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New Mexico Executive-Order-2024-155

State of New Mexico

Michelle Lujan Grisham
Governor


EXECUTIVE ORDER 2024-155

DECLARING AN EMERGENCY IN CHAVES COUNTY DUE TO FLOODING AND
AUTHORIZING EMERGENCY FUNDS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

     WHEREAS, Chaves County was impacted by severe flooding that began on October 19, 2024, as a result of an excessive amount of rainfall in a short period of time;

     WHEREAS, the flooding in Chaves County caused extensive damage to infrastructure, homes, and businesses throughout multiple communities, including the City of Roswell;

     WHEREAS, over three hundred people have required rescuing as a result of the flooding;

     WHEREAS, the flooding has led to the hospitalization of at least thirty-eight people and deaths of two people;

     WHEREAS, hundreds of people have been displaced as a result of the flooding;

     WHEREAS, the flooding prompted Chaves County Board of Commissioners to orally declare a local state of emergency;

     WHEREAS, the Chaves County Board of Commissioners have indicated that all available local resources are insufficient to address the emergency;

     WHEREAS, the Chaves County Board of Commissioners requests immediate financial aid and material assistance from the State of New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management has confirmed that it is necessary to authorize the release of emergency funds to protect public peace, health, and safety.

     NOW, THEREFORE, I, Michelle Lujan Grisham, Governor of the State of New Mexico, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the State of New Mexico do hereby DECLARE a state of emergency to exist in Chaves County due to flooding as a result of the above-described situation, and ORDER and DIRECT as follows:

  1. The Department of Finance and Administration shall make available emergency financial resources in an amount not to exceed seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($750,000.00) to the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management in accordance with NMSA 1978, Sections 12-11-23 to -25, and NMSA 1978, Sections 12-10-14 to -15. The funds shall be expended for the resources and services necessary to avoid or minimize economic or physical harm until the situation becomes stabilized; on a temporary, emergency basis for lodging, sheltering, health care, food, any transportation or shipping necessary to protect lives or public property; or for any other action necessary to protect the public health, safety, welfare, and property. The funds shall be expended in accordance with the policy and procedures of the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, as approved by the Governor or her Authorized Representative.
  2.  The Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management shall coordinate all requests for assistance and responses to such requests under the authority of and as determined by the Governor or her Authorized Representative. In addition to such other eligibility criteria as may be established by the Governor or her Authorized Representative, applicants requesting financial assistance from the State for necessary action taken in response to the emergency shall be required to demonstrate that the cost of the necessary action exceeds their available resources, as determined based upon criteria developed in conjunction with the State agencies, if any, with financial and budgetary oversight responsibilities for the applicant.
  3.  The Adjutant General shall order into service any elements of the New Mexico National Guard as are or may be needed to provide military support to civil authorities as needed for this emergency. This action is pursuant to and in accordance with NMSA 1978, Sections 20- 1-1 to -8, NMSA 1978, Sections 20-2-1 to -8, and NMSA 1978, Sections 20-4-1 to -14. Such emergency assistance shall be provided during the period of need at the discretion of the Governor or her Authorized Representative.
  4. All Cabinet Departments and agencies under gubernatorial control shall provide any assistance that may be required by the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management or by the State Emergency Operations Center under the authority of the Governor's Authorized Representative.

I FURTHER ORDER and DIRECT as follows:

  1. This Order supersedes any previous orders, proclamations, or directives to the extent they are in conflict.
  2. This Order shall take effect immediately and shall remain in effect until all authorized funds are expended or no longer necessary to provide emergency assistance.

DONE AT THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE THIS 21ST DAY OF OCTOBER 2024

WITNESS MY HAND AND THE GREAT SEAL OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO

MICHELLE L J GRISHAM
GOVERNOR

ATTEST:
MAGGIE LOUSE OLIVER 
SECRETARY OF STATE