FLOOD07416

• County: Statewide
• Basin: Statewide
• Title: A Review of the 1997 Colorado Flood Disaster
• Date: 1/1/1998
• Prepared For: State of Colorado
• Prepared By: Colorado Office of Emergency Management
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Flood Documentation Report

LESSONS of RECOVERY' A REViEW of TIlE 1997 COLORAdo Flood DisASTER

Sterling

Floodwaters from the Pawnee Overflow began reaching the south end of Sterling at about 4:00 p.m.,
cresting in the downtown area around midnight. Although flood depths in Sterling were not as great as
those in Atwood, much of the city's land area was inundated by two feet or more of water, Homes,
businesses, schools, medical facilities, nursing homes, and public buildings were flooded or threatened by
flooding before floodwaters began receding early on July 31.

Between 350 and 400 homes and 60 businesses experienced at least minor damage to flooring, drywall,
furnaces, hot water heaters, furniture and other contents. Parts of the city that had more lead time were able to
place sandbags around structures and prevent more serious damages. The total cost of damages to public and
private property in Sterling, including insured and uninsured losses, is estimated at approximately $10 million.
Northeastern Junior College experienced significant flood damages as well, estimated to be in the range of $2
million (Rti, 1998), Most of the damage at the college was to the student center, cafeteria and a residence hall.

Disaster Declaration Process

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Preliminary Damage Assessment

Former Governor Roy Romer declared a state disaster and formally requested federal disaster assistance
on July 30, 1997, based on the obvious and immediate flood impacts in Larimer, Logan and Morgan
Counties and on initial damage estimates from local and state emergency management officials. Initial
damage assessment figures confirmed that available government resources were insufficient to meet local
disaster-related needs. In response to the Governor's request, the FEMA Regional Office in Denver scheduled
a joint preliminary damage assessment (PDA) to verify, with local and state government representatives, actual
damages and to estimate the amount and types of supplemental assistance needed. The PDA teams were
made up of local, state and federal personnel with the skills or knowledge of the local area needed to assess
damage to public infrastructure, homes and businesses.

Teams were also formed to identify and assess opportunities for implementing hazard mitigation measures.
Following major events such as the 1997 flood disaster, the preliminary damage assessment is intended to
provide state and federal officials with a basis for making recommendations and decisions on the level and
types of assistance required under the Stafford Act.

Federal Disaster Declaration

On August 1, 1997, President Clinton declared three northeastern counties -- Larimer, Morgan and
Logan -- eligible to receive federal disaster assistance for flood damages under the authority of the
Stafford Act. Concurrent with the presidential declaration, FEMA designated that all three principal
forms of assistance -- individual assistance, public (infrastructure) assistance, and hazard mitigation -- be made
available to the three declared counties.

COLORAdo OFfiCE of EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

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