Governor Lujan Grisham to visit San Juan County flooding disaster zone
Sept. State emergency declaration makes resources available now
SANTA FE – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and Major General Miguel Aguilar of the New Mexico National Guard will travel to San Juan County on Monday to survey damage from historic flooding along the San Juan and Animas Rivers and meet with local officials, first responders and families.
The governor’s visit was carefully scheduled to give first responders, law enforcement and emergency vehicles ample time to complete rescues and other emergency work during the flooding. Now that the floodwaters are receding and initial damage assessments are underway, the Governor will survey the disaster zone and work to get families the help they need.
“My administration declared a statewide emergency in September, and the state was ready to provide assistance immediately when disaster struck in San Juan County last week,” said Governor Lujan Grisham said. “We will continue to deploy every available resource to help San Juan County and surrounding areas as they work to rebuild their community.”
On Saturday, Lujan Grisham requested a Federal Emergency Declaration in San Juan County and surrounding areas that would unlock at least $13.8 million dollars for relief efforts, plus millions more for ongoing environmental remediation.
“Families in Farmington and Bloomfield need help today, and I implore President Trump to send help immediately,” Gov. Lujan Grisham said. “In the meantime, the State of New Mexico will stop at nothing to get this community back on its feet.”
Because the state had already declared a statewide flooding emergency on Sept. 30, a total of a total of $3.75 million was immediately available for counties that need emergency help.
Within hours of the disastrous flooding in Farmington on Friday, the New Mexico National Guard deployed swift-water rescue teams that worked through the night, helicopters with hoists for rooftop evacuations and boats to check homes along both riverbanks for stranded residents. About 58 National Guard members were deployed to San Juan County on Friday and Saturday and more remain available. New Mexico State Police dispatched dive, tactical, bomb squad and search-and-rescue teams, along with officers from neighboring districts. A Texas search-and-rescue and swift-water team is assisting through interstate mutual aid.
On Saturday, Governor Lujan Grisham requested a federal Emergency Declaration covering San Juan, Rio Arriba, Cibola and Sandoval counties and Acoma Pueblo, the Jicarilla Apache Nation, San Ildefonso Pueblo, Zia Pueblo and Laguna Pueblo. The request seeks federal funding for debris removal and emergency protective measures.
Emergency response costs total an estimated $4.5 million so far, with another $13.7 million projected over the next 48 hours.
The state is also seeking federal help to recover from last month’s flooding. On Oct. 23, the Governor asked for a Major Disaster Declaration to repair an estimated $27.1 million in damage to roads and public infrastructure across 14 counties and three Tribal nations, from storms between Sept. 20 and Oct. 2.