DENVER – FEMA has approved $1.7 million in Public Assistance funding for the wildfire recovery in Grand County, Colorado. The assistance was made available under a major disaster declaration issued January 15, 2021.
The funds were provided for the mitigation and repair of power distributions systems including power poles with assembly units, conductor lines, transformers, and service meters located along Colorado Hwy-125, damaged by wildfire.
The work was completed to the current Codes and Standards required by the easement with the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service. The power lines were installed underground which has proven to be successful in protecting infrastructure from fire and multiple other hazards including wind, flooding, and severe storms. Mitigation is achieved through the method of repair, by replacing the overhead power lines with underground installation.
This FEMA funding represents 90 percent of the cost of the project with the remaining cost share the responsibility of the State of Colorado and Grand County.
The FEMA Public Assistance program provides funding to governmental agencies and certain private non-profits for eligible disaster response costs and to repair or replace damaged public infrastructure. For more information about the Public Assistance program, visit: https://www.fema.gov/assistance/public/program-overview.