5 NM Counties Declared Disaster Areas

President Barack Obama has signed a major disaster declaration for five New Mexico counties flooded by heavy rains this summer.

The declaration makes McKinley, Cibola, Mora, San Juan and Socorro counties eligible for public assistance for expenses related to repairing public infrastructure damaged between July 25 and Aug. 9.

A preliminary damage assessment team from the Federal Emergency Management Association and the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management has put the damage at $6 million.

State officials say federal funds will cover 75 percent of the costs. The rest will be paid by the state and the counties.

Gov. Bill Richardson had requested federal disaster assistance to reimburse the counties for cleanup costs.