Residents and members of the Mescalero Apache Tribe and Lincoln County, who have damage from the South Fork and Salt Fires may be eligible for federal disaster assistance from the FEMA Individual Assistance grant program. It may be weeks before everyone can return to their property to assess the damage. You can apply now for federal assistance, before you return home, even without insurance adjustor information.
Apply Now
Impacted Individuals and households in the Mescalero Apache Tribe and Lincoln County do not need to wait to return home or to hear from your insurance company to apply for FEMA assistance. If you have insurance, file your claim first, and then apply with FEMA.
How to Apply for FEMA Assistance
If you live in the designated areas approved for federal assistance, you may complete an application for FEMA assistance now. There are three ways to apply for FEMA assistance:
- The fastest and easiest way to apply is by visiting disasterassistance.gov/ and creating a disaster assistance account.
- Download the FEMA app
- If it is not possible to apply online, call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone lines operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. MT, seven days a week. If you use a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA the number for that service. Multilingual operators are available (press 2 for Spanish).
Wildfire Dashboard
On Thursday, June 20, the state of New Mexico launched the Wildfire Dashboard. The dashboard is an important resource for New Mexicans and offers a comprehensive overview of current fire conditions, including fire perimeter maps, evacuation zones, air quality reports, and weather forecasts. By accessing this dashboard, residents can stay updated on the latest developments and make informed decisions to protect their homes and families.
To access the wildfire dashboard, click here: Wildfire Updates | State of New Mexico.
Heed the Guidance of Local Officials Before Returning Home
Residents are reminded to stay out of the impacted areas and do not make plans to return until emergency management officials have announced any reentry plans and given an all clear. It will take time for sufficient services to be restored before residents can return.
For the latest information, visit fema.gov/disaster/4795. Follow FEMA Region 6 on social media at x.com/FEMARegion6 and facebook.com/femaregion6.