The disaster assistance center, which is located at 1755 S Public Rd in Lafayette and helps Marshall Fire victims with things like insurance, emergency unemployment assistance and emergency housing, is closing Saturday, Jan. 22 at 5 p.m. to in-person services.
Victims will still be able to receive assistance by visiting this link.
"The jointly located federal/state Disaster Recovery Center at 1755 S. Public Road in Lafayette, including Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) along with multiple state agencies will continue to operate in the south half of the building. Hours will remain 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily until further notice," Boulder County officials said in a news release.
Since opening Jan. 3, the disaster assistance center has provided $5 million in direct financial assistance and over $30 million in disaster loans, officials said. More than 2,000 households have been helped.
“We are deeply moved by the collaboration we have seen here at the Boulder County Disaster Assistance Center,” said Boulder County Housing and Human Services interim co-director Paul Jannatpour in the release. “Teams of people from every one of these organizations have poured heart and soul into responding to our community following the devastation of the Marshall Fire, and while we have a long way to go in recovery, we have a strong foundation from which to begin that work. Our focus will continue to be on helping our neighbors through this unbelievably difficult time.”
Some transportation assistance is available for those needing it to get to the Boulder County Disaster Assistance Center. Call Via Mobility at 303-447-9636 for information.
Those impacted by the Marshall Fire are encouraged to visit this website for English and this one for Spanishto learn about the recovery process and find out about available resources for which they may qualify
Victims can also go to disasterassistance.gov or call 1-800-621- FEMA (3362) to find resources
Housing is clearly a major concern, with nearly 1,000 homes destroyed. Polis said the rental housing supply is limited to the point that not every victim will be able to find a place in Boulder County. Some will have to relocate to other counties or perhaps live in an RV for a while, the governor said.
Below are additional resources.
Behavioral Health Resources
- Colorado Crisis Services : 1 (844) 493-8255, or text “TALK” to 38255, to speak with a professional counselor about any area where you could use support for yourself or a loved one, from loneliness and isolation, to stress, relationship issues, substance use and other common concerns.
- JFS Boulder County Crisis Counseling: In response to multiple tragic events over the last year, Jewish Family Service and Community Foundation Boulder County have partnered to offer counseling services to Boulder County residents. The program offers up to $500 towards five individual counseling sessions (a maximum of $100 per session), or up to $875 towards five family counseling sessions (a maximum of $175 per session) and provides a pool of licensed providers from which to choose.
- I Matter: 3 free mental health sessions for any youth in the state, largely available via telehealth.
- Mental Health Partners: Call (303) 443-8500. MHP outpatient services
- are closed Monday, Jan. 3rd and will re open 8 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 4th
- NationalDisaster Helpline: Call (800) 985-5990
Mental health support is also available at each of the evacuation shelters
Applying for FEMA Assistance
Anyone impacted by the Marshall Fire can apply for FEMA’s Individual Assistance Program. Individuals should first call their insurance agents and then apply for federal assistance. Apply for FEMA assistance online or by calling 1-800-621- 3362. If you do not have rental or home insurance, please apply for FEMA assistance.
Applying for U.S. Small Business Administration Assistance (SBA)
Federal assistance is available from the SBA to businesses of all sizes and private nonprofit organizations may borrow up to two million dollars to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory and other business assets. SBA can also lend additional funds to businesses and homeowners to help with the cost of improvements to protect, prevent or minimize the same type of disaster damage from occurring in the future.
To be considered for SBA assistance and all forms of federal disaster assistance, survivors must first contact the Federal Emergency Management Agency at this website. Additional information and details is available by calling the SBA Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955.
Insurance Information
If you have been displaced by the fires, contact your insurance agent or company immediately to let them know where you are staying. Not only can they help you with coverage or claims questions, they can help find lodging options as many people in the area will be temporarily displaced.
To find the contact information of your homeowners or auto insurance company go to this website to find insurance company claims filing telephone numbers.
Save all receipts for living expenses if you’ve been evacuated or displaced by the fire, as homeowners or renters in these situations typically have insurance coverage for additional living expenses (ALE) which provides them with an amount of out-of-pocket money while evacuated. Check with your insurance company or agent about your coverage. If you are unable to live in your house or apartment because of the fire, most policies will also reimburse you the difference between your additional living expenses and your normal living expenses. Again, check with your insurance company or agent about your coverage.
Start the claim process as soon as you can. For your home, any out buildings and vehicles, you’ll want to contact your insurance company or agent right away to begin the claim process. However, these fires were devastating and many people have been significantly impacted, so the insurance process will take time.
If possible, and only if it is safe to do so, try to document any damage by taking photos.
If your home survived the fires, it may still have experienced damage from smoke or water, or to the electrical systems or other damage due to the extreme heat or the snow and cold. As with direct fire damage, contact your insurance company or agent as soon as possible to start the claims process.
If you have questions about insurance, contact the Division of Insurance. The Division’s Consumer Services Team will staff the phones and answer emails from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., including this weekend and next weekend. While claims need to be filed with the insurance companies, the Division can assist consumers with questions about insurance and the claims process. Contact the Consumer Service Team by calling 303-894-7490 / 800-930-3745 (outside of the Denver metro area) or emailing DORA_Insurance@state.co.us or visit our website, doi.colorado.gov.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
