Press Releases

Santa Fe, N.M. – U.S. Representative Teresa Leger Fernández, who led the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire Assistance Act, issued the following statement after FEMA announced the final regulations. The final regulations will be published on Tuesday.

“For more than a year, New Mexicans have endured loss and devastation because of the  Forest Service-sparked Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire. I carried their stories and their hopes through the halls of Congress to enact the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire Assistance Act. I’m glad FEMA has now published the final rule so that New Mexicans have certainty over the claims process and can quickly receive the compensation they deserve,” said Congresswoman Leger Fernández.

“FEMA incorporated changes that the community and I raised to make sure that all losses - especially for loss of the forest and trees - were compensated. The updated rule removes arbitrary funding caps for tree loss and hazard mitigation work. It clarified that acequias are eligible public entities. It also expands claims for mental health treatment and increases flexibility to determine property value loss.

“The Hermit’s Peak Claims Office has paid out more than $27 million to individuals, families, non-profits, and others over the last several weeks. At my urging, they have hired dozens of navigators from the local community to help New Mexicans build a successful claim. Please, reach out and file your notice of loss - the claims office has navigators and experts to help make sure you receive full compensation. Monetary compensation can never fully heal the wounds of the fire but they can help our community rise from the ashes and find a way to prosper in the lands we hold dear. I’ll continue to work for the survivors, and let them know they are not alone any step of the way,” concluded Leger Fernández. 

Background:

Last year, the New Mexico Congressional Democrats successfully passed the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire Assistance Act to establish the Hermit’s Peak Claim Office within FEMA and provide $3.95 billion for New Mexico families and businesses impacted by the wildfire. The legislation also required the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to cover 100 percent cost share for its programs. 

In January, Congresswoman Leger Fernández urged FEMA to make changes to the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire Assistance Act interim regulations. The letter included a request to remove compensation caps on trees and risk reduction efforts, more flexibility on compensating for property damage, and other necessary changes to make this law work for the people affected by the fire. 

In May, Congresswoman Leger Fernández called on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to publish final regulations for the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire Assistance Act.

A fact sheet from FEMA on the final regulations is available HERE. A fact sheet from FEMA on compensation for reforestation and revegetation is available HERE. You may begin the claims process by filing a Notice of Loss form by November 14, 2024 HERE.