NEWS RELEASE
BOULDER COUNTY
*************************
Boulder County, the Town of Superior, and the City of Louisville have been hearing many questions and about the county’s debris removal program and we want to assure you that we are working together to alleviate your worries and get you the answers you’re looking for. First off, we’d like to thank many of you for your overwhelming support of the program. To-date, more than 1,000 residents have completed a right-of-entry (ROE) form to let us know if you’d like our assistance with the cleanup, or if you’re going to move forward on your own. A vast majority of those who have responded have chosen to participate and we look forward to working with you on this substantial cleanup effort.
For those of you still undecided on how you’d like to proceed, we know you have a lot going on and a lot of important decisions to make, so we’re extending the deadline to submit the ROE until Tuesday, Feb. 8. You can learn more at www.BoCo.org/Marshall-Debris-Cleanup.
The answer to many ROE-related questions and more are available on the county’s debris removal program frequently asked questions (FAQ) webpage – www.BoCo.org/Debris-Removal-FAQS. This webpage is updated often with new information, so please check back frequently for new questions and answers. In addition, our debris removal team is still available to help at the Disaster Recovery Center (DRC), 1755 S. Public Road in Lafayette, each day and can be reached at [email protected] or by calling 303-214-3203.
Debris Removal Costs and Scope
We have received numerous questions about costs and the scope of work of the debris removal. We’re still having daily conversations with each other, the State, and with FEMA about things like inclusion of foundation removal, retaining walls, sidewalk and driveway replacement, and new items that come up each day. For that reason, we cannot yet provide a solid estimate on what it will cost to cleanup an individual property. The FEMA Private Property Debris Removal (PPDR) program the county is applying to FEMA for reimbursement under has the following cost share break down: 75% from FEMA; 12.5% from the State of Colorado; and, the remaining 12.5% coming from local government. The county plans on submitting the PPDR application to FEMA this week and is anticipating a two- to four-week review and return timeframe. Louisville and Superior are working to understand the costs beyond what homeowner insurance will cover and what funding sources may be available if there is a funding gap.
Indemnification Language
The Indemnification language on the ROE is a requirement for Federal Reimbursement. Property owners will not be held liable if any contractors are injured while debris is being removed from their property.
Timeline
Another important question is about the timeline of the debris removal program, specifically, when it will start and how long it will take. With a disaster of this size and scope we do expect it to take many months. Please know we will do everything we can to expedite the cleanup process. We currently have a proposal out for bid from qualified contractors who want to complete this work. Bids are due back by February 1. It will take a few days to review the proposals and qualify the applicants, but we’re hopeful we’ll be able to award the contract the second week of February. Once a contractor is on board, we will start identifying priority areas for debris removal. In order to make the cleanup equitable and inclusive across all jurisdictions, we will work with the selected contractor on a plan to spread the effort out across the burned areas with a focus on environmental justice mapping to create a holistic picture of intersecting environmental, social, and health impacts. We want to ensure that those who were hit hardest by this disaster and may not have the resources needed to rebuild quickly and easily get the help they need to get back on their feet and into their permanent home.
Work Completed To-Date
While the meetings to plan this monumental debris removal program have been going on, we’ve already had thousands of feet on the ground putting in countless hours to complete some of the initial phases of this effort. Thanks to hundreds of volunteers and dedicated local government staff, we’ve collected hundreds of pounds of spoiled food at community collection events, removed almost two hundred cars and dozens of trees and other debris that were blocking access to neighborhoods, and conducted a door-to-door campaign to provide more information about the overall effort and register people for the curbside collection work at non-fire-destroyed properties. Starting this Sunday, we’ll begin the curbside collection of smoke- and wind-damaged items from homes that were not destroyed. Many of you may have met with a county representative during the door-to-door assessment work that took place two weeks ago. You can expect to see volunteers helping us in your community during the next few months of this cleanup effort. They are trained professionals who have helped numerous communities in other states and here in Colorado cleanup and rebuild from fires, so their help is greatly appreciated.
Hydro-Mulch
Within the next two weeks, Boulder County’s Public Works will also start applying soil stabilization, also known as “hydro-mulch,” to destroyed properties to help prevent the spread of ash into the air and into surrounding stormwater systems and waterways. This work is separate from the debris removal program. The team in charge of this effort is currently reaching out to property owners to provide more information and to see where people are in their own efforts to retrieve items from their homes with the help of trained volunteers who can assist with safely sifting through ash. We want to make sure you have the time you need for these volunteers to look for keepsakes and family treasures that may still be sitting under the ash. Once the hydro mulch is applied, we’re asking that no one enter a property as it will disturb the mulch which could potentially release ash into the air.
Thank You
Thank you all for your patience and understanding as we work through this early phase of the recovery effort. The last month has been hard on everyone who was touched by this devastating event, but the work you have already put in towards rebuilding your homes and communities is astounding and is to be commended.
We want to let you know that we are here each day and will continue to be available to help you and your family with everything from cleanup to the rebuild of your home until the last house receives the final coat of paint and everyone is back home in Louisville, Superior, and unincorporated Boulder County. If there’s anything we can do to help, please reach out and we’ll do our best to work with you to get the assistance you need. The debris team remains available at the Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) to help and you’re welcome to call the hotline (303-214-3203) or email them ([email protected]) at any time to ask questions.
*************************
.jpg;w=120;h=80;mode=crop)
