President Joe Biden has not yet responded to New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's request earlier this week for a major disaster declaration following heavy rainfall and flash flooding in Doña Ana County this past August.
The major disaster declaration by Biden would open up federal resources to eligible people, homes and businesses in the flood area through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)'s Individual Assistance Program. Local, county and state governments as well as eligible nonprofits would benefit through FEMA's Public Assistance Program.
If Biden approved the request as written by Lujan Grisham, federal hazard mitigation resources would become available in all of New Mexico's 33 counties, KRQE reported.
In her letter to the president dated Tuesday, Oct. 5, the governor reported that the three-day total flooding at Jetport, 6.22 inches, exceeded the two-day total for a 500-year event and a 1,000-year event.
"Among these impacts, persistent flooding has damaged critical roadways, dams, and sewage systems, as well as several homes, vehicles, farms, and other private property," Lujan Grisham wrote in her letter. "Moreover, the 2021 monsoon season has already required eleven different state emergency declarations throughout New Mexico. Those disasters, combined with our state’s ongoing efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, have pushed our emergency response capabilities to their limits."
Rain gauge amounts in the La Union area between Aug. 12 and 14 totaled between 5.63 inches to 6.73 inches, Lujan Grisham wrote.
"While the highest rainfall amounts recorded were in the La Union area, the storm system caused damages as far north as Hatch, as far east as Highway 70 east of San Augustin Pass, and as far south as Sunland Park, with many locations recording 50-year and 100-year event levels of rainfall," the letter said. The flooding took its toll on drinking water, electrical boxes and lines, dams, roadways, homes, and emergency management and first responders, as well as local and state agencies responding to the emergency, according to the letter.
The "flooding event was so severe that effective recovery is beyond the capabilities of state and local governments and that supplementary federal assistance is necessary," Lujan Grisham wrote.