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<br />,
<br />lESSONS of RECOVER)' , A REViEW of TIle 1997 COlORAdo Flood DisASTER
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<br />The American Red Cross opened a service center at the Senior Center in Weldona to assist residents with
<br />emergency needs such as food, clothing, cleaning supplies, and meals.
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<br />Several days after the flooding, a disaster recovery center opened at the Weldon Valley School building in
<br />Weldona to provide assistance and information to flood victims. Local agencies participating in the center's
<br />operations included Morgan County Human/Social Services, Northeast Colorado Housing, Inc.,
<br />Northeast Colorado Revolving Fund, Northeastern Colorado Association of Local Governments, and
<br />Morgan Community College Small Business Development Center. State agencies representing housing,
<br />emergency management, human services, insurance, labor and employment, and business development were
<br />represented at the Weldona center, in addition to key federal disaster agencies (FEMA, SBA, USDA Farm
<br />Service Agency and Rural Development).
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<br />In the first several months after the flood, the heavily-damaged Last Stand Saloon, a local landmark and a sort
<br />of community center for area residents, was torn down, replaced with a new, modern structure and reopened at
<br />its old location, serving as a sign of progress in community recovery.
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<br />Mitigation
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<br />The lack of flood protection measures in the Weldona area has left the community vulnerable to repetitive
<br />losses when storms dump significant rainfall over Schaefer Draw. To address the problem, the Morgan
<br />County Board of Commissioners and the State of Colorado have approved the use of funds to
<br />construct flood control measures designed to divert floodwaters around the town and convey water to the
<br />South Platte River. The project, designed with the assistance of the Colorado Water Conservation Board, calls
<br />for construction of channels and a ring dike system and improvements to drainage features in and around the
<br />community. The estimated cost of the project is $600,000, with Morgan County providing $300,000 and the
<br />State committing $250,000 in CDBG funds.
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<br />Morgan County has also been designated as a "disaster resistant community" for FEMA's Project Impact in
<br />1999. The designation, partly due to the success of flood recovery efforts, will provide funds for new
<br />emergency management programs and projects around the county, including additional mitigation measures
<br />for the Town of Weldona.
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<br />"NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS"
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<br />Many public, private, volunteer and nonprofit organizations have contributed to the success of local
<br />recovery efforts in Morgan County. The groups cited below exemplify the community-based approach
<br />of "neighbors helping neighbors" through the donation of their time, skills, funds and other resources:
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<br />o Morgan County (Board of County Commissioners, Office of Emergency Management, Assessor, Sheriff's
<br />Department, Road and Bridge, Social Services)
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<br />o Volunteer Organizations (Brush Salvation Army, Fort Morgan Salvation Army, Fort Morgan Chapter of the
<br />American Red Cross, Caring Ministries)
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<br />o Housing Authorities (Northeast Colorado Housing, Inc)
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<br />o Health Organizations (Northeast Colorado Health Department)
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<br />COLORAdo OFFiCE of EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
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