Wildfire Recovery Resources

If you or someone you know is impacted by recent wildfires in New Mexico, please review the resources provided on this page.

Take advantage of the Disaster Recovery Centers

No appointment necessary, the Red Cross, FEMA & SBA reps & resources on-hand

  • Las Vegas/San Miguel County: Old Memorial Middle School, 947 Legion Road, Mon-Sat 8am-7pm
  • Mora County, VFW Hall 2825 NM Hwy 518, MM 28.5, Mora Mon-Sat, 10am-6pm
  • Valencia County, Jarales Community Center (Fixed site), 426 Jarales Road, Belen, Mon–Sat, 10am–6pm, Sundays: CLOSED
  • Or call SBA’s Customer Service Center for assistance closer to you: 1-800-659-2055

SBA Update - Cynthia Powell / Elizabeth Vargas, PIO US SBA

Low-interest SBA federal disaster assistance loans are available to NM businesses and residents inc. home owners, renters & personal property as a result of the wildfires and straight-line winds. Email: DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov, 1-800-6549-2955

Colfax, Lincoln, Mora, San Miguel, and Valencia Counties currently eligible (as of 6/9/22), as well as neighboring NM counties of: Bernalillo, Chaves, Cibola, De Baca, Guadalupe, Harding, Otero, Quay, Rio Arriba, Santa Fe, Sierra, Socorro, Taos, Torrance, Union, and neighboring Colorado counties of Costilla, Las Animas

  • Business Loans
  • EIDL – Available to those in the 5 NM declared counties (& their neighboring counties listed above for small businesses), also available to those impacted by Nat’l Forest closures and fire related impact
  • Home Loans – Homeowners repair or replace primary residence
  • Home Loans – Homeowners and renters to repair or replace personal property
  • Apply for assistance with FEMA

USDA Loan Specialist – Zach Frater, RD State Office

www.rd.usda.gov/nma.gov

Rural Business Development Grant: town community, non-profit, federally identified tribe,

  • $100K or less
  • Application process will possibly begin Fall 2022
  • Examples, out-door patio, kitchen equipment, anything that can help create jobs

FEMA – Noel Witzke

Adam Burpee

  • FEMA’s website: www.disasterassistance.gov
  • Physical Damage Deadline: July 5, 2022
  • Online : DisasterAssistance.gov (recommend creating on-line account)
  • By phone: 1-800-621-3362, 7am – 11pm 7 days/wk
  • Disaster Recover Center locator (fema.gov) https://egateway.fema.gov/ESF6/DRCLocatorv
  • Multiple languages are available
  • Discourage others from sharing information from unverified sources:  www.fema.gov/nm-rumors
  • Anyone impacted since April 5th, fire or wind may contact FEMA for disaster assistance.
    • Rental Assistance for alternative temp housing,
    • Lodging Expenses Reimbursement
    • Home Repair Assistance – primary
    • Additional help to clean and sanitize homes still livable but were impacted
  • Works with residents for technical assistance with SBA low interest loans

SBDC Trish Livingston, Director SBDC at NMSU Alamogordo

  • Accredited, grant funded program, typically available in most communities
  • Created to help businesses grow and be successful
  • 18 Centers in NM – NMSBDC.org to register w/ your local center and be put in touch with a no-cost counselor
  • SBDC provides no-cost, confidential counseling & trainings

Disaster Recovery for Small Businesses Disaster Preparedness Guide: Resources / Partners | NMSBDC

NMSBDC can assist you with:

  • Reconstructing Financial Records
  • Insurance Navigation
  • Physical & Economic Loss Estimates
  • Sources of Funding
  • Steps to Reopening or Closing
  • Long Term Recovery Plans and Strategies
  • Can also assist with applying for SBA Disaster Loans
  • Assistance with Future Emergency Management
    • Prevention/Mitigation
    • Preparedness
    • Response
    • Recovery

Economic Development Department (EDD) – Jennifer Myers

  • NMFA – Small Business Recovery Loan Fund
  • Collateral Assistance Program (CAP)
  • Outdoor Recreation Grant Opportunity, Trails+ grant, opened March 1st, nmoutside.com
  • Business Finance Finder, find the resources you need to start to grow your business
  • Weekly Wrap-up, sign up at Newsletter gonm.biz to stay connected with featured and new resources from EDD

Additional Wildfire Disaster Resources:

American Red Cross

Evacuation Shelters New Mexico | American Red Cross

1-800-733-2767 24 hours a day

Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP)

Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP)

May be eligible: Residents impacted by fires in San Miguel, Mora, Colfax, Lincoln, and Valencia County.

Apply: Impacted residents can apply for D-SNAP at the locations below beginning Tuesday, June 7 – Monday, June 13, 2022. The hours of operation are from 8 am–6 pm on weekdays, 9 am–3 pm on Saturdays and Sundays, in the following locations:

  1. John Marshall Health and Human Services Center: 1500 Walter, SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106
  2. New Mexico Highlands University, Student Union Building, 3rd Floor: 800 National Ave. Las Vegas, NM 87701
  3. Juan Gonzales Agricultural Center: 202 Chamisa Rd. Taos, NM 87571
  4. Eastern New Mexico University: 709 Mechem Drive, Ruidoso, NM 88345 (closed Sunday)
  5. All HSD Income Support Division Offices

More info: bit.ly/D-SNAPnm

IRS

Has extended upcoming deadlines to August 31, 2022, providing tax relief for victims of the wildfires in certain affected areas of New Mexico

See: irs.gov/disasters and Disaster Assistance and Emergency Relief for Individuals and Businesses (irs.gov).

Free Legal Assistance

A legal hotline is available to connect New Mexicans to free legal services in qualifying counties (Colfax, Lincoln, Mora, San Miguel, and Valencia) for those who cannot afford an attorney.

1-888-985-5141, Monday–Friday, 9 am–1 pm MDT

Flood Insurance

Getting flood insurance will help you stay prepared this hurricane season. Freshen up your knowledge on what a flood insurance policy would cover.

More: https://floodsmart.gov/whats-covered

Private Property Debris Removal Program

This program allows wildfire debris on residential properties in Mora & San Miguel counties to be collected, safely removed, and properly disposed of with no out-of-pocket costs to property owners!

By NM Environment Department (@EPAregion6) & the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers SW Division (@USACE_SWD), www.nmdhsem.org/2022-wildfires Video: youtu.be/659DnZH6yAg

Cybersecurity – SBA.gov/cybersecurity, Mercedes Chavez

  • A growing concern for small businesses
  • All SBA correspondence will only come from an “sba.gov” email address
  • Report any SBA suspicious correspondence, fraud, identity theft, misuse of funds, etc. by contacting the SBA Office of Inspector General at: sba.gov/oighotline
  • CISA: Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency www.cisa.gov/free-cybersecurity-services-and-tools
  • Stop Ransom Ware – www.stopransomware.gov is the new one-stop location for resources to tackle ransomware
  • National Cybersecurity Alliance – www.staysafeonline.org  
  • The IRS will NEVER request any sensitive information online. These are all scams, and they are persistent. www.Irs.gov/scams for more information.
  • Report IRS scams via phishing@irs.gov, or to report impersonation telephone calls: www.tigta.gov