Governor seeks Major Disaster Declaration for northern New Mexico floods

Request seeks aid for residents and reimbursement for flood response

SANTA FE — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has asked President Donald Trump to declare a major disaster for the Oct. 22-30 flooding in northern New Mexico, seeking reimbursement for rescues, debris removal and public infrastructure repairs that federal officials failed to act on last week.

If approved, the declaration would enable residents of San Juan, Cibola, Socorro and Santa Fe counties, and Acoma and Laguna pueblos, to apply for federal financial assistance for home repairs, rent, temporary housing and other disaster-related needs. The governor is also requesting reimbursement for San Juan, Cibola, Rio Arriba, Socorro and Valencia counties and the pueblos of Acoma and Laguna for debris removal, emergency response costs and repairs to roads, bridges, water-control facilities and other public infrastructure. The federal disaster declaration would also fund projects across the state to reduce damage from future disasters.

This major disaster declaration request follows the governor’s Oct. 24 request for an emergency declaration in which the federal government offered direct agency assistance but failed to act on reimbursement for rescues, emergency response and debris removal. That approval provided no direct financial help to families and provided no assurance to local governments that they’ll get federal help with the millions of dollars in response costs they’ve already incurred.

Families have been waiting since last weekend for individual assistance with home repairs and temporary housing, which only a major disaster declaration can provide.

“The State of New Mexico has used every available resource to respond to this disaster, and we’re not letting up. These families have lost their homes, their belongings and in some cases everything they own, and we need the federal government to do its part to help them rebuild,” said Gov. Lujan Grisham. “I urge the federal government to approve our request without delay.”

The request comes as San Juan County faces a new round of flooding. Heavy rain Sunday sent the San Juan, Animas and La Plata rivers rising again, and the National Weather Service forecast major flooding on the San Juan River at Farmington through Tuesday morning, approaching last week’s record river levels. San Juan County ordered residents within a half-mile of the rivers to evacuate, and a washout closed N.M. 170.

In response to the floods that began Oct. 22, swift-water teams rescued at least 36 people. San Juan County ordered more than 5,000 residents to evacuate, and the Rio Chama also exceeded major flood stage, forcing 31 more households from their homes and closing U.S. 64 and U.S. 84. More than 130 nursing home residents in San Juan County were moved to other medical facilities. As of Nov. 2, 190 people were sheltering at the American Red Cross shelter at McGee Park in Farmington.

Early assessments count 604 damaged or destroyed homes, including 353 that were destroyed or suffered major damage. State emergency officials expect that number to climb to as many as 2,000 as assessments continue. In San Juan County alone, the floods destroyed 64 homes.

Road and bridge repairs are expected to cost more than $40 million. Several bridges washed out, and a washout on Rio Arriba County Road 352 left four residents reachable only by air. The state also estimates nearly $42 million in agricultural losses, including damaged acequias, fencing and hay supplies. Total damages are expected to exceed an eye-popping $200 million – almost the entirety of the San Juan County annual budget.

The State Emergency Operations Center remains fully activated, with staff working around the clock as more severe weather is forecast across New Mexico in the coming days.

Since the catastrophic flooding began Oct. 22, the state has deployed every available resource to help San Juan County and other flood-stricken communities, dispatching National Guard and State Police helicopters along with swift-water rescue teams from across the region. Gov. Lujan Grisham has signed 73 emergency executive orders, making more than $54 million available for response and recovery.

Residents are reminded to enable emergency alerts on their phones, stay out of flood waters and avoid low-lying areas where flooding is possible. They are also encouraged to secure loose outdoor items, such as furniture or trash bins, in areas at risk for high winds.

Updated forecasts can be found on the National Weather Service’s website. More information about flooding preparedness and resources for victims can be found at https://www.governor.state.nm.us/flooding-resources/.