New Mexico Governor makes announcement on La Union flooding assistance

DONA ANA COUNTY, New Mexico - Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham joined Doña Ana County leadership to make an announcement regarding support for La Union residents most affected by flooding in August.

New Mexico has issued $1.5 million to help with clean up efforts in the county. About 2.5 inches of rain fell in La Union over a 2-hour period during the storm, officials calling it a 100-year flood.

An event that the dam in that area was never designed to handle. At the time, Doña Ana Co. Sheriff Kim Stewart said 42 residents were affected by the flooding, many of them evacuated.

Today Governor Michelle Lujan-Grisham stating, "government at work, promises made, promises kept, let's keep doing that."

The governor detailing efforts to help families impacted by those floods in La Union and how the state is investing in ensuring these type of damage does not happen again.

Four of the five families that were the most impacted by the mud, debris and damage have already agreed on restitution. "We want our families to feel like they are respected," said the governor. "That they have opportunities for restitution that we see you, we hear you, we care about you."

The plan is go further by promising $56 million for water infrastructure improvements for Dona Ana County.

“We’re going to make sure that the entire county is getting access to resources whether it’s federal money, which is nearly 4 billion dollars worth of water infrastructure, roads, broadband, and other infrastructure resources meant to safe guard our communities,” added the governor.

The fifth La Union family that has not reached an agreement may have to go to court to reach a settlement.