for those affected by the fire:
NEWS United States Southwestern Region
Department of Public Affairs Office
Agriculture 333 Broadway, SE
Albuquerque, NM 87102
For Immediate Release
Contact: Karen Carter,505-842-3290
James Melonas, 505-803-7091
July 18, 2011
Forest Service Hosts Fire/Flood Recovery and Restoration Workshops
Albuquerque, NM — The Southwestern Region of the Forest Service is working
with federal, state, and local agency partners to host two Fire and Flood
Recovery workshops, which will provide communities affected by fires and
floods with a forum to learn about available funding and technical
assistance opportunities. The workshops will be held Tuesday, July 26 in
Santa Fe and Thursday, July 28 in Ruidoso and are open to individual
homeowners, business owners, community leaders, and affected tribes.
“I know fires and floods have or will affect many in our state, and it can
be very difficult to navigate the various assistance programs,” stated
Regional Forester Corbin Newman. “I’m very pleased USDA agencies as well
as representatives from other federal, state, and local agencies can offer
this opportunity for our communities to learn what programs are available
to them,” he added.
New Mexico received 2 percent or less of normal precipitation for the first
6 months of the year. The record dry conditions were accompanied by higher
than normal temperatures, sustained high winds through May and June, and
extremely low relative humidity readings – all contributing to extremely
volatile fire potential. Large fires began with the White and Last Chance
Fires on the Lincoln National Forest and the Miller Fire on the Gila
National Forest—all in April. In May, we saw the Mayhill Fire on the
Lincoln, followed in June by a portion of the Wallow Fire and the Pacheco
and Las Conchas Fires on the Santa Fe National Forest. Now, many areas of
the state are receiving monsoonal moisture, which can and will bring
floods and other impacts to burned areas and surrounding communities.
The workshops will begin with a brief overview of the fire season,
immediate efforts underway to stabilize burned areas and protect
communities from floods, and the long-term needs for restoration. The
remainder will be an open house format where attendees can meet with agency
representatives who have information on assistance programs. Information
will be available on topics such as rehabilitation efforts; grazing;
livestock and agriculture; watershed and forest restoration; community
infrastructure; small business assistance; and housing and insurance. There
will be an identical afternoon (2:00 – 4:30 p.m.) and evening session (6:00
– 8:30 p.m.) at each location.
Among the representatives at the workshops will be the Forest Service,
Natural Resources Conservation Service, Rural Development, Farm Service
Agency, FEMA, Army Corps of Engineers, New Mexico State Forestry, New
Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, and other
agency partners.
Dates, times, and locations:
July 26 - Santa Fe, NM July 28 - Ruidoso, NM
2:00 - 4:30 p.m. & 6:00 - 8:30 p.m. 2:00 - 4:30 p.m. &
6:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Buffalo Thunder Hotel Ruidoso Convention Center,
20 Buffalo Thunder Trail 111 Sierra Blanca
Drive
(15 minutes north of Santa Fe)
Information on these workshops are also posted at
http://www.fs.usda.gov/r3
.
