When a disaster declaration was issued by Gov. Jared Polis, related to extreme winter weather conditions, it failed to recognize the impacts on communities and residents of the Eastern Plains, a letter authored by Southeast Colorado Republican Rep. Ty Winter reads.
The same storm system which impacted residents in other areas of the state dumped heavy snow on the sparsely populated Eastern Plains and stretched resources to their extent, the letter indicates.
“Over the last 10 days, the Eastern Plains in Colorado have endured severe weather and blizzard conditions. Colorado’s farmers, livestock producers and rural families were faced with single-digit, below-zero temperatures, and other life-threatening conditions,” a letter from four legislators begins.
The letter, dated Jan. 12, was signed by Reps. Ty Winter and Richard Holtorf, and by Sens. Byron Pelton and Rod Pelton, and on letterhead from Winter’s office. Holtorf and Byron Pelton represent districts in Northeast Colorado. Rod Pelton resides in Cheyenne Wells and represents the central and southern areas of the Eastern Plains.
The legislators note the governor had issued a disaster declaration activating the Colorado State Emergency Operations Plan to “take all necessary and appropriate state actions to assist the affected jurisdictions with their response, recovery, and mitigation efforts.” Those are areas which can be found along Interstate 25 north of Jefferson County, the letter indicates.
The letter continues: “Despite our severe weather, the southern and eastern parts of our great state were ignored by this measure.”
The National Weather Service issued a warning during the weekend that wind chills along the Eastern Plains could reach minus-40.
“Today I was contacted by several local officials in my counties who are struggling to assemble limited resources to aid their communities,” Winter states in the letter. “This is yet another stark example of the rural-urban divide and the apparent disregard the governor has for rural Coloradans.”
Eastern Colorado legislators are asking Gov. Jared Polis to consider the impact of extreme weather conditions in areas they represent with a disaster declaration when it is merited.
The letter concludes with a joint statement from the legislators: “We call on Gov. Polis to provide the same aid to rural Coloradans as he gave to those in urban areas. Gov. Polis, be a governor for the whole State of Colorado.”