President issues declaration freeing up more funding for Ruidoso flood recovery efforts

SANTA FE — Top New Mexico officials on Wednesday lauded President Donald Trump’s major disaster declaration for recovery efforts in the Ruidoso area following deadly flooding, even while urging the president to issue a similar emergency declaration for surrounding areas.

The disaster declaration makes additional federal funding available in Lincoln County for individuals affected by flooding, and comes after Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham had requested such action.

“This federal declaration delivers the action we sought for a community that has shown incredible resilience through repeated disasters,” the governor said in a statement. “The people of Lincoln County deserve every resource we can provide, and we will continue working until every family and business in New Mexico has fully recovered.”

Specifically, the major disaster declaration unlocks federal funding that includes grants for temporary housing and home repairs for affected individuals, along with low-interest loans to cover uninsured property losses.

It also provides cost-sharing funding — in the form of a 75% federal reimbursement — for state debris removal and other emergency work in Lincoln County.

Flash flooding in the burn scar from last year’s South Fork Wildfire area has damaged an estimated 400 homes over the last month. In addition, three individuals were killed on July 8 when a storm caused the Rio Ruidoso to swell over 20 feet and sweep away several RVs and at least one house.

Members of New Mexico’s all-Democratic congressional delegation issued a joint statement Wednesday welcoming the major disaster declaration while calling on the president to issue a similar declaration in Chaves, Valencia and Otero counties, and provide additional assistance.

Trump had previously issued an emergency declaration for a four-county area, but that declaration authorized only limited assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Meanwhile, Lujan Grisham has already issued more than 80 executive orders over the last month in response to the flooding in southern New Mexico, while also authorizing the deployment of New Mexico National Guard members to assist in recovery efforts.

Each executive order authorizes up to $750,000 in state funding, meaning the governor’s orders have freed up at least $60 million. But much of that money could eventually be reimbursed to the state by FEMA.