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DHSEM congratulates 10 local fire departments on improved ISO ratings

September 27, 2021 | Press Room

Santa Fe, NM – Earlier this month, Secretary Bianca Ortiz-Wertheim of the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM) signed certificates recognizing that 10 New Mexico fire departments have improved their ratings from the Insurance Services Office (ISO), a private data-collecting firm…

Governor signs executive order providing additional funds to support Doña Ana County’s flood recovery

September 24, 2021 | Press Room

Santa Fe, NM – Earlier today, Governor Lujan Grisham signed an executive order providing up to $750,000 for the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM) to support public recovery efforts in Doña Ana County. This funding adds to the original $750,000 that was made available to the county following a state emergency declaration, which the Governor signed on August 15th…

Blood shortage continues as extreme weather cancels donation events nationwide

September 10, 2021 | Press Room

Santa Fe, NM – For the last 18 months, hospitals around the country have struggled with a shortage of donated blood due to the COVID-19 pandemic. […] And in recent months, a series of hurricanes, large-scale wildfires, and other extreme weather have forced blood donation groups to cancel hundreds of additional donations events, though these disasters make the need for blood products even more urgent…

New Mexico emergency managers arrive in Louisiana to assist with hurricane recovery

September 8, 2021 | Press Room

Santa Fe, NM – The New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM) announced Wednesday that a team of New Mexico emergency managers has arrived in Baton Rouge, Louisiana to assist with local response and recovery efforts related to Hurricane Ida…

State emergency management officials issue severe weather warning

September 1, 2021 | Press Room

Santa Fe, NM – The New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM) is urging New Mexicans to be advised of potentially severe weather beginning today and continuing through early next week. The National Weather Service (NWS) has forecast heavy rainfall for large portions of western and central New Mexico in the next 24 hours, and storms are expected to continue through to eastern New Mexico in the coming days…

Governor signs emergency declaration for Rio Arriba County

August 30, 2021 | Press Room

Santa Fe, NM – Earlier today, Governor Lujan Grisham signed an executive order declaring a state of emergency in Rio Arriba County. This order aims to provide local governments with the tools and funding they need to begin recovering from the heavy rainfall and severe flooding that began on August 15th…

Governor signs emergency declaration for Village of Ruidoso

August 25, 2021 | Press Room

Santa Fe, NM – Governor Lujan Grisham on Tuesday signed an executive order declaring a state of emergency for the Village of Ruidoso. This order aims to provide local officials with the tools and funding they need to begin recovering from the heavy rainfall and flooding that began early last month…

Governor signs emergency declaration for Mora County

August 20, 2021 | Press Room

Santa Fe, NM – Governor Lujan Grisham on Thursday signed an executive order declaring a state of emergency in Mora County. This order aims to provide local governments with the tools and funding they need to begin recovering from the heavy rainfall and flooding that began early last month…

Governor signs emergency declaration for Doña Ana County

August 15, 2021 | Press Room

Santa Fe, NM – Earlier today, Governor Lujan Grisham signed an executive order declaring a state of emergency in Doña Ana County. This order aims to provide local governments with the tools and funding they need to begin recovering from the heavy rainfall and severe flooding that began last week…

State agencies partner with Vitalant to combat blood shortage

August 3, 2021 | Press Room

Santa Fe, NM – Every two seconds someone in the United States needs blood. And while the COVID-19 pandemic has caused blood donations to decline by anywhere from 30% to 70% in most developed nations, U.S. hospitals have also seen a significant rise in trauma cases, organ transplants, and other surgeries that require blood products. As a result, the United States is experiencing a severe blood shortage that is limiting access to critical care in hospitals nationwide…

Statement from DHSEM Secretary Bianca Ortiz-Wertheim on the 2nd Anniversary of the Mass Shooting in El Paso

August 3, 2021 | Press Room

New Mexico and the city of El Paso have always been connected by our families, our culture, and the centuries-long history that we share. Two years ago, New Mexico grieved with El Paso as 23 innocent people lost their lives in the deadliest attack on Latinos in modern US history. They were parents, children, neighbors, and friends who had every right to feel safe in their community…

DHSEM encourages eligible New Mexicans to apply for COVID-19 funeral assistance

July 21, 2021 | Press Room

Santa Fe, NM – On Wednesday, the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM) issued a reminder that eligible New Mexicans can apply for financial assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The COVID-19 pandemic has caused so much pain and suffering for families both around the world and right here in New Mexico. And to help ease some of the financial and emotional burden caused by this virus, FEMA is offering financial support for COVID-19 related funeral expenses…

State Fire Marshal’s Office and Red Cross partner to install smoke alarms in Dixon homes

July 16, 2021 | Press Room

Santa Fe, NM – Today, representatives from the State Fire Marshal’s Office are partnering with the American Red Cross and local firefighters to install smoke alarms in dozens of homes across Dixon (see attached photo). This effort parallels the Red Cross’s Sound the Alarm initiative, which aims to educate residents on the importance of well-maintained smoke alarms. According to the National Fire Protection Association, nearly 60% of home fire deaths occur in homes with no smoke alarm or smoke alarms that fail to operate…

Applications for FY22 Fire Protection Grants are now open

July 15, 2021 | Press Room

Santa Fe, NM – Applications for FY22 Fire Protection Grants are open as of July 15, 2021 and will close on September 15, 2021. All fire departments currently certified and funded by the New Mexico State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO) are eligible to apply, including municipal and county departments, as well as paid, volunteer, and combination-funded departments…

Governor signs emergency declarations for Eddy County, Valencia County, and the City of Belen

July 15, 2021 | Press Room

Santa Fe, NM – Earlier today, Governor Lujan Grisham signed three executive orders declaring states of emergency in Eddy and Valencia counties, as well as the City of Belen. These declarations follow the heavy rainfall and severe flooding that began last week, and which continue to threaten public safety and infrastructure in these regions…

DHSEM offers safety tips for monsoon season

July 9, 2021 | Press Room

Santa Fe, NM – New Mexico is less than a month into the 2021 monsoon season, and heavy rains have already caused severe flooding across the state, including Lincoln, Chaves, Eddy, Valencia, and Socorro counties. Typically lasting from June 15 to September 15, monsoon is the wettest season for New Mexico, and exceedingly dry conditions make it much more likely that rainfall will lead to flash floods. However, there are many steps that residents can take to be prepared for monsoon-related disasters…

State Land Office, Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, and Chaves County Flood Control Commission team-up to repair damaged Roswell flood levee

June 16, 2021 | New Mexico State Land Office

Santa Fe, NM – The New Mexico State Land Office on Monday granted an emergency right of entry permit to the Chaves County Flood Control Commission for the agency to make repairs to a breech in a levee located on state trust land. The breech has caused flooding into streets, impacting homes and businesses, in the City of Roswell…

Governor signs emergency declaration for City of Roswell

June 14, 2021 | Press Room

Santa Fe, NM – Earlier today, Governor Lujan Grisham signed an executive order declaring a state of emergency for the City of Roswell. This declaration follows similar orders for Lincoln and Chaves counties, which the Governor signed on Wednesday. Collectively, these orders aim to provide county and local officials with the tools and funding they need to begin recovering from the severe flooding that began over the Memorial Day weekend…

Governor signs emergency declarations for Lincoln and Chaves County

June 10, 2021 | Press Room

Santa Fe, NM – On Wednesday, Governor Lujan Grisham signed a pair of executive orders declaring states of emergency in Lincoln and Chaves County. These declarations follow the severe flooding that began over the Memorial Day weekend, and which continues to threaten public safety and critical infrastructure in these counties…

DHSEM and southern counties begin recovery from Memorial Day flooding

June 4, 2021 | Press Room

Santa Fe, NM – On Wednesday, members of the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM) Recovery Team partnered with Lincoln County officials to perform preliminary assessments of flood damage in the Capitan, Glencoe, Picacho, and Hondo areas. These assessments are being conducted to support a possible State
Emergency Declaration…

DHSEM and Army Engineers provide flood prevention training in Southern NM

May 13, 2021 | Press Room

Santa Fe, NM – This weekend, officials from the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM) Recovery Team will partner with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to instruct residents in Otero County and the Mescalero Apache Tribe on a critical tactic for preventing flood damage. In this condensed version of a three-day USACE course, residents will learn proper techniques for filling and placing sandbags…

Fire agencies prepare Catron residents for wildfire season

April 27, 2021 | Press Room

Santa Fe, NM – On Friday April 30 and Saturday May 1, representatives from several state and federal fire-management agencies will host public education events across Catron County. These events mark Wildfire Community Preparedness Day, and discussions will focus on the county’s ready-set-go program, how to prepare a Go Bag, and how to recover after a wildfire, among other topics. Local fire departments will also use these events to recruit volunteers…

Infrastructure means climate security

April 7, 2021 | DHSEM Secretary Bianca Ortiz-Wertheim, EMNRD Secretary Sarah Propst, & NMED Secretary James Kenney

Opinion: It’s the week of Earth Day in 2021, and we’re way past the point of closing our eyes and imagining the terrible effects of climate change. In New Mexico, we already endure year-round wildfire seasons. We already live through record-breaking droughts and heat waves. And like other parts of the nation and the world, we’re already seeing how extreme weather can damage the infrastructure that supports every aspect of our lives…

Gov. Lujan Grisham signs bipartisan measure providing more funding for N.M. firefighters

April 7, 2021 | Office of Governor Lujan Grisham

Santa Fe, NM – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Wednesday signed into law a measure that will help fire departments across New Mexico purchase essential equipment, including water tanks, firetrucks and personal protective equipment…

Defending against all enemies, foreign and domestic

April 4, 2021 | DHSEM Secretary Bianca Ortiz-Wertheim & DHSEM Deputy Secretary Kelly Hamilton

Opinion: Our calendars are filling up with too many tragic anniversaries to count. After the mass shootings in Atlanta and Boulder, March 16 and 22 will always be reminders of the domestic terrorism that threatens every person in this country. And as we begin a new month, one can’t help but realize how many times we’ve faced these same feelings of grief and outrage…

Fire Protection Grant Fund passes House with bipartisan support

March 20, 2021 | Press Room

Santa Fe, NM – Early this morning, the New Mexico House passed SB 256 with unanimous, bipartisan support. Sponsored by Senator Burt and Representative Armstrong, the bill enables fire departments across New Mexico to access 100% of the capital in the Fire Protection Fund, allowing departments to purchase essential tools like firetrucks, water tanks, and PPE. Having unanimously passed the Senate, the bill now goes to Governor Lujan Grisham for signature…