Community Meets With Carbon County Commissioners to Discuss Ongoing Flood Relief Efforts

Victims from last year’s flooding incidents in Carbon County met with commissioners and county employees at a meeting on Thursday. Those in attendance had questions revolving around the county’s ongoing efforts to clean up from the floods and future flood prevention.

Representatives from Wellington and Pilliings Trailer Court attended the meeting to question what, if anything, has been done following the floods. The community claimed to be vastly uninformed about ongoing work that is taking place following the incidents. Many citizens also expressed their fear that natural damming may cause more flooding in the future.

“I think things are being done but we aren’t informed,” real estate agent Karen Martino-Basso commented.

Jason Llewelyn, Carbon County Emergency Management Director, spoke to ease the minds of flood victims. He stated that the emergency management team has been working fervently to obtain grants and permits that will allow the county to assist flood victims.

Llewelyn explained that, unfortunately, the process to assist flood victims is a long one. Emergency management workers must attend classes just to learn how to write grants in order to receive funds. Permits must be given to enter the river and remove natural dams that form to prevent future flooding.

However, the government cannot do everything. According to Carbon County Attorney Christian Bryner, the county does not own or maintain jurisdiction of the river. Additionally, property owners are responsible to clean their own properties from damages incurred from flooding. The county does not have permission to “send in the troops” and clean up without various permissions and roadblocks.

However, commissioner Casey Hopes did not want victims to be discouraged. He stated that the county will continue to do what the can to help citizens.

“Where government can help, government will help,” Hopes said.

Llewelyn told those in attendance that the county will make the effort to keep the community more informed about the work the county is doing in relation to last year’s flood.