City of Louisville, CO
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Assistance & Resources
Need more information about neighborhood impacts to the rebuilding process? See our FAQ document!
Past City Council Updates about Marshall Fire Recovery
Library Access & Materials
The Library is open to the public. View Library Hours. Computers, printers, and WiFi are available. A Library card is not required to use these services.
Lost or Damaged Library Materials
As our community works to recover from the fires your Library staff want to do all we can to help alleviate some of your stress. To that end, we will charge no late fees on Library materials, and of course, we will not charge for materials lost or damaged in the fires.
Whenever it’s convenient for you, just fill out this form letting us know that you think you had library materials lost or damaged in the fires, or call us at 303-335-4822, and have library staff take care of this for you. Please note, your items may remain on your account for several days.
Marshall Fire Story Project
At the Louisville Historical Museum, our mission is to collect and preserve both the historical record and the stories and lives that make up the heart and character of Louisville. The stories you share from evacuation, during the fire, and after the fire will help future generations of Louisville and Colorado residents understand the gravity and emotional spectrum of this event. Please feel welcome to share in any format you want and feel free to share stories on behalf of others if you have their permission. To schedule a session, click here.
Replacing Photo Memories after the Marshall Fire - Flickr Group
The Museum has teamed up with community members to try to replace some of the photographed memories that residents lost in the Marshall Fire. This includes photos of homes, neighborhoods, neighborhood activities, public groups, public performances, school activities, etc. that were taken before the fire.
If you have a photo that could bring comfort to someone who lost their photo memories in the Marshall Fire, please upload it to the Louisville Historical Museum’s Flickr Group, “Replacing Photo Memories after the Marshall Fire.” Please do not include the names of people in the photographs for privacy reasons. Street names, neighborhood names, and group names are welcome. Also, providing addresses of houses that are pictured is not necessary, but would be appreciated as an aid for people looking for photos of specific houses. You will need to create or log in to a Flickr account to upload photos. If you have questions or would prefer to email your photos, please reach out to the Louisville Historical Museum at museum@louisvilleco.gov. Your photos will be sorted into galleries by geographic region so that residents from different areas of Louisville, Superior, and unincorporated Boulder County can locate and download photos that relate to them and their neighborhood.
Museum Workshops
Louisville Historical Museum staff are offering a series of workshops inviting anyone impacted by the Marshall Fires or involved in recovery efforts to share their stories. Museum staff and volunteers will be available to help record stories in video, audio, or written formats. You can choose which you are most comfortable with.
State of Colorado
Boulder County
- Rebuilding Better Website
- Boulder County EnergySmart
- Debris Insurance Reconciliation
- Marshall Fire Mental and Emotional Support
- Marshall Fire Documents of Interest
- Boulder County Wildfire Fund Two-Year Report
- 4/2/24 Boulder County Wildfire Fund Town Hall
Northern Water
United Policy Holders
- For United Policyholders (UP) resources, visit https://uphelp.org/disaster-recovery-help/marshallfire/.
Stay up to date on preparedness and mitigation projects happening around Louisville.
Our Partner Mitigation Projects
Update 10/12/22
The Colorado Division of Insurance is offering advice to Marshall Fire survivors in regards to running out of living expenses coverage and asking for an extension. Read more here.
Updated 3/2/22
You can view the Colorado Division of Insurance Commissioner's presentation from the March 1 Council meeting here. It addresses the DOI 2022 Data Call from insurance companies.
Updated 1/20/22
The Division of Insurance is hosting a series of Insurance Town Halls over the next several weeks to assist individuals and families impacted by the Boulder County fires. Sign up for notifications.
- Recording of January 19 Town Hall - focuses on partial losses for homes that were not destroyed, but that still may have suffered external and internal damage to the building as well as personal property, including damage from smoke, soot and ash.
- January 4 Insurance Town Hall Presentation | Recording (English) | Grabación en español
The Colorado Division of Insurance (DOI) regulates the insurance industry in Colorado. While claims need to be filed with the insurance companies, the Division can assist consumers with questions about insurance and the claims process. Contact the Consumer Service Team at 303-894-7490 / 800-930-3745 (outside of the Denver metro area) / DORA_Insurance@state.co.us or visit doi.colorado.gov (click on “File a Complaint”).
Updated 4/8/22
If you are undertaking repairs or rebuilding from the Marshall Fire, you can talk one on one with a FEMA specialist about ways to make a home safer and stronger. Get personalized answers to your questions by phone or email: 833-FEMA-4us (833-336-2487) or email FEMA-R8-HMhelp@fema.dhs.gov
Updated 3/7/22
Financial assistance continues for those impacted by the Marshall Fire and strong winds of December 30, with distribution of the funds still occurring at the site of the former Disaster Recovery Center site at 1755 South Public Road in Lafayette. While the site will no longer be open for walk-in assistance by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) or Small Business Administration (SBA) as of March 6, those receiving local financial assistance will continue to be notified for appointments to pick up the funding at the Wildfire Funds Distribution Center in the same location.
Financial assistance remains available through Community Foundation Boulder County and Elevations Credit Union for the following related to the Marshall Fire:
- Anyone with a home that was destroyed or damaged
- Anyone who was forced to evacuate
- Any homeowner or renter displaced due to smoke or ash
- Those who lost the ability to work (including home businesses) due to the fire
- Residents who lost “tools of the trade” to the fire (excluding computers or computer equipment)
- Anyone with a small local business that was destroyed or damaged (including home businesses)
Updated 3/2/22
Learn about how FEMA works with communities after a disaster.
Click here and navigate down to 'Funding Obligations' to learn more about total FEMA assistance granted to-date.
Updated 2/3/22
There is a Disaster Legal Services hotline (1-877-370-1216). This is a FEMA-funded, state implemented program that provides survivors with free disaster-related legal assistance through the support of the Boulder County Bar Association.
Disaster Legal Services can help with the following:
- Insurance claims for doctors and hospital bills, loss of property, loss of life, etc.
- Drawing up new wills and other legal papers lost in the disaster
- Estate administration, including guardianships and conservatorships
- Consumer protection matters, remedies and procedures
- Home repair contracts and contractors
- Counseling advice about landlords/tenants
- Preparing power of attorney and guardianship materials
- FEMA appeals and other disaster-related actions
Click here for more details on equitable access for all disaster survivors.
Updated 1/20/22
The Boulder County Marshall Fire website has insurance resources.
Updated 1/6/22
1. Contact your insurance company as soon as possible
- If you have been displaced by the fires, contact your insurance agent or company immediately to let them know where you are staying. Not only can they help you with coverage or claims questions, they can help find lodging options as many people in the area will be temporarily displaced. To find the contact information of your homeowners or auto insurance company go to Insurance Company Claims Filing Telephone Number
- If your home survived the fires, it may still have experienced damage from smoke or water, or to the electrical systems or other damage due to the extreme heat or the snow and cold. As with direct fire damage, contact your insurance company or agent as soon as possible to start the claims process.
- Renters should contact their renters' insurance. If you do not have rental insurance please apply for FEMA assistance.
- Request a complete copy of your policy. The insurance company must provide it to you within three days.
- File a claim as soon as possible with your insurer. Get the claim number and the names and contact information for the assigned adjuster and their manager. Make sure the company has your current contact information and mailing address.
2. Document the damage
- Only if it is safe to do so, document the damage with photos and video.
3. Keep your receipts
- Save all receipts for living expenses if you’ve been evacuated or displaced by the fire, as homeowners or renters in these situations typically have insurance coverage for additional living expenses (ALE) which provides them with an amount of out-of-pocket money while evacuated. Check with your insurance company or agent about your coverage. If you are unable to live in your house or apartment because of the fire, most policies will also reimburse you the difference between your additional living expenses and your normal living expenses. Again, check with your insurance company or agent about your coverage.
4. Understand your policy benefits and the claim process
- Read the Colorado Division of Insurance "Tips for Marshall Fire Consumers" to learn key abbreviations and terms as well as an outline of the claims process.
The City cannot intervene on individual insurance policies but is relaying emerging issues
and concerns to state/federal government partners regarding the reports of underinsurance. For
questions/concerns on specific policies, please contact United Policyholders and/or the Colorado
Division of Insurance.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the City doing to address reports of under-insurance across the community? Many residents have expressed concerns about underinsurance. While the City is unable to directly address this issue, we are discussing this issue and any opportunities to address this with our state/federal government partners.
- How can the City help residents get resources needed for the lengthy rebuilding process? The City is discussing the current and future needs of residents in rebuilding with state/federal government partners. Residents should contact United Policyholders and/or the Colorado Division of Insurance for questions/concerns on individual policies.
- How can insurance adjusters access properties? Insurance adjusters can receive a placard to access hard closure areas by picking up a placard from the Police/Court Building during lobby hours.
- What should residents do if an insurance company is providing a low estimate for damages? Residents should contact United Policyholders and/or the Colorado Division of Insurance for questions/concerns on individual policies.
- Should I accept any payments from my insurance company? Residents should contact United Policyholders and/or the Colorado Division of Insurance for questions/concerns on individual policies.
Updated 9/12/22
You can find brief abstracts and information about research conducted here. Once finalized and published, reports can be found here.
To be notified on the release of reports, sign up for Disaster Research News from the CU Natural Hazards Center.
Additional research reports can be found here:
Updated 2/1/22
Researchers are currently gathering data to learn more about how the fire spread, effective remediation, etc. The City is not partnering with any individual researchers. Some institutions have agreed to share their data with the City to increase our ability to understand what happened and to inform rebuilding.
If you are contacted by a researcher, you are welcome to work with them or not. You can ask for their affiliation and if they agreed to share their data with the City to help make your decision.
If you are interested in conducting research in Louisville, please consider contacting CU’s Natural Hazards Center before heading into the field or contacting the City. The NHC can provide connections with other researchers and resources for fire-related disaster research.
Updated 1/5/22
If you get a phone call about an insurance claim or policy, don't give out any personal information or agree to any payment until you can independently verify that the call is legitimate. If the caller says they're from your insurance company, hang up and contact your agent or the company directly using the number on your account statement.
Contractors and home improvement companies may also call claiming to be partners with your insurance provider. Never give policy numbers, coverage details, or other personal information out to companies with whom you have not entered into a contract. Verify that any contractor you are considering is licensed and carries adequate insurance. Many states have online databases you can check.
Residents should be aware of scammers posing as representatives of disaster relief or charitable organizations. There are several steps you can take to protect yourself from this type of fraud:
- Be vigilant and pay attention. When sharing personal information, be careful. The City is hearing reports of phishing/spearphishing scams directly with residents and on social media.
- Do not open suspicious emails. If you receive a suspicious email , do not click on any links or open any attachments. Scammers regularly use email for phishing attacks and to spread malware.
- Donate to trusted, well-known charities. Beware of scammers who create fake charities during natural disasters. Always verify a charity's legitimacy through its official website. If you have doubts, you can check with Better Business Bureau's Wise Giving Alliance, Charity Navigator, Charity Watch, or GuideStar. You can also check with the National Association of State Charity Officials whether charities must be registered in your state and if the charity contacting you is on file with your state.
- Verify all phone numbers for charities. If you need to contact a charity by phone, check the charity's official website to see if the number you have is legitimate. If you're using text-to-donate, check with the charity to ensure the number is legitimate before donating.
- Verify information in social media posts. Double-check any solicitation for charitable donations before you give. Crowd-funding websites often host individual requests for help but they are not always vetted by the site or other sources.
- Mail theft and mail fraud are serious crimes. For more information and to report a crime, click here.
To report suspected fraud, call the FEMA Disaster Fraud Hotline toll free at 1-866-720-5721. If you need to report other fraudulent activities during or following a natural disaster, please notify FEMA at 1-866-720-5721 or disaster@leo.gov.
You can also file a complaint with the FCC about phone scams, or with the FTC about fraud.
Your Colorado Federal Delegation is offering assistance in replacing documents (social security cards, passports, driver’s license, birth certificates) that have been lost in the fire.
Please email or call and they will get you connected with a Constituent Advocate from their office to help you through the process for each document.
annie_oatman-gardner@bennet.senate.gov Office Number 303-455-7600
Jordan_Wells@hickenlooper.senate.gov Office Number 303-244-1628
congressmanjoe.neguse@mail.house.gov Office Number 303-335-1045
Updated 1/5/22
Please visit www.boco.org/marshallfiretransportation for information on services available to people impacted by the Marshall Fire. This site includes information on road closure updates, transportation options such as services provided by RTD and Via Mobility, including on-demand and point-to-point trips to/from Louisville/Superior and the Disaster Assistance Center (DAC) and Uber trip vouchers that are available at the DAC.
RTD and Via Mobility are available today and every day to provide rides. Residents can schedule same day trips. Via will also allow people to take pets if needed.
Service to route 228 has been fully restored.
The Marshall Fire has impacted RTD services, so RTD has been working with the county to bring services back in the most helpful ways. Superior and Louisville FlexRide is operating with modified service areas to avoid closures. RTD has added a stop so customers can book trips directly to the Disaster Assistance Center at 1755 S. Public Road in Lafayette.
FlexRide can be scheduled by downloading the FlexRide app or by phone call to 303-299-6000. To schedule FlexRide, go to https://www.rtd-denver.com/services/flexride/trip-planner.
Updated 8/5/22
You can view recordings of the Rebuilding Better Workshops here:
- June 1 - Optimizing Comfort and Construction Cost Savings in Your New Home
- July 13 - Materials and Equipment for a Resilient Rebuild
- August 3 - Rebates, Incentives, Grants & Loans and Overview of Key Decisions
Updated 7/27/22
EnergySmart Newsletter Sign Up
EnergySmart provides information on building design and certification standards, energy efficiency, electric heating and vehicles, solar energy, fire resistant construction, as well as incentives, discounts, and financing for those rebuilding after the Marshall Fire. We typically send one to two emails a month depending on the frequency of new developments to share.
Updated 4/15/22
Boulder County has launched a new Rebuilding Better website that has information on incentives, discounts and financing available for high-performance homes including those available from Xcel Energy.
Updated 3/21/22
EnergySmart, Boulder County’s residential energy advising service, is now offering free and unbiased expert guidance on building a high-performance home to homeowners impacted by the Marshall Fire. EnergySmart advisors can provide advice on high-efficiency electric heating and cooling, as well as other considerations when building a high-performance home.
Building a high-performance home has many benefits, including:
- Healthier indoor air quality; no natural gas combustion by-products to breathe
- A more comfortable and quieter home
- Increased resistance to future wildfires and smoke damage
- Fewer maintenance concerns
- Energy costs reduced by 10% or more
- Reduced contribution to the climate crisis
To speak with an EnergySmart advisor, call 303-544-1000 or email info@EnergySmartYes.com.
EnergySmart is also developing a Rebuilding Better website that will launch in early April. The website will feature clear, easy-to-follow guidance on subjects such as:
- Building a healthy and comfortable home
- Building a more resilient home
- Identifying incentives, discounts, and financing
- Finding a design and construction team
- Planning your rebuild
- Choosing materials and equipment
- Implementing water and wildfire resistant landscaping and outdoor elements
The Rebuilding Better website will also feature incentives*, discounts, and financing available for high-performance home elements, including those available from Xcel Energy. EnergySmart is working with Xcel Energy to define program participation details for direct-to-homeowner rebuilding incentives for homes that were a total loss in the Marshall Fire. Xcel announced the following incentives that are currently under development:
- $7,500 for meeting International Energy Conservation Code 2021 standards, where adopted by the municipality and if the homeowner does not opt out
- $10,000 for meeting ENERGY STAR® Home v3.2 standards
- $12,500 for meeting Department of Energy “Zero Energy Ready” Home v2 standards
- $17,500 for meeting ENERGY STAR® New Certification Program standards
- $37,500 for meeting Passive House standards
*These incentives apply to homeowners who want to rebuild to replace properties destroyed in the Marshall Fire. Homeowners can only receive one of the incentives, depending on the highest level of performance their home achieves. Xcel is still sorting out implementation details for this brand-new program. More information will be shared on the steps necessary to claim the incentives as it becomes available.
For media inquiries, please contact: Zac Swank, Built Environment Coordinator for Boulder County’s Office of Sustainability, Climate Action & Resilience at zswank@bouldercounty.org or 303-441-1143.
For more information about the program, please contact EnergySmart at info@EnergySmartYes.com or 303-544-1000.