How to help NM neighbors affected by wildfire
The largest wildfire in the United States still burned just an hour away from Taos as of press time this week. For those of us on this side of the mountains, the Calf Canyon and Hermits Peak Fire, roughly 61,470 acres on Wednesday, along with the 55,172-acre Cooks Peak Fire, has tinged our air with a smell of smoke and reminded us of the reality that, here, a major wildfire is more than a possibility — it is an inevitability. Meanwhile, many of our neighbors across the Sangre de Cristos in Mora and Colfax counties are living that reality: their homes destroyed or severely damaged by smoke and flames; their pets or livestock in some cases killed; IDs, insurance policies, passports, social security cards, deeds, wills and citizenship papers lost.
Now is the time to help our neighbors out, not only because it’s the right thing to do, but because when a natural disaster one day hits our area, we’ll turn to them to return the favor.
Kudos to our government officials with Taos County, the Town of Taos,
Red River and Peñasco for taking swift action over the weekend by setting up provisional evacuation centers at the Juan I. Gonzales Agricultural Center in Taos, Taos Rodeo Grounds, Peñasco High School and the Red River Convention Center. We’re also grateful to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham for declaring a state of emergency for Colfax, Lincoln, San Miguel and Valencia counties, which, as a result of the emergency declaration, are eligible for $2.25 million in funding from the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.
The financial losses people have suffered during these fires surely will be greater than that amount, so here are some resources that individuals can turn to for support. Staci Matlock, a public information specialist for the New Mexico Forest and Watershed Restoration Institute and a past editor for the Taos News, helped to compile this list.
All Together NM Fund was set up by the governor’s office in 2020 in conjunction with the New Mexico Coalition of
Community Foundations “to help New Mexico respond to and eventually recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.” This week, the site began accepting donations to help New Mexicans who have been affected by wildfires. Donations can be made at bit.ly/3rS25BJ.
The American Red Cross is taking names and addresses of those affected by the fires. The Red Cross can be reached any time of day by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS. They may be able to connect people affected by the fire with a local representative who can offer guidance. The Red Cross also provides a guide on making insurance claims and managing finances in the wake of a natural disaster at /rdcrss.org/3khAEgM. Members of the military can contact the Red Cross at 1-877-272-7337.
New Mexico Fire Information (nmfireinfo.com) not only provides information about wildfires, smoke and fire restrictions in the state, it also provides a helpful guide for what to do in case of wildfire in your neighborhood. Visit the After a Wildfire page at nmfireinfo.com/information/after-a-wildfire for resources if your property has been damaged by fire.
Las Vegas Community Foundation is responding to help residents who have lost property during the fires this month. Visit bit.ly/3F5oqS5 for more information.
The New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management
lists federal resources for people who have lost their homes or sustained property damage to the fires at nmdhsem. org/2022-wildfires.
HELP New Mexico, a social services agency based in Albuquerque, is helping residents register for support at the American Red Cross shelter at Memorial Middle School daily. HELP’s website is helpnm.com.
Equine Protection Fund has a network of volunteers to help with transporting animals and also has links for emergency feed assistance at bit.ly/399d03w. Zamora Arena, located at Airport Road, CR C53A 4 miles north of Las Vegas, is offering a temporary shelter for livestock.