Colorado Will Pay Soldiers Rebuilding Flooded Highway 36
DENVER (AP/CBS4) - Colorado will pick up the tab for National Guard engineers helping rebuild the main highway leading to Rocky Mountain National Park because of the federal government shutdown.
Gov. John Hickenlooper said Tuesday that Colorado will use its flood disaster fund to pay the 120 soldiers working on U.S. Highway 36 in hopes that the Federal Emergency Management Agency will later agree to reimburse 75 percent of the cost. He expects the state share to be between $10,000 and $20,000 a day.
"We want to make sure we don't lose a single day in getting these roads open and communities back together again," Hickenlooper said.
A bill passed by Congress protects payments for active-duty personnel but Colorado officials don't believe that covers soldiers assigned to training missions building roads.
Still undecided is whether Colorado will also pay about 450 Guard members from Utah, Kansas and Wyoming who are scheduled to be brought in in waves during the next two months as the state tries to get at least one passable lane open on all state highways destroyed by the floods by Dec. 1. About half of state roads that were damaged have reopened.
VIDEO: News Conference: Gov. Hickenlooper On Shutdown Effect On Road Repairs
Gen. H. Michael Edwards, who oversees the more than 5,000 Colorado Army and Air National Guard members, said it's possible more federal help could be available.
On the eve of the shutdown, Hickenlooper had vowed to continue the work if the "knuckleheads" in Washington couldn't work things out. On Tuesday, he jokingly deflected a question about who exactly he was talking about: "Are you questioning whether there are knuckleheads in Congress? Make your own list."
But, in a serious note, Hickenlooper said the problems facing the nation politically were greater than the state faced in recovering from the floods.
"This country has bigger issues that it needs to resolve," he said.
Additional Information From The Governor's Office
The governor and Chief Recovery Officer Jerre Stead announced a handful of other updates today:
- U.S. 34 between Greeley and Kersey and U.S. 34 between County Road 27 and the Dam Store will reopen today or Thursday morning. 16 of 31 (52 percent) of impacted roadways are now open.
- 15 of 17 counties impacted by flooding are now approved for individual assistance from FEMA. Register with FEMA by phone at 800-621-FEMA (3362). Call center hours are 5 a.m. to 8 p.m., MST, seven days a week. Or register online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov.
- FEMA has approved $33.9 million so far for individual assistance.
- The Small Business Administration has approved $1.4 million for disaster assistance.
- There are more than 1,200 FEMA personnel on the ground in Colorado.
- 33 school districts received extensions this month for their official count day.
- Federal reimbursements will not count toward the state or local government's fiscal year spending limits under TABOR.
Colorado Floods: How To Help
The recent floods are impacting families and communities throughout Colorado, so CBS4 has compiled a list of ways you can support the local communities impacted by the floods.
COMPLETE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN COVERAGE: More From CBSDC.com
- By Colleen Slevin, AP Writer
(TM and © Copyright 2013 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
