SACHA PFEIFFER, HOST:
A week after devastating floods in the Southwest, officials in four states are still tallying up the damage, and it's already clear they'll be requesting federal disaster assistance. In Colorado, residents are wondering if they'll get it. After big floods last year, the aid didn't come immediately. At the time, President Trump was in a political spat with Colorado's governor. Colorado Public Radio's Havalin Haskell reports that people hope things are different this time.
HAVALIN HASKELL, BYLINE: Donald Kubelka's single-story two-bedroom house is just steps away from the San Juan River in Pagosa Springs, Colorado.
DONALD KUBELKA: Sorry, I'm at a bit of a loss for words. It's a bit overwhelming.
HASKELL: A red line tracing around the yellow exterior walls shows where the river wrapped around his house up to the windows. His two kids' toys are strewn around the yard.
So do you think you're gonna have to take down the entire house?
KUBELKA: Yeah, let me show you.
HASKELL: OK.
Inside, red mud coats the floors and the walls. Waterlogged wallpaper is peeling away in sheets. There's a strong, musty smell in the air.
KUBELKA: We had a inch of mud come through on the first flood that got up to about a foot and a half.
HASKELL: Wow.
The first flood was three weeks ago. The second was bigger, and both hit exactly a year after floods big enough that Colorado asked for federal disaster assistance. Kubelka would welcome some help, but he doesn't know where to begin.
KUBELKA: So, you know, they gave me a list of - here's a bunch of numbers to call. It's like, OK, but what am I supposed to say? Hey, hi, I'm Donald, and I got flooded out of my house, and I don't know the first thing about anything, so...
HASKELL: Pagosa Springs Mayor Shari Price (ph) is trying to get Kubelka and his neighbors some help.
(CROSSTALK)
HASKELL: At this public meeting, Price introduces members of Colorado's congressional delegation who are here to see the damage.
SHARI PIERCE: For those who don't know, and Representative Jeff...
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: Jeff (inaudible).
HASKELL: Price (ph) says her town of about 2,000 people is going to need federal help to recover. Some 700 homes here saw flood damage.
PIERCE: I'm hopeful, but it's also critical that we get that funding. We just can't do it without it.
HASKELL: Price (ph) says roads, bridges and utilities are hanging on by a thread. Many homeowners, including Kubelka, don't have flood insurance, and people here are worried about whether federal aid will come. Last October, President Trump initially denied disaster assistance. At the time, Colorado's Democratic governor, Jared Polis, was refusing to release one of Trump's political allies from state prison. Five months later, the governor commuted her sentence, and the aid, more than $90 million, was delivered.
(SOUNDBITE OF HEAVY EQUIPMENT RUMBLING)
HASKELL: Jacob Appenzeller hopes President Trump's beef with Colorado is over now.
JACOB APPENZELLER: I know he's just (ph) not a big fan of our governor, but I hope they can get their differences away and help us out however they can.
HASKELL: Appenzeller, a contractor, and one of his employees are parked on the side of a road, trying to figure out what to do.
APPENZELLER: I just hope we get our funding. I mean, I know Trump likes to kind of sit on his hands a little bit on some funding like that.
HASKELL: The highway is washed out ahead, and they can't get to their construction job site. Colorado's governor has requested Trump fast track a major disaster declaration. A couple of weeks ago, the Federal Highway Administration responded with $6.5 million towards a requested 65 million to repair highways. Overall, the state saw far more extensive damage. This week, state officials are visiting six counties to compile comprehensive damage assessments. They have not said when they expect to have final numbers that they would submit in a federal funding request. For NPR News, I'm Havalin Haskell in Pagosa Springs, Colorado. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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