Federal disaster declaration sought

Officials with Quay County and the City of Tucumcari are hoping for a federal disaster declaration that would make private property owners eligible for aid in addition to local agencies after last month's flooding and hail damage.

Tucumcari city commissioners during their regular meeting Thursday unanimously approved a declaration of disaster that seeks state assistance. The declaration was similar to one that Quay County commissioners approved the same week.

County manager Daniel Zamora said the county or region would need to document at least $4 million in storm damage to be eligible for a federal disaster declaration.

"That opens up a lot more funding," he said during a phone interview Friday. "The state disaster assistance program covers only public infrastructure - roads, public buildings, things like that. A federal disaster declaration would open up the individual assistance program where private citizens could apply for aid for their homes or vehicles - anything their insurance wouldn't cover."

Zamora added that Quay County might partner with Curry County to meet the $4 million threshold for a possible federal disaster declaration.

He said two recovery officers from the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management on Wednesday looked over flood damage to Quay Road M, the destroyed low-water bridge on Old Route 66 between San Jon and Endee and two damaged roads near Norton Road.

"I think they were surprised by the extent of the damage," Zamora said. "Quay Road M, there's 10 miles of damaged road on that road alone. As we were driving down it, there was still standing water, and it laid the fences down on both sides. It's amazing how much water had to have been going through there."

He said the Homeland Security officials also inspected hail damage to the Tucumcari Convention Center, plus flood damage that created big potholes or ruts on South Eighth Street and East McGee Avenue in Tucumcari.

The Homeland Security officials also gave Zamora and road superintendent Stephen Salas a GIS device that allows them to upload information about more damaged areas.

"They were here all day, and they didn't get to half of (the damaged areas)," Zamora said.

One flood-damaged location from where Salas uploaded GIS information to the state was Quay Road 71.2 south of Logan.

Zamora said state officials likely would make their case later this week to federal officials on whether to issue a federal disaster declaration.

In the meantime, county and city officials are gathering data so they can submit an application for state disaster relief. That includes information forthcoming from insurance adjusters. The damage threshold for state disaster funds is a little less than $39,000.

"While additional sites are still being identified, we believe that Quay County has surpassed the required threshold to qualify for the State Disaster Assistance Program," wrote David Lienemann, public information officer for the state Homeland Security agency, in an email Friday.

The deadline to submit that application is 30 days after storm damage began. Zamora conceded the county commission may have to call a special meeting to deal with that before the deadline, as its next regular meeting isn't until June 26.

During a city commission meeting Thursday, city manager Paula Chacon acknowledged she may not have a full picture of storm damage.

"We need to drive around because they may be damage later on," she said.

During public comments, resident Tracey Cordova said damage has reduced the intersection of South Eighth Street and Robison Avenue to one lane.

Connie Loveland, executive director of Tucumcari MainStreet, said the Tucumcari Railroad Museum sustained "extensive damage" to its terra cotta roof from hail.

She said three downtown businesses also sustained partial ceiling damage.

Stantec officials last week also toured the $4 million low-water bridge that was destroyed by flooding. Stantec was the engineering firm on the project, which was days away from completion.

Stantec did not answer the Quay County Sun's questions about the bridge.

"We are not permitted to respond to your inquiries at this time due to the ongoing investigation around the incident," emailed Rachel Johnson, a public relations manager for the firm.