Storm2006 Victims Afraid Temporary Housing To Be Taken Away

By Doug Wernet

HATCH — Nearly a year and a half after their homes were destroyed by Storm2006, some Hatch, New Mexico residents find themselves still struggling to re-establish permanent residences.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, is giving residents who received housing assistance after the floods until February to find new permanent housing apart from the trailers provided for the past 15 months.

Many of the 70 families affectedhave been staying in trailer homes in Rincon, New Mexico since the flood and FEMA says, it’s time to move out and move on. But some residents worry that they will have nowhere else to go when the deadline arrives.

Alicia Cruz’s home is still severely damaged from the rains that destroyed so many in August of 2006, but the government has said that the assistance is only available for up to 18 months. With no family and nowhere to go, Cruz said she’s worried about her future.

“The condition that my house is in is very sad. Since it’s been so damaged, I just can’t live [there],” Cruz said.

FEMA officials are still working to help Cruz and families like hers find a permanent solution, but they say the February 28 deadline is fast approaching. They said they won’t force anyone out, but a solution needs to be found and soon.

“Our temporary housing is just that, temporary. We’re working as hard as we can to help [these] folks in any way we can,” said Earl Armstrong of FEMA.