Jacob Appenzeller became stranded in Pagosa Springs the night of Nov. 1, when floodwaters swept a home from its foundation onto a bridge, destroying U.S. Route 160 between the resort town and his home in Bayfield.
After two days stuck on the wrong side of the border, far from home, Election Day came and went in a blur. This is the second major flooding in two weeks. Homes in the Four Corners of Alamosa were hit by 20 trillion gallons of rain after a summer of punishing drought.
As the region began to dry out, Appenzeller swore his ballot was back home, forgotten.
“I would have voted for laws. I’m kind of done voting for people,” he said. “But I couldn’t even vote. It’s the first time and since I was 18, I haven’t been able to vote. Because I was stuck in Pagosa on voting day.”
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As disillusioned as he may be with people in politics, Appenzeller said he is thinking about them, hoping they will do the right thing. A year ago, the White House turned down federal disaster funding to help the region recover from flooding. This was at a time when President Donald Trump was pressuring Gov. Jared Polis to commute the sentence of former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters.
After Polis commuted his sentence, the federal government released $90 million in long-delayed disaster mitigation funds in September. So maybe this time it would be different.
“I just hope we get our funding. I mean, I know Trump likes to sit back a little bit,” Appenzeller said. “I know he’s not a big fan of our governor, but I hope they can work through their differences and help us however they can.”
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The Colorado delegation is lobbying the federal government for funds.
On Saturday morning, Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet and newly re-elected Rep. Jeff Hurd arrived in Pagosa Springs by military helicopter as they toured the damaged area. They spent about an hour in their office next to the town’s airstrip, meeting with local officials to learn their next expectations from the federal government.
The list was long. Natural gas lines were compromised, Archuleta County Sheriff Mike Le Roux said. There were still communities stranded beyond the destroyed roads. Pagosa Springs Mayor Shari Pierce pointed to the city’s sanitation system, which she said was “hanging by a thread.” But the biggest worry was the number of homes destroyed, here and in Durango to the west. People were already unemployed. Many did not have flood insurance. These towns would need money, quickly, to keep their residents housed and their businesses open before winter.
Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite
Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite
“Are there any resources that you or someone else requested that you were unable to obtain or had difficulty obtaining? Hurd asked Pagosa Springs City Manager David Harris during the discussion.
“Just the disaster declaration,” Harris responded. “It’s the big kahuna. Last year and this year.”
State and local governments can apply for disaster funding through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, for short-term emergencies and long-term rebuilding. A town like Pagosa Springs could receive money for roads, homes, utilities and parks. Business owners can apply for grants. Immigration status is not intended to impact eligibility.
But as FEMA funding became increasingly politicized under the Trump administration, many Democratic leaders feared their states’ applications would not be approved.
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While some of the aid requested for the devastating Aspen Acres and Gold Mountain fires was approved this summer, individual aid — to help residents rebuild or recover losses — was denied. Instead, Polis is lobbying the federal government for aid through the Small Business Administration (SBA) to help victims of these disasters, rather than appealing the denial.
But SBA assistance comes in the form of loans, not grants, meaning homeowners or renters must repay the federal government, with interest, if their funding goes through.
Hurd and Bennet said they are leading the charge to ensure a federal disaster is declared following recent flooding, and joined their colleagues asking for help from President Trump in a letter signed by Colorado’s entire congressional delegation on Nov. 4.
“Our state partners have been great, and now it’s the federal government’s turn to make sure we support every person in this wonderful county, getting things back up and running as quickly as possible,” Hurd told the crowd. “It was eye-opening to see the extent of the damage and devastation as we arrived in Pagosa Springs this morning.”
Bennet said “the chaos of our political system” is an obstacle right now, but State is doing its best to make sure its pitch lands with the president.
“As the governor’s office has said, they’re thinking about the best way to tell this story, to get the funding that we need,” he said. “Jeff Hurd and I are going to lead the delegation to make sure this gets to the top of the president’s office, one way or another.”
Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite
Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite
In the meantime, residents are helping each other as best they can.
Students from Pagosa Springs High School, currently out of class, came to Jodi Jacquinot’s house last Thursday to help her clean up the oozing mud that covered everything. She was planning to open an antique store here at the River Center Mall on November 6th. Instead, almost everything she had collected for the opening had been destroyed.
“It’s a big blow,” she said. “But Pagosa comes together and supports each other. And so we have to keep going. Every day, that’s what we tell ourselves: keep going, keep going, keep going.”
Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite
Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite
Jacquinot said about 20 community members showed up to help, including excavation workers who volunteered with backhoes. She hopes the government will help businesses and community members like her.
“We need support, this is what we do,” she said.
And even though a heavy context weighed on its ruined storefront, the parking lot on Friday was alive with joy. Jacquinot’s friends and family danced while cleaning old plates and trinkets. This was how they would get by, neighbor to neighbor, at least for now.
Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite
Jacob Appenzeller, who was stuck here as roads were washed away, said he saw communities along the flood plain coming together. As a home builder, he expects to be busy soon. He will do his work voluntarily, of course, but he would also like to be paid for it. This could be a lean winter for many people.
“Politically, I don’t care. I just want all the help that this community deserves. And I believe we all deserve a little help,” he said.
Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite
Appenzeller said there is a glimmer of hope, despite the severity of these disasters. As disorganized as America may feel, especially in November, these past few weeks have revealed a unity worth remembering.
“I think maybe the storm hit at the right time. Because when everyone should be screaming and yelling at each other, they’re all out there in their dirt boots helping each other,” he said. “I think it’s cool.”
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