Governor announces emergency relief for recent flooding

Gov. Susana Martinez on Thursday formally declared disasters in both Santa Fe and Valencia counties as a result of the extraordinary floods last month and announced she would make $1.5 million in emergency relief available.

“These dollars will help ensure that these communities have the additional resources necessary to tackle the challenges faced as a result of these floods,” Secretary Jay Mitchell of the state Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management said in a statement.

Executive orders issued by Martinez direct the state Department of Finance and Administration to make a maximum of $750,000 available to the state emergency management department. The orders also mobilized the New Mexico National Guard as “may be needed.”

“We’re bringing the state’s dollars to bear in order to help these communities recover,” Martinez said in a statement.

Valencia County was struck by monsoonal floods in early July, according to Martinez’s order. The Santa Fe area took on several inches of torrential precipitation in a 500- or 1,000-year rain event July 23.

The New Mexico Disaster Assistance Program funds will “provide relief through financial and technical assistance for recovery, mitigation and restoration of public infrastructure and operations,” according to a news release from the Governor’s Office.

The funds will be dispersed directly to the counties, a spokesman for the governor said.