GLOBE — While the state of Arizona made emergency funding available to help with the September flooding in Globe, the federal government is not.
On Tuesday, Gov. Katie Hobbs announced that “FEMA declined to validate the documented damages, concluding that the impacts did not exceed state and local capacity and denied Arizona’s request for Public Assistance and statewide Hazard Mitigation support” for both Gila and Mohave counties.
“By denying much-needed relief, this administration is leaving Arizonans out on their own after their homes, businesses, roads, and bridges were decimated by historic storms. I will appeal this reckless decision and continue doing everything in my power to ensure Arizona communities don’t pay the price for the federal government’s senseless policies,” Hobbs said in the announcement.
At least three people died as a result of the flooding in the Globe-Miami area and, on Oct. 24, Hobbs declared a state of emergency in the two counties and petitioned FEMA for assistance.
It was estimated the flooding caused $4.1 million in damage to homes — with 187 displaced families — and $23.3 million in damage to public infrastructure. Another $1.5 million was needed for debris removal and $4.7 million to cover the costs of sheltering and search and rescue operations.
In October, the Arizona Transportation Board made $3 million in emergency funding available for road repairs in Gila County.
FEMA also denied this week disaster relief for November wildfires in Rio Blanco County, Colo.; and flooding in Archuleta, La Plata and Mineral counties, Colo.
The governors of both Arizona and Colorado are Democrats.
