WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), and U.S. Representatives Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.), Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), and Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) welcomed $137,178,000 in federal funding to support disaster recovery needs associated with the destructive floods in Roswell and Chaves County as well as the South Fork and Salt Fires in Lincoln and Otero Counties. This federal funding is allocated through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) grant funds.
“Communities affected by the South Fork and Salt Fires and the severe flooding that followed deserve to have all of the resources they need to make a full recovery,” said Heinrich. “I’m pleased to welcome this federal funding I fought for to help these communities rebuild. I’ll do everything I can to ensure HUD allocates this funding immediately to ensure New Mexicans get the help they need now.”
“I am proud to welcome this $137 million from HUD that will support recovery efforts from devastating floods in Chaves County and the South Fork and Salt Fires last year,” said Luján. “This funding will address the unmet disaster recovery needs in areas most impacted and distressed by these major disasters. I remain committed to delivering federal assistance to help New Mexicans rebuild following natural disasters.”
“Last year, Southeast New Mexico was hit with devastating floods and wildfires. This $137 million will help our communities begin to rebuild the homes and businesses they lost,” said Leger Fernández. “The road to recovery is long, but I know that with the help of this funding and with the strength we provide each other, we will persevere.”
"This money from HUD and the Biden Administration is another step for New Mexicans recovering from the floods and fires that devastated communities across our state," said Stansbury. "The $137 million in funding is a big support for New Mexicans rebuilding their homes and lives looking toward a brighter future. Thank you, President Biden, for ensuring continued support for our state."
"This $137 million in federal funding is crucial for helping our communities in southern New Mexico recover from last year’s devastating floods and fires," said Vasquez. "This funding will directly support the hard-working families and small businesses that have been left grappling with the long-term impacts of the Salt and South Fork Fires. I’ll continue fighting to ensure our families and businesses have the resources they need to rebuild and move forward."
In October 2024, the N.M. Delegation called on President Biden to approve a Major Disaster Declaration in response to the flooding in Roswell and Chaves County, which the President approved shortly after. Additionally, this federal funding builds on the $800,000 the N.M. delegation secured in August 2024 in response to South Fork and Salt Fires. In June 2024, after calling on President Biden, the N.M. delegation successfully secured the President’s approval of the state’s Major Disaster Declaration in response to South Fork and Salt Fires which opened up access to Public Assistance and Individual Assistance from FEMA.
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