We all remember the 2013 flood. We all saw the damage the rains inflicted: from water in crawl spaces, to homes and businesses swept into creeks, to the loss of lives. Here at the Community Foundation, we knew that we needed to respond to recovery needs that weren’t being addressed by anyone else.
For the past 25 years, the Community Foundation has responded to emergencies, and helped Boulder County prepare for future challenges, too. Whether it’s a flood, a fire or other concern, we understand our community’s needs.
We all remember the 2013 flood. We all saw the damage the rains inflicted: from water in crawl spaces, to homes and businesses swept into creeks, to the loss of lives.
Here at the Community Foundation, we knew that we needed to respond to recovery needs that weren’t being addressed by anyone else. We also knew our donors wanted to support individuals and small businesses directly with flood relief dollars. So as fast as the rains fell, we mobilized to help our neighbors. People shared their time, tools, homes, elbow grease and money – more than $1.9M in donations for flood recovery passed through the foundation.
Flood victims included local farmers whose homes and livelihoods were affected:
Chet and Kristy Anderson established The Fresh Herb Company in 1983. What started with culinary herbs grew into a thriving organic herb and flower business that employs two full-time workers and a dozen or so seasonal workers. With its hanging baskets, cut flowers and herbs, the company does a great deal of business with local retailers and farmers’ markets. But the Andersons’ home, soil, machinery, greenhouse, water sources, irrigation system, barn, roads and crops were all damaged or destroyed during the flood – additionally, they lost $15K worth of cut flowers.
Despite being fully insured, the Andersons received little assistance while navigating the complex web of government grants and loans – in fact, it took well over a year for their federal block grant to come through.
“Grants from the Community Foundation and fundraisers held by business colleagues and friends got us from November 2013 to the following March,” says Kristy. “We’ve learned it will take a long time to recover the soil, the plants and the water. Our needs were immediate and long-term.”
In revisiting The Fresh Herb Company this month, we learned that some 2,000 tons of debris – mostly sand, branches and leaves – had to be cleared from the Andersons’ flower fields, and their irrigation pond was excavated twice (as recently as this past spring). Also this spring, the Andersons needed to purchase a water tap to sufficiently clean their well water, as post-flood well water was harming their plants.
Pre-flood, the Andersons harvested and sold 10,000 bunches of peonies; the following year, they harvested only 2,500 bunches of their prize crop. This year, however, we’re pleased to report that The Fresh Herb Company harvested 9,000 bunches of peonies, nearly back to pre-flood levels. While some peony plants survived the flood, others needed to be reestablished; the Andersons’ other cut flower fields were lost entirely, and needed to be re-started … but they’re coming along.
“What the Community Foundation did was take the lead and make tangible connections to needs. They made community real,” Kristy continues. “They became a place where our community could contribute their support. That’s the difference, and we’re so grateful!”
Read more examples of how the Community Foundation responds to community needs and promotes resiliency, where and when it matters most.
