The White House has reviewed and accepted Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper’s request for an expedited major disaster declaration. This declaration will bring additional federal assistance to Colorado to provide resources for crisis counseling and disaster unemployment assistance; public assistance for emergency work; and a hazard mitigation grant program. Hickenlooper says the funding will allow the state to provide much needed assistance to the communities affected by wildfires. He says it’s clear the whole country is with Colorado in fighting the fires and recovering from their devastation.

National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson – in Colorado for NFU’s All-States Leadership Camp – says the current images of destruction to public and private forestlands and homes are troubling. He says it’s important not to forget the need that will remain once the fires are extinguished. He says NFU is deeply concerned about the long-term impacts to the watershed in the areas affected by the wildfires. Rocky Mountain Farmers Union President Kent Peppler – a Colorado farmer – says the fires in the watershed mean even greater challenges to the state’s water supply at a time when Colorado already is facing drought.