The City of Grants and other areas in Cibola County were severely impacted by flash flooding on June 21, prompting both the city and county to declare a state of emergency. The flood, described as a 100-year storm, caused extensive damage to homes, businesses, vehicles, and roads. During the recent 'Coffee With the Managers' meeting, local officials provided updates on the flood's aftermath and ongoing recovery efforts.
Immediate Response and Challenges Kate Fletcher, Cibola County manager, recounted that within an hour of the flood, seven emergency rescue calls were received.
Andrew Valencia, Grants city manager, said that Grants Fire and Rescue and Grants Police Department were working as quickly as possible to close roads, rescue stranded drivers, and keep the community as safe as possible.
Fletcher said the county mobilized all available departments, including road crews, maintenance teams, and law enforcement, to address the situation. Fletcher emphasized that the City of Grants was hit particularly hard, but assistance was provided to all affected areas, including rural communities like Cubero and Seboyeta.
In Grants, the city council held an emergency meeting on June 26 to pass a resolution declaring an ongoing flooding disaster. Before even the city could act, the Cibola County Board of Commissioners had approved a disaster resolution so the government can provide whatever assistance the city may need.
Despite some progress, such as the successful operation of the newly installed First Street pump, much work remains to be done.
What’s Next?
Valencia also discussed potential ordinances requiring citizens to maintain drains and drainage channels on their properties to prevent future flooding. The city plans to clean public ditches but cannot address those on private property without additional measures.
One of the major issues that contributed to significant flooding on First Street was that, while the drainage pumps were working, the reservoirs where the flood water would be dumped were already full. This is akin to pouring water into an already full cup, there is nowhere for the water to go, except for on the street.
Councilor George Garcia praised the community's response, noting how individuals and entities came together to pack sandbags and support each other. The city is also considering the bio-park project, which aims to enhance drainage and reduce flood risks.
At the City of Grants council meeting on June 21, in response to a community question about whether the city is prepared for another flood of this proportion, Mayor Erik Garcia said, “No, ma’am we’re not.”