Posted on 09/21/2013 12:52:48 AM PDT by beaversmom
Vice President Joe Biden will tour the flood devastation across Colorado's Front Range on Monday, and while his itinerary has yet to be revealed, residents and officials in Boulder County worry that such a high-level visit would stretch the area's exhausted resources to the limit.
Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle said Friday that he has been contacted about what resources his department would be able to provide should Biden visit the county next week. Pelle said he doesn't have any to spare.
"Our resources are still tied up," he said. "With roadblocks and escorts and all the things we need, we're just not able to free up the resources to help if he comes. If he does, it has to be another agency."
Pelle said his deputies and staff have had their hands full more than a week's worth of rescue and recovery operations following the historic flooding that has ravaged parts of Boulder County and the Front Range.
"They're working long hours and haven't had a day off in a long time," he said.
The White House announced Thursday that Biden and his wife, Jill, will visit the flood zone on Monday. Details of the visit have yet to be revealed.
Boulder police Cmdr. Carey Weinheimer could not comment on whether the department had the resources to provide security for Biden's visit, simply saying, "We're stretched thin. We along with every other law enforcement agency in the county."
Sarah Huntley, a spokeswoman for the city of Boulder, said that while city officials have not heard from the White House about providing security, if asked, the city will do what it can to help.
"If the vice president were to come to Boulder we would do all we could to provide all the resources we would be able to provide," Huntley said.
But Boulder resident Donna Baase said she has seen how hard local law enforcement has worked since the flooding began last week, and thinks the city and county should not have to divert resources to staff a visit by Biden.
"Our law enforcement has been amazing with what they're doing, and we need them on the job, not escorting and protecting the vice president," she said. "We don't need our law enforcement resources going to that."
Baase said local congressmen have been touring flood areas and the flooding has been all over national news, so she thinks Washington, D.C., is getting a clear enough picture of the devastation.
"I actually wish he would stay in Washington and do some other things there," she said. "It's great to know they know we're here, but we're being well represented in the national news and I don't know if his visit gives us any more moral support.
"I just don't think we need Joe Biden to be here."
Colorado Ping ( Let me know if you wish to be added or removed from the list.)
Are you kidding me? The press would never criticize anyone from a Democrat administration for staying away from a disaster area if his presence would interfere with rescue operations. You must be confusing the press response with what it would be for a Republican administration.
I am feeling better...thank you RF. :) Home for 1 week now. Been meaning to send a follow up e-mail to everyone. Hope you have a great time at the gun show! Let us know what you get.
The water washed out the highway 72 east of me. Also washed out 72 in a small section west of me. the section to the west just got a temporary repair. To the east about 10 miles of the road is destroyed.
With Biden, you need a mobile Starbucks, video game RV, chiropractor/massage parlor bus, and a clown car to keep the staff and press entertained. Of course, Joe often likes to sneak into the clown car, dress up and make the Secret Service try to find him.
Remember how much carp GWB caught for simply doing a fly-over of a disaster area? Yet, that is the best, least disruptive approach when the Chief Executive (or his pet clown) needs to put eyeballs on the problem.
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