7-05-2024 9:48am

Ruidoso Fires Update: July 5, 2024: IRS, SBA and other Resources

Chris Edwards Editor

Management Team 5 concluded updates on the South Fork and Salt Fires, with containment at 87% and 84%, respectively. The transition of control to local agencies is set for July 7. Fire restrictions remain in place amid dry conditions with no major incidents or flair ups reported as a result of any individuals ignoring fireworks restrictions.

Control of the South Fork and Salt Fires will transition to local agencies, including the BIA, Mescalero Apache Tribe, Lincoln National Forest, and New Mexico State Forestry Division on July 7, 2024, at 6:00 PM.

Public Information Changes: Updates on social media and the media phone line will ceasedJuly 4, at 8:00 PM. Public phone lines will disconnect on July 7, 2024, at 8:00 PM. Further updates will be provided by local agencies and through designated channels.

A South Fork Fire Emergency Closure Order remains in effect for national forest lands in the Smokey Bear Ranger District. Details are available at FS Website.

Fire Restrictions: The Lincoln National Forest has lifted fire restrictions, effective July 3, 2024. Visit FS Websitefor more information.

Mescalero Apache Tribe: Updated fire restrictions are in place. Details can be found on the Tribe's Facebook page.

Village of Ruidoso: Under Level 1 Fire Restriction; updates available at Village of Ruidoso Facebook.

Temporary Flight Restriction: A TFR is active; public and commercial drone flights are prohibited. Details at FAA TFR.

Flash Floods: After wildfires, flash floods can swiftly follow a rainstorm, even in areas not typically flood-prone. Burned landscapes lead to mudflows with debris and ash, causing substantial damage. Move to higher ground promptly for safety.

Sandbags are available at the Ruidoso Senior Center and Wingfield Park. Supplies are limited, and more bags will be filled once received.

Drinking Water Disruption: If you reside in Upper Canyon, Flume Canyon, or Black Forest areas, you are under a DO NOT DRINK ORDER by the New Mexico Environmental Department (NMED). Cherokee Mobile Village residents must also refrain from drinking water until all park damages are assessed. Other areas of Ruidoso currently have no advisories.

SBA Special Disaster Assistance Loans are available:

In response to President Biden’s declaration of a major disaster in Lincoln County and the Mescalero Apache Tribe due to the South Fork Fire and Salt Fire starting on June 17, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is offering low-interest federal disaster loans to assist impacted businesses and residents.

Isabella Casillas Guzman, Administrator of the SBA, emphasized the agency’s commitment to aiding New Mexico’s communities in recovery. "SBA’s mission-driven team stands ready to help New Mexico’s small businesses and residents impacted by the South Fork Fire and Salt Fire," said Administrator Guzman. "We’re committed to providing federal disaster loans swiftly and efficiently, with a customer-centric approach to help businesses and communities recover and rebuild."

Loan Details:

Businesses: Up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged real estate, machinery, equipment, inventory, and other business assets. Additional funds are available for improvements to prevent future disaster damage.
Small Businesses, Nonprofits: Economic Injury Disaster Loans to support working capital needs, irrespective of property damage.
Homeowners: Up to $500,000 for real estate repairs or replacement and up to $100,000 for personal property repairs or replacement, including vehicles.

Interest Rates and Terms:

Businesses: As low as 4% interest.
Nonprofits: 3.25% interest.
Homeowners and renters: 2.688% interest.
Loan terms up to 30 years.

Application and Assistance: Once open, SBA will provide one-on-one assistance at Federal-State Disaster Recovery Centers. For more information, contact the SBA Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or visit www.sba.gov.

About the U.S. Small Business Administration: The U.S. Small Business Administration supports entrepreneurship and business ownership with federal resources and services. Learn more about SBA’s disaster relief efforts and business support at www.sba.gov.

For ongoing updates and resources related to the South Fork Fire and Salt Fire disaster recovery, visit the Village of Ruidoso’s official website and the South Fork and Salt Fire Information Hub.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department have announced tax relief measures for individuals and businesses impacted by the South Fork Fire, Salt Fire, and recent flooding in southern New Mexico, starting June 17, 2024.

IRS Relief Measures: Affected taxpayers in Lincoln and Otero counties, and on lands of the Mescalero Apache Tribe, are eligible for federal tax relief. The IRS has extended the deadline for filing various federal individual and business tax returns and making tax payments originally due on or after June 17, 2024, to November 1, 2024. This extension applies to individuals who had a valid extension for their 2023 tax returns expiring on October 15, 2024, and certain businesses including calendar-year partnerships and S-corporations.

For more details and updates, visit the IRS Newsroom at IRS.gov.

New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department Relief Measures: The New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department is offering extensions for state tax obligations for individuals and businesses affected by the South Fork Fire and Salt Fire. Affected taxpayers located in the covered disaster area have an extension for New Mexico personal income tax, corporate income tax, gross receipts tax, compensating tax, withholding taxes, oil and gas taxes, combined fuel tax, and other excise taxes. The estimated payments originally due on June 17, 2024, now have an extended due date of July 17, 2024. Similarly, returns originally due on June 25, 2024, now have an extended due date of July 25, 2024.

Affected taxpayers are encouraged to notify the Taxation and Revenue Department with a letter stating their eligibility for the extension and providing necessary supporting documents. They can also complete Form RPD-41096, Extension of Time to File.

For more information, visit the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department's website at tax.newmexico.gov or contact their office directly.

For FEMA related information and updates visit one of the 3 FEMA center locations or visit their website for further assistance…

https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4795

The New Mexico Health Care Authority (HCA) announced today that New Mexicans affected by the South Fork and Salt fires may be eligible for Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) benefits.

Those affected can apply for D-SNAP from July 10-12, 2024, and July 14-17, 2024. At Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s request, the state has received federal approval to implement D-SNAP for Lincoln and Otero counties, including the Mescalero Apache Reservation. Approximately 18,000 residents were impacted and may be eligible to apply for D-SNAP benefits. This includes community members who live or work in the following Lincoln County zip codes: 88355, 88345, 88346, and 88312, as well as those in Otero County, including the Mescalero Apache Reservation zip code of 88340.

These areas were included in the Presidential Disaster Declaration for the South Fork and Salt fires. “We are grateful for our federal partners’ assistance as New Mexicans face the impact of these devastating wildfires and flooding. Their support, along with the efforts of our dedicated staff, will help more families as we work together to rebuild our communities,” said Kari Armijo, Cabinet Secretary for the New Mexico Health Care Authority. “We want to assure New Mexicans that we are here to support them during this challenging time.”

Impacted residents can apply for D-SNAP at the following locations:

Horton Complex: 237 Service Rd, Ruidoso, NM 88348
Roswell ISD Field Office: 1701 S. Sunset Ave, Roswell, NM 88203
Alamogordo ISD Field Office: 2000 Juniper Drive, Alamogordo, NM 88310

Applications will be accepted from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, starting Wednesday, July 10, through Wednesday, July 17. Please note that all sites will be closed on Saturday, July 13. On Sunday, July 14, D-SNAP sites will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and the Call Center will be closed.

Residents unable to drive to the D-SNAP locations may call 1-800-283-4465 to apply by phone, document their case, and verbally attest their information.

To be eligible, residents may qualify if their home or belongings were damaged or destroyed or have experienced a loss or reduction in income and have unreimbursed disaster-related expenses, due to the disaster. Eligible households will receive one month of D-SNAP benefits to purchase groceries at SNAP-authorized stores or select online retailers. These benefits will be deposited onto an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card, allowing applicants to use it like a debit card at authorized retailers.

Additionally, participating SNAP households in the impacted areas, not already receiving the maximum benefit amount for their household size will automatically receive a supplement to increase their benefits to the monthly SNAP allotment for one month.

Households that purchased food with their SNAP benefits and had it destroyed due to the disaster have until July 17, 2024, to request a replacement of SNAP benefits. To make a request for replacement, call 1-800-283-4465, or any of the D-SNAP site locations. HCA staff will determine applicants’ eligibility. The only requirement to apply for D-SNAP is to verify your identity and have information about your household’s income and any expense related to the disaster.