The Sandoval County Commission issued an emergency/disaster declaration in the Jemez Corridor as a result of severe flooding.

This declaration allows for exercising applicable emergency powers and expenditures of available resources, and requesting assistance and relief programs and funds available from the state of New Mexico and the federal government by the virtue of the All Hazard Emergency Management Act.

The flooding issues are caused by very high snow pack in the Jemez area and along the highway corridor.

“We have been informed of the situation with the Jemez Corridor; basically because of the heat that has occurred over the last several days, they are seeing excessive runoff and snowpack is melting very quickly,” Sandoval County Fire Chief Eric Masterson said. “The snowpack is melting too fast, and it’s basically overflowing the Jemez River along the highway corridor.”

Current conditions identified are an emergency situation in the village of Jemez Springs where flooding has caused problems with its wastewater treatment plant, county bridges and downriver communities like the village of San Ysidro. There is flooding throughout the Jemez Corridor, and roadways have been affected.

“This resolution is so we can continue to move forward on making sure the resources and any funding opportunities that may be available are available to help mitigate this new emergency,” Masterson said.

The Board of County Commissioners voted 5-0 for the declaration, which seeks to immediately facilitate remedial measures designed to assist the residents of these affected areas.

The declaration states that all available local resources are insufficient to alleviate this emergency and repair the infrastructure and that without assistance, the county would not have the resources to completely and effectively address continued response to the needs associated with the emergency.

The Sandoval County Fire and Rescue Department and its Office of Emergency Management have been coordinating with surrounding communities, the state and federal governments to obtain needed resources. Sandoval County has pledged all necessary resources to protect the life, welfare and property of county residents.