Disaster Relief After a Colorado Flood: FEMA, SBA, Insurance and Where to Start

After a major flood, the questions come fast. Who pays for this? Is FEMA coming? Do I call my insurance company, the county, or a contractor first? And how am I supposed to figure any of that out while my basement is still wet?

When disaster hits Northern Colorado or the Denver metro, help usually comes from several places at once: your insurance policy, federal disaster programs, state and county agencies, and local nonprofits. They each do different jobs, they each have their own rules, and they work best when you use them in the right order.

Here’s a plain-English guide to disaster relief after a Colorado flood, from a local restoration company that’s walked plenty of families through it.

First: Know Which Kind of Disaster You’re In

Not every flood unlocks the same help. What’s available depends on how big the event is:

• A flood that hits just your home (a burst pipe, a failed sump pump, a sewer backup) is handled through your own insurance. Federal disaster aid isn’t involved.
• A local or county emergency can bring in county emergency management, shelters, debris pickup and local nonprofit help.
• A federally declared major disaster, like the September 2013 floods across Larimer, Weld, Boulder and other Front Range counties, opens up FEMA Individual Assistance and SBA disaster loans for people in the declared counties.

Your county’s emergency management office and local news will announce when a declaration covers your area. You can also check DisasterAssistance.gov directly.

Step 1: Protect Your Home and Document the Damage

Every relief program, including insurance, FEMA and the SBA, will want proof of what happened. Before you clean anything:

• Take photos and video of every affected room, the water line on the walls, and damaged belongings.
• Keep the receipts for everything you spend: hotel stays, fuel, tarps, fans, meals.
• Write down the date and time the damage happened and every conversation you have with anyone about it.

You’re also expected to take reasonable steps to prevent more damage, like extracting water and drying things out. Waiting weeks for an adjuster while mold grows can shrink what gets paid.

Step 2: Call Revive Before You Call Insurance

After a widespread flood, insurance phone lines back up for days and adjusters are stretched thin. When you call Revive first, we can:

• Inspect and document the damage with moisture meters and thermal imaging, including water hiding inside walls and under floors
• Start emergency water removal and drying to stop further damage and mold
• Give you professional documentation you can use for your insurance claim and for any disaster assistance application
• Work directly with your insurance carrier (we work with all of them)

That documentation often decides whether a claim covers the full scope of damage or only what was visible on the surface.

Step 3: File With Your Insurance Company

Here’s the rule people miss: FEMA assistance is not meant to duplicate insurance. If you have coverage, you’ll generally need to file with your insurer first, and FEMA may help with eligible needs your insurance doesn’t cover.

Know what kind of policy you have:

• Homeowners insurance usually covers sudden internal water damage (burst pipes, appliance failures, some storm-driven roof leaks) but excludes flooding from rising outdoor water.
• Flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or a private carrier covers rising water. NFIP policies usually have a 30-day waiting period before they take effect, so buying one once the rain starts won’t cover that storm.
• Sewer backup coverage is usually a separate add-on to a homeowners policy.

Not sure what you have? Don’t assume you’re not covered. Report the loss. Our guides on what homeowners insurance covers in Colorado and what to do if your claim is denied can help.

Step 4: Register With FEMA (If It’s a Declared Disaster)

If your county is part of a federal major disaster declaration, register with FEMA even if you have insurance. You can do it:

• Online at DisasterAssistance.gov
• By phone at 1-800-621-3362
• Through the FEMA App
• In person at a Disaster Recovery Center, if one opens near you

FEMA Individual Assistance can help with things like temporary housing, basic repairs to make a home safe and livable, and other disaster-related needs that insurance doesn’t cover. It isn’t designed to make you whole the way a good insurance policy is, but for uninsured or underinsured families it can be a real lifeline. Have your insurance information, photos, and damage details ready when you apply, and watch out for scammers: FEMA staff never charge a fee to help you register.

Step 5: Look Into SBA Disaster Loans

Many people don’t realize that the U.S. Small Business Administration makes low-interest disaster loans to homeowners and renters, not just businesses. After a declared disaster, these loans can help repair or replace a damaged home and personal property. Businesses and nonprofits can apply too. Apply through the SBA’s disaster loan site or at a Disaster Recovery Center.

Step 6: Tap State, County and Local Help

Colorado’s Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management coordinates the state response, and your county’s office of emergency management will share updates on shelters, debris removal, road closures and local programs. Organizations like the American Red Cross and local community foundations often step in with shelter, supplies and recovery funds. After the 2013 floods, many Front Range communities set up local recovery funds that helped families for months.

Protect Yourself From Disaster Scams

Floods bring out door-to-door “contractors” who want cash up front and disappear. Before you hire anyone:

• Pick a local, established company with real reviews you can check.
• Never pay the full amount up front.
• Get the scope of work in writing.
• Be careful with anyone who says they’re “FEMA approved.” FEMA doesn’t certify or endorse contractors.

A Local Team When You Need One

Revive Restoration is family-owned and based in Johnstown. Our owner, Levi, grew up in Northern Colorado. We’ve been restoring local homes since 2016, and we’re here 24/7 when disaster hits. We can’t file your FEMA application for you, but we can make sure the damage is properly documented, dried out and repaired so you have what you need for every program you qualify for.

Dealing with flood damage? Call Revive Restoration at (720) 340-3499 before you call your insurance company. The inspection is free.

If the water just hit, start with our first 48 hours after a flood checklist.

Serving Northern Colorado and the Denver Metro

We help families recover from flood and water damage in Greeley, Evans, Loveland, Lyons, Longmont, Fort Collins, Brighton, Commerce City, Northglenn, and Wheat Ridge. See all the communities we serve on our service areas page, or learn more about our water damage restoration services.