorado has realized that the FLOOD GODS do not ask us when
it is okay to have a FLOOD.
2. The state can respond to the actual flood crisis in an acceptable manner, but preparedness,
response and recovery is still a "feel it" as we go process, and history has demonstrated that
maybe this procedure is the best way.
3. The Board does not have the financial resources to hire field staff, contract for engineering
services immediately, during/following a flood event, contract for aerial photography, and .
collect, document, and publish the findings of the flood event.
4. The questions are still presented by the flood victims between the 7'h and 14th day which are:
· What is goverrunent going to do?
· When can we move back into our homes?
. What are the recovery plans?
· Why wasn't I told about flood insurance?
5. Coordination of federal and state government financial assistance programs.
6. Don't make promises that you can not fulfill!
7. The 1999 mountain rainfall events were very extreme and add new data and information to
theDNR-CSU Extreme Precipitation Study.
8. Channel and streambank erosion continues to be a major flooding problem throughout the
state.

RECOMMENDATION AND ENDORSEMENT

I. Recommend that staff use available funds in the Severance Operational Account which is
presently designed for floodplain management to reconstruct and document the three noted
extreme mountain rainfall events.
2. An endorsement that the staff pursue the preparation of a proposal for the establishment of a
flood emergency recovery planning account. Such an account would offer the Board a
program for assisting flood-ravaged communities in their efforts for preparing a recovery
plan, and provide for reconstruction opportunities. __

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