Home / Disasters and Accidents / Colorado Floods Cause $13.8M in Damage, Governor Seeks Federal Aid
Colorado Floods Cause $13.8M in Damage, Governor Seeks Federal Aid
14 Nov
Summary
- Flooding in western Colorado caused over $13 million in damage to public infrastructure
- Governor Polis requests federal FEMA support to help affected communities recover
- Floods breached levees, washed out roads, and damaged water infrastructure
On October 11th, 2025, heavy rains unleashed historic flooding across southwestern Colorado, causing widespread damage and prompting evacuations. The floods breached levees, washed out roadways, and damaged critical water and wastewater infrastructure, resulting in over $13.8 million in damage to public systems.
In response, Colorado Governor Jared Polis has formally requested that President Trump and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issue a major disaster declaration to supplement the state's ongoing recovery efforts. Polis stated that the floods have "devastated families, local economies, and essential public systems," and that Colorado is seeking federal partnership to help the affected communities in La Plata, Archuleta, and Mineral Counties recover as quickly and safely as possible.
Local officials had already declared emergencies and requested state assistance, which Polis approved by declaring a disaster emergency and activating the State Emergency Operations Plan. This unlocked $6 million in state funding for flood response and recovery, but the scale of the damage is extensive. Flood waters have left debris flows and sediment deposits that are now creating long-term risks for residents in the affected areas.
