Flooding causes $1.5 million damage; mayor will apply for emergency funds

Cleanup from Monday’s flash flood and hail storm is going to cost Manitou Springs $1.5 million, the mayor said.

“The July 23 storm caused damage most visitors will not see, but will nevertheless be very expensive for the city to fix,” Manitou Springs Mayor Ken Jaray said.

The damage included repairs to roads, bridges, parking lots and storm water systems as well as the cost of debris removal. Most businesses were open the day after the storm.

“We do not have current estimates of the cost to local residents and businesses,” Jaray said.

For a small city like Manitou Springs, a million-dollar price tag is a huge hit. The mayor said the cleanup cost is about 15 percent of the city’s 2018 general fund budget. Jaray declared a local disaster emergency Thursday, which means Manitou Springs can now apply for state and federal disaster relief funding. It also lets residents and local businesses apply for those dollars.

Monday’s storm brought 2.35 inches of rain in 30 minutes and hail that piled up to people’s knees in places. Jaray described it as “an unprecedented weather event” that could have been a lot worse if not for the quick work of emergency personnel as well as years of flood mitigation projects the city’s completed with the help of county, and federal partners.

“We believe this proactive and effective response is the primary reason there were no reported causalities, no unaccounted for persons and no significant injuries resulting from this weather event,” Jaray said.

In 2013, heavy rains brought an avalanche of mud and rocks down the hillside from the burn scar caused by the Waldo Canyon Fire. One person died and at least six houses were destroyed. state