FLOOD07416 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

LESSONS of RECOVERY' A REViEW of TIlE 1997 COlORAdo Flood DisASTER Recovery The magnitude of the destruction in central Fort Collins became most apparent several days after the flood, when residents of what was left of the mobile home parks were allowed back in to retrieve personal belongings, Many left with only the empty boxes they brought in, unable to find a single item that could be salvaged. Not long thereafter, the City completely cleared the area and, one year after the flood, the site remained an open space area. Due both to the promptness of the federal declaration and the proximity of the FEMA regional office in Denver, the formal Preliminary Damage Assessment (PDA) was scheduled to begin just three days after the flood. The City Manager directed planning, zoning and GIS mapping personnel to work around the clock to collect damage assessment data and to represent all flood impacts in the city on the digitally-produced maps, When federal and state inspectors joined local officials for the joint damage assessment, each team was given high quality maps showing categories of damage at all locations in the city. According to FEMA officials, the maps were crucial to an efficient PDA process and a prompt declaration. A Disaster Recovery Center was established by the City of Fort Collins and the State of Colorado at the former University Mall to provide information and assistance to flood victims until federal and other supplemental assistance was available (see Disaster Recovery Centers under State Recovery Programs and Activities). Additional phone lines and computer capacity were established at Service Net, an established volunteer program in Fort Collins, so that the agency could serve as a "one-stop" location for flood volunteer coordination. Volunteers from Americorps supported a number of center operations, including staffing of the reception area, phone bank and day care center. Larimer County waived fees at the county landfill for disposal of flood debris. While the gesture alleviated one hardship for many flood victims, the volume of debris added to the landfill reduced the projected life of the facility by 25 percent, forcing Larimer County to move up the schedule for purchase of new land for future landfill sites. With the support of a $104,416 crisis counseling grant from FEMA, the Larimer County Mental Health Center instituted Project Rebound to provide disaster mental health services for Larimer County residents impacted by the flood, The FEMA grant was awarded for the period covering November 17,1997 to August 16,1998, during which time the Project Rebound staff served over 3,000 individuals. Services provided by the six paid staff members included outreach, individual crisis counseling, group crisis counseling, screening, education and information, and referrals to more intensive mental health therapy and to other services. Although family and friends of those killed and former residents of the mobile home parks were a primary focus, the staff also provided services to schools, CSU faculty and students, the business community, and other area residents. Project Rebound staff also sponsored a "reunion" for mobile home park residents on March 11, 1998, supported the City's planting of a flower garden spelling the word "HEAL" at Creekside Park on May 23, 1998, and advised the City regarding plans for the one-year anniversary commemoration. On July 28,1998, a candlelight memorial service was held at Rolland Moore Park to commemorate the first anniversary of the flood disaster. A formal recognition of flood recovery efforts was conducted at CSU's Lory Student Center and later that evening, at sunset, a community-wide moment of silence was observed. At Creekside Park, adjacent to the site of the former mobile home parks, a tree was planted to mark the end of a long year of cleanup and emotional recovery, COlORAdo OffiCE of EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT 11