DENVER, Colo. (KKTV) - Governor Jared Polis issued a verbal disaster declaration on Sunday following significant flooding in Western Colorado.

The announcement comes after heavy rainfall forced hundreds of evacuations due to flooding in La Plata County.

This declaration activates the State Emergency Operations Plan and authorizes the Colorado Department of Public Safety’s Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM) to take the required actions for response efforts. That includes up to the initial $1 million in estimated costs.

According to representatives from the governor’s office, Polis has been “monitoring the situation closely,” and State public safety leaders have been in contact with local emergency management.

Several state resources were reportedly involved

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