Value of Mitigation
For every $1 spent on mitigation efforts we save $6 in future disaster costs. The State of Colorado is currently working to protect $60 million of values in Lake City by providing a state unified coordination group to support Hinsdale County flood mitigation efforts caused by avalanche debris.
The State of Colorado declared a state emergency on May 6, 2019. The declaration allows the State Emergency Operations Center to access the Disaster Emergency Fund and activate the Resource Mobilization Plan to provide resources to support Hinsdale County.
As of June 6, 2019, the State Colorado has invested $1.18 million. This includes all resource requests processed through WebEOC and the state share of two Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) grants obtained to pay for the deconstruction of the Hidden Treasure Dam and avalanche debris.
The total costs of flood prevention efforts in Hinsdale County are approximately $3.4 million dollars. This includes:
- NRCS Grants: $2.03 million
- State Share: $1.18 million
- County Share: $171,000
- Town Share: $21,000
- Volunteer In-Kind Value: $39,000
Hinsdale County Fast Facts: June 7, 2019
- Incident Name: Hinsdale County Flood Threat and Mitigation
- Incident Start Date: March 19, 2019
- Location/ County: Lake City / Hinsdale County
- Cause: Avalanche debris causing blockages leading to potential flood threats
- Evacuations: None at this time
- Fatalities/Injuries: None at this time
- Structures Lost: 2 homes destroyed, 1 home damaged, Rose Lime Kiln destroyed, Hidden Treasure Dam deconstruction
- Resources Assigned: State Unified Coordination Group
- Executive Orders: Hinsdale County Declaration: May 7, 2019, State of Colorado Declaration May 6, 2019
- Funding: Disaster Emergency Fund (DEF), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program
- Costs to Date: $3.4 Million (NRCS, State, County, Town, Volunteer)
Statewide Flood Mitigation and Planning Efforts
How is the State of Colorado supporting other flood preparedness and mitigation efforts across the state? Preventing disasters and mitigating threats saves both the state and individuals money. The return on investment is that for every $1 spent we save $6 dollars in disaster costs. State investment in mitigation efforts totals an additional $6.98 million from the fall of 2018 to June 2019. State of Colorado agencies supported the following:
La Plata County following the 416 Fire
- Early Warning System funding for radar [DOLA, DHSEM, CWCB]
- Resiliency Planning [DOLA]
- Rain Monitoring Guages [DEF]
- Watershed Restoration Grant [CWCB]
Huerfano and Costilla Counties following the Spring Fire
- Local Recovery Manager (2) [DHSEM, DOLA, CWCB]
- NRCS EWP State Match [DHSEM]
- Watershed Restoration Grant [CWCB, DHSEM]
- Alert and Warning System [DHSEM, DEF]
Eagle County following the Lake Christine Fire
- Re-vegetation and Erosion Control [CPW]
- NRCS EWP State Match [DHSEM]
Credits:
UCG