New Mexico Receives Nearly $2.5 Million in Federal Disaster Assistance for the Tres Lagunas Fire

DENTON, Texas – The state of New Mexico has been awarded nearly $2.5 million in federal disaster assistance in the aftermath of the Tres Lagunas Fire that happened in late May, early June 2013.

The funding, which is made possible by the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Fire Management Assistance Grant Program, serves as reimbursement for firefighting costs incurred while fighting the fire.
In 2013, the Tres Lagunas Fire threatened hundreds of homes, as well as roads and bridges, and burned thousands of acres of land in San Miguel County.

The Fire Management Assistance Grant Program provides a 75 percent federal cost share, with the state paying the remaining 25 percent for actual costs.

Before a grant can be awarded, the state must demonstrate that total eligible costs for the declared fire meet or exceed either the individual fire cost threshold – which is applied to single fires, or the cumulative fire cost threshold, which recognizes smaller fires burning throughout a state.
Eligible firefighting costs may include expenses for field camps; equipment use, repair and replacement; tools, materials and supplies; and mobilization and demobilization activities.

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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. Follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/femaregion6, and the FEMA Blog at http://blog.fema.gov.
 

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New Mexico Receives Nearly $2.5 Million in Federal Disaster Assistance for the Tres Lagunas Fire

FEMA Approves a Second Declaration for New Mexico. This Time for September Flooding

SANTA FE – Just weeks after receiving a federal declaration, and a subsequent amendment only days ago adding more counties for July 27-August 5 flooding, a second presidential declaration has been approved, this time providing federal assistance for flooding caused by the remnants of Tropical Depression Odile between September 15-26.

The new declaration makes Public Assistance funding available to eligible state agencies, tribal governments, certain nonprofits, community ditch associations and other local government entities in Colfax, Eddy, Lincoln, Lea, Otero, Santa Fe, San Miguel and Sierra counties. 

Under the Public Assistance program, federal grants are reimbursed to eligible applicants for emergency protective measures, debris removal, and the repairing of public infrastructure, including roads, bridges and public utilities. Find details of the Public Assistance program at www.fema.gov/government/grant/pa/index.shtm.

On October 6, a federal declaration was approved for Guadalupe, Rio Arriba, and San Miguel Counties, and the Pueblo of Acoma.  On October 24, Lincoln, Otero, and Sandoval Counties, and the Santa Clara Pueblo were added to the original declaration.

“The flooding between July and September was devastating for many of our communities,” said State Coordinating Officer Anita Statman. “We are pleased that now the two federal declarations will bring much needed funding to all of these hard-hit areas.”

“This new declaration, along with current recovery operations shows FEMA’s commitment to provide funding to eligible entities in designated counties and pueblos,” said FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer Nancy Casper. “We are going to be moving through the recovery process as quickly as possible to bring the funds to these impacted locations as soon as possible.”

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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.

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FEMA Approves a Second Declaration for New Mexico. This Time for September Flooding