Letter to Joe Biden, President of the United States, Bennet, Hickenlooper, Neguse Urge Biden and FEMA to Grant Colorado's Forthcoming Private Property Debris Removal Requests Following the Marshall Fire

Letter

President Joseph R. Biden, Jr
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President,
We write in strong support the State of Colorado's (the State) request for a 100 percent cost
share from the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) for Private Property
Debris Removal (PPDR) for the Marshall Fire disaster (DR-4634, Colorado Wildfires and
Straight-line Winds). The State has also requested that FEMA approve the PPDR program
and funds for the removal of home foundations.
As you know, your Administration, FEMA and other federal agency partners have provided
essential assistance to help Colorado communities respond to and recover from this disaster. The
Marshall Fire was the most destructive event in Colorado's history, with over $680 million in
damage. The fire destroyed 1,084 homes and damaged dozens of businesses and public facilities.
Two people are dead or presumed dead because of the fire.
Additional federal assistance is vital to jump-start the communities' economic recovery. As
small communities, with large percentages of their residential housing stock destroyed, an
increase in the federal cost share for the PPDR program from 75% to 100% is critical.
As Colorado transitions to long-term recovery, debris removal is the most urgent priority for
rebuilding. The State, Boulder County, the City of Louisville, and the Town of Superior are
collaborating on a debris-removal effort in order to minimize individual costs to survivors and
provide for expeditious debris removal that conforms to public health and safety standards.
State and local officials have determined that the debris from the destroyed homes is an
immediate threat to public health and safety and to the economic recovery of the community at
large. The State requested that FEMA approve PPDR to assist with debris-removal efforts,
including additional assistance to remove fire-damaged concrete foundations. Unlike in other
disasters such as tornados, where foundations may be reused, the intense heat of the
conflagration rendered the foundations unusable for rebuilding. This approval is vital to begin
rebuilding as soon as possible for the community's broader economic recovery.
Because of the staggering scale of the destruction from the Marshall Fire and the vast amount of
resources required for the community to recover, we believe that these requests are entirely
warranted. We urge FEMA's swift consideration and approval of the PPDR with foundation
removal request and your support for the subsequent request for additional federal assistance for
the program.
Thank you for your consideration and continued support. We continue to stand ready to assist as
we work toward full recovery.
Sincerely,
United States Senator United States Senator
Michael F. Bennet John Hickenlooper
Member of Congress
Joe Neguse