Nov. 5 & Nov. 23 Deadline for First Step to Receive Federal Aid after Summer Flooding in NM

Oct. 31, 2014DR 4197/4199 NMNR004NMDHSEM: 505-819-8129FEMA: 505-471-4352 or Toll Free 855-413-0777

   News Release

Nov. 5 & Nov. 23 Deadline for First Step to Receive Federal Aid after Summer Flooding in NM

SANTA FE – Getting disaster aid quickly into the hands of eligible applicants affected by July 27-August 5 flooding in New Mexico starts with the first step – informing state and federal recovery officials that Public Assistance funding is needed.

State agencies, tribal governments, certain nonprofit organizations, community ditch associations and other local government entities in Guadalupe, Rio Arriba, and San Miguel counties and the Pueblo of Acoma affected by the summer floods have until November 5 to submit the appropriate forms to the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (NM DHSEM).  Lincoln, Otero, and Sandoval counties and the Santa Clara Pueblo have until November 23.

“These are very important deadlines,” said State Coordinating Officer Anita Statman. “We don’t want any eligible entity to miss out on reimbursements for expenses incurred from the floods earlier this year, so we encourage those interested to contact us for forms and more information as soon as possible.”  

Officials who have questions about making a Request for Public Assistance and upcoming Applicant Briefing schedules should contact Brian Williams at 505-476-9601.

A federal declaration was approved on October 6, followed by an amendment on October 24 designating the six counties and two pueblos as eligible for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance program (PA).  Federal grants are reimbursed to eligible applicants for costs covering emergency protective measures taken to protect lives and property; the cleaning up of downed trees, power poles and other debris; and the repairing of public infrastructure, including roads, bridges and public utilities. Under a cost-sharing formula, FEMA pays 75 percent of the total costs, while the state and/or applicant are responsible for the remaining 25 percent.  Find details of the Public Assistance program at www.fema.gov/government/grant/pa/index.shtm.

“FEMA is committed to working with our partners to ensure that we reimburse eligible applicants as quickly as possible,” said FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer Nancy Casper. “The quicker the forms are received, the quicker we can move forward to get these applicants the funds they need.”

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More information on New Mexico disaster recovery is available online at www.nmdhsem.org/.  DHSEM is the state’s homeland security and emergency management agency. The agency works to identify and lessen the effects of emergencies, disasters and threats to New Mexico by developing effective prevention, preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery actions for all disasters and emergencies.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards. Find more information at www.fema.gov/disaster/4197 and www.fema.gov/disaster/4199.