New Mexico

Ruidoso fire and flooding victims frustrated with FEMA

Published

2 months ago

September 30, 2024

Ruidoso fire and flooding victims frustrated with FEMA

It’s been over three months since the South Fork and Salt Fires devastated Ruidoso and the surrounding areas, causing more than $29 million in damage, and victims are frustrated with the federal government’s response.

RUIDOSO, N.M. – It’s been over three months since the South Fork and Salt Fires devastated Ruidoso area, causing more than $29 million in damage.

Since then, the community has also faced flood after flood. Luckily, they’ve gotten a break from Mother Nature, but they’re still picking up the pieces.

KOB 4 spoke to FEMA officials about how they’ve helped some fire and flooding victims. But there are residents who say they’ve been having trouble getting that help.

“It has been a nightmare. I’m telling you because I’ve gone over there like 21 times, and they haven’t responded,” said Priscilla Aguilar, a wildfire evacuee.

Aguilar and Abel Montelongo are trying to get their money back. They had to leave Ruidoso Downs because of the South Fork and Salt Fires.

According to Montelongo, FEMA was supposed to help with those costs. However, after trying to track them down several times, he never got his money back. He did get $291 in food stamps/EBT money.

But it was flooding, not the fires, that impacted Aguilar and Montelongo’s home.

“Since the rain and the water is coming into the yard and getting under the house, it’s going to ruin all the piping,” Aguilar said.

Aguilar says they didn’t get the sandbags that officials promised them. At this point, they just want answers.

“At least they should have sent us a letter saying, ‘We’re not going to help you.’ Because that’s a promise that they made, not just to us, but to the whole community,” Aguilar said.

They applied for flooding insurance after FEMA mentioned an exception with the National Flooding Insurance Program might expedite the process.

“Normally, when you buy a brand-new flood insurance policy, there is a 30-day waiting period,” said Roberto Ramirez, a director of FEMA’s hazard mitigation branch. “If you are in a post-wildfire situation, like we are in Ruidoso, those 30 days can change to one day.”

There are different qualifications. For example:

If the fire happened on federal land
If you bought a flooding insurance policy within 60 days of the fire being fully contained
If the flooding results from, or was made worse by, a wildfire

“We’re still within at least those 60 days from fire containment,” Ramirez said.

According to ArcGIS data, both fires were 100% contained Aug. 26. That means you have until Oct. 25 to apply.

“In Lincoln County, there’s only 252 policies. That’s the entire county. There’s a lot of people that don’t have flood insurance. Right now, we only had 73 claims since the disaster was declared,” Ramirez said.

We reached out to FEMA on behalf of Aguilar and Montelongo. However, FEMA told us that they can’t discuss individual cases due to privacy.

KOB 4 was told that once someone receives a letter of denial, they can appeal it. Denials can also happen for a number of reasons.

FEMA sent KOB 4 the following statement:

“They have 60 days from the date that appears in the Determination Letter. That letter is not the last word.

When someone applies with FEMA, we send an Inspector to verify losses and damages, ownership of property or rental contract and identity of the person. If the applicant don’t keep the appointment the system generates a Letter.

Many times survivors don’t present sufficient evidence and FEMA ask for more documentation such as hotel receipts with letterhead, and the dates have to match with the evacuation dates, food receipts, contractors estimates are verified. Every case is unique.”

Source link

New Mexico

Thanksgiving travel begins this week at Albuquerque Sunport

Published

5 hours ago

November 26, 2024

Press Room

Thanksgiving travel begins this week at Albuquerque Sunport

As sure as there will be turkey on the table, Thanksgiving week will be the busiest time to travel.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – As sure as there will be turkey on the table, Thanksgiving week will be the busiest time to travel.

“Pack your patience,” said Leah Black, Albuquerque International Sunport’s Outreach & Marketing manager.

Because as you’re traveling, so are millions of others.

“We’re a little spoiled, because our airport is pretty small, and it’s usually pretty efficient to get through,” said Black.

Black says predictions are in the thousands for our midsize airport.

“On Wednesday, before Thanksgiving, 20,000 people coming and going through the Sunport, which is crazy. And then the second-busiest day is going to be the Sunday after Thanksgiving, at about 19,000 people,” Black said.

She’s telling passengers to arrive at the Sunport three hours early. Black says that should be enough time to navigate any issues with traffic, ticket counter lines, and parking, which ran out of room quickly this time last year.

“It’s going to fill up, it’s just a matter of when it will fill up. So I would say, watch our socials. But also, again, come three hours early because you might need to park in one of our third party off-site lots,” said Black.

Those lots are right next to the Sunport and offer a shuttle ride to your terminal. Another place you might be waiting a bit? The TSA security lines. But Black says new tech at the Sunport is helping move things along.

“They’re getting more people through per hour now than they have in the past,” Black said. “When you see an open bin, go up to it, you don’t need to wait behind the person in front of you anymore. People are always worried that they’re cutting the line.”

Things will certainly get more hectic as the week goes on, but some passengers planned for it.

“We’ve traveled before for Thanksgiving and decided to try and get ahead of it. So we’re doing Monday to Friday,” said Jennifer Clark, a visitor from New York.

Clark is visiting family in Santa Fe and says it was a good decision to fly Monday.

“We’re on time, and we had a connection. It’s been real easy,” said Clark. “One year we got caught in some weather, so we’ve decided this is a little easier.”

For locals Gail and Alan Hawkins, flying in Monday wasn’t a headache either.

“It was pretty busy, but it was very smooth. We didn’t have any problems,” said Gail.

Even if you are caught up in a hectic travel day, the Hawkins want to remind everyone to instead focus on the meaning of the holiday.

“Redeem the time. It’s precious. Be together and pay attention to one another,” said Alan.

As for hitting the roads, a spokesperson for the New Mexico Department of Transportation says construction on I-25 in the metro will continue.

Those lane closures won’t be lifted, but crews won’t be working Thanksgiving Day through Sunday.

Source link

New Mexico

New Mexico (NMAA) high school football playoffs: 2024 brackets, championship matchups, game times

Published

13 hours ago

November 25, 2024

Press Room

New Mexico (NMAA) high school football playoffs: 2024 brackets, championship matchups, game times

Playoff season has reached the point in New Mexico high school football where state championship will be crowned this week.

The postseason finishes up this week as classes 2A-6A have their championship games on Saturday, Nov. 30,

>>New Mexico high school football playoff brackets

Stick with High School on SI for all of the matchups, game times and scores throughout the 2024 New Mexico (NMAA) high school football playoffs.

New Mexico high school football playoffs 2024 brackets

Here are the New Mexico high school football playoff brackets, with matchups and game times from all classifications in the championship games:

Championship matchup

(1) La Cueva vs. (3) Cleveland

1 p.m. Saturday

2024 New Mexico Class 6A bracket

Championship matchup

(1) Roswell vs. (2) Artesia

1 p.m. Saturday

2024 New Mexico Class 5A bracket

Championship matchup

(2) St. Pius X vs. (1) Bloomfield

1 p.m. Saturday

2024 New Mexico Class 4A bracket

Championship matchup

(1) St. Michael’s vs. (2) Dexter

1 p.m. Saturday

2024 New Mexico Class 3A bracket

Championship matchup

(2) Santa Rosa vs. (1) Texico

1 p.m. Saturday

2024 New Mexico Class 2A bracket

Download the SBLive App

To get live updates on your phone — as well as follow your favorite teams and top games — you can download the SBLive Sports app: Download iPhone App | Download Android App

— Ben Dagg @sblivesports

Source link

New Mexico

Northern New Mexico Toy Drive aims to serve around 8k children

Published

21 hours ago

November 25, 2024

Press Room

Northern New Mexico Toy Drive aims to serve around 8k children

The toy drive is now underway. Here is how you can help.

SANTA FE, N.M. — The City of Santa Fe launched its Northern New Mexico Toy Drive last week with the goal of serving around 8,000 children.

According to the city, that is how many children are in-need. Now through Dec. 15, you can drop off donations at several locations (see below).

The toy drive will benefit more than 40 organizations and monetary donations will go toward buying gifts locally.

Organizers are also hosting an ugly sweater fundraiser Dec. 6 at the Fuller Lodge in Los Alamos. Tickets are $25 and all proceeds will go toward the toy drive.

The Northern New Mexico Toy Drive started 15 years ago with less than 100 children and quickly ballooned into what it is today.

Source link