disaster relief

Though the flames may be out from this summer's Salt and South Fork wildfires in southern New Mexico, damage to property and the local economy remain. During a legislative committee meeting Wednesday, Ruidoso-area leaders discussed their community’s challenges, but also its resilience.

Two organizations in New Mexico are providing relief to hospitality workers who lost jobs due to the natural disasters in the Mescalero Apache reservation, Ruidoso and Las Vegas. But– their funds are depleting fast.

State and federal officials held a virtual town hall Tuesday night to update victims of the South Fork and Salt Fires and subsequent flooding on available disaster assistance. Residents were encouraged to apply broadly and persevere through red tape as recovery gets underway.

Victims of the Calf Canyon/Hermit’s Peak fire can now begin applying for compensation for losses caused by the largest blaze in state history. The fire charred almost 350,000 acres in Northern New Mexico last spring and summer after U.S. Forest Service prescribed burns got out of control. The federal government has accepted responsibility and Monday the Federal Emergency Management Agency opened the claims process.

Victims of New Mexico's largest fire are now reporting claims of identity theft on disaster assistance applications. Now, officials are vowing to find and prosecute people who take advantage of the loss of livelihoods and property.

President Joe Biden has declared the U.S.’s largest wildfire in New Mexico as a disaster.The declaration comes on the heels of firefighters successfully fighting back the flames from entering the city of Las Vegas––for now.

CARES Act money was distributed last year to keep businesses open during the pandemic, to help people pay rent, and even to help local governments stay…

New Mexico’s Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management is late paying out millions in federal disaster relief money it owes local…

New Mexicans have needed help after wildfires and floods in recent years. FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, has done its part: sending money…