Conejos County Flood Victims Seek Federal Aid as Lawmakers Visit Ruins

Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet joined Representative Jeff Hurd on Thursday to assess flood damage in Guadalupe, Del Norte, and South Fork. The legislators visited the hardest-hit areas in southwest Colorado to listen to residents and local officials. They intend to amend the Major Disaster Declaration funding request sent to President Donald Trump on Saturday. The amendment will add Conejos County to the list of eligible areas for federal assistance.

Representative Hurd described the scene in person as heartbreaking. He noted that viewing the damage through social media or news broadcasts does not compare to seeing the destruction firsthand. Senator Bennet called the situation gut-wrenching. He said residents fear losing everything they have built over their lifetimes, along with the infrastructure they have relied upon for years.

Hickenlooper expressed confidence that the president will approve funding for the region. He contrasted this with the 2025 floods, where he believed the president denied funding. The senator suggested the president will need to collaborate with Democrats in his final two years in office. He predicted a different approach from Washington and the White House during this visit.

Senator Bennet emphasized the economic vulnerability of Conejos County. He described it as one of the poorest counties in Colorado. Residents there struggle to save enough money to build a house or maintain a trailer home. Bennet stated that securing every possible dollar is essential for rebuilding in that specific area.

Representative Hurd shared a conversation with a Del Norte trustee regarding the impact on seniors. The trustee reported that senior citizens are living with mold caused by the flooding. Hurd declared that the situation is unacceptable and requires a fix. He highlighted the immediate health risks facing the most vulnerable members of the community.

Sally, Felicia, and Courtney Vasquez, three generations of a family in Conejos County, described the shock of the event. Felicia recalled that the water rose above her knee in about 40 minutes. Courtney noted the daily mental and emotional toll on the community. Sally expressed hope that the water remaining in her front lawn would drain soon.

Sally said she asked county commissioner Delfino to pump out the water. He confirmed they could do so after the senators visited. She stated she needs money to fix her home because insurance will not cover the cost. As a widow living alone, she requested help from the government to repair the damage.

Rodeney King, the emergency director for Conejos County, explained that the flooding hit at a difficult financial time for the county. He reported that the county budget was cut by approximately 20 percent this year. King is negotiating with the Department of Homeland Security Emergency Management to lower the county's share of costs. He hopes to use TABOR funds, which must be repaid the following year.

King, a lifelong resident, stated that the county aims to build permanent structures rather than temporary ones. He explained that federal funding would primarily support public assistance, including infrastructure, roads, bridges, and highways. His road and bridge crews are working urgently to restore access as temperatures drop.

In South Fork, officials reported that more than 2,700 people were evacuated during the peak of the flooding. As of Thursday, 65 people have not yet returned home. More than two dozen homes remain inaccessible due to damaged bridges. First responders compared the event to the 2013 floods, noting that the current winter timing makes rebuilding vital roads like US 160 more challenging.