Emergency Declarations Across Cibola
GRANTS, N.M. — Local governments across Cibola County have taken emergency action following severe flooding that damaged homes, roads and public infrastructure, with officials warning that the extent of the destruction could exceed the resources available to individual communities.
The Cibola County Board of Commissioners, Grants City Council and Village of Milan each addressed emergency disaster declarations Friday, Oct. 23, following heavy rainfall that began Thursday and continued into Friday.
The declarations provide a framework for mobilizing emergency personnel and equipment, conducting urgent repairs, coordinating with state and federal agencies and seeking additional assistance.
They also formally document the seriousness of the flooding, which has affected communities from Bluewater and Grants to Milan and Laguna Pueblo.
The City of Grants' declaration describes an emergency that has strained local resources.
“Despite the City's continued efforts, the magnitude and severity of the flooding emergency, combined with limited staffing and available resources, exceed the City's current capacity to adequately address all response, mitigation, repair, and recovery needs,” the resolution states
An emergency disaster declaration allows a local government to formally recognize that an event requires an extraordinary response.
The declarations authorize measures such as deploying personnel and equipment, repairing damaged infrastructure, purchasing emergency supplies and coordinating with other government agencies.
They also establish a basis for documenting damage and requesting additional resources.
The Village of Milan notes that a local disaster declaration does not automatically mean that state or federal assistance has been approved. It also does not guarantee financial assistance to individual homeowners or businesses.
Grants City Council Unanimously Approves Declaration
The Grants City Council unanimously approved Resolution No. 26-1574 during an emergency meeting Friday.
The resolution, titled “A Resolution Proclaiming an Ongoing Flooding Disaster in the City of Grants, New Mexico,” identifies extensive damage caused by heavy rainfall beginning Oct. 22.
According to the declaration, the rainfall has caused and continues to cause flooding resulting in “significant damage to streets, homes, and other property.”
The resolution specifically identifies breaches along the Rio San Jose embankments affecting Sergeant, Divine, Stephens, Nimitz and Old Route 66 streets.
“The ongoing heavy rainfall has resulted in breaches of the embankments along the Rio San Jose, causing flooding and substantial damage in the affected areas,” the resolution states.
During Friday's meeting, City Manager Andrew Valencia described efforts to repair damaged embankments, clear drainage areas and provide sand and sandbags to residents.
Valencia said the city made sandbags available to people who needed them, including those living outside city limits.
City personnel have also been working with county and state officials while continuing repairs to vulnerable sections of the Rio San Jose.
The resolution acknowledges that the city has been using available personnel, equipment and supplies around the clock to protect residents and minimize further damage.
It also recognizes that additional funding, personnel, technical assistance and equipment may be necessary to complete repairs and support recovery.
Councilor Fred Rodarte moved to approve the declaration, Councilor Beverly Michael seconded the motion, and the council voted unanimously in favor.
Milan Authorizes Emergency Response and Recovery
The Village of Milan has also adopted an emergency disaster declaration in response to flooding on Oct. 22 and 23.
Resolution No. 2026-034 authorizes the village to deploy personnel, vehicles, equipment and supplies for emergency response and recovery.
It also provides for emergency repairs to roads, drainage systems, culverts and other infrastructure, along with protective measures such as barricades, road closures and evacuation support when necessary.
The declaration authorizes coordination with Cibola County, the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, and other agencies regarding potential disaster assistance.
Village Manager Candi Williams said Friday that several neighborhoods had been placed on ready status as a precaution should flooding along the Rio San Jose worsen.
“We are actively addressing current flooding concerns while preparing for potential conditions ahead,” Williams said in a statement provided to the Cibola Citizen.
“Our teams are monitoring the situation, responding to community needs, and taking proactive steps to help protect residents.”
During the county's emergency meeting, officials identified areas near San Jose, Milan Street and Victor as being on alert for possible evacuation.
One household had reportedly evacuated voluntarily.
Williams emphasized in her earlier statement that no homes were flooding at the time of the announcement.
The village's emergency declaration also requires documentation of expenditures, damage assessments and recovery costs. It does not automatically establish eligibility for state or federal reimbursement.
County Declaration Describes Widespread Destruction
Cibola County commissioners convened an emergency meeting at 1 p.m. Friday to consider a countywide disaster declaration addressing damage to residential properties, public roads and essential infrastructure.
The county's proposed declaration describes severe flooding on Oct. 22 and 23 that created an immediate threat to public health, safety and welfare.
“The flooding has particularly impacted the Bluewater area of Cibola County, where floodwaters have infiltrated more than a dozen residential homes,” the declaration states.
The document says the flooding caused substantial property damage, displaced or potentially displaced residents and created immediate public-safety concerns.
County officials also reported widespread damage to low-water crossings.
The declaration describes the “destruction of numerous low-water crossings throughout Cibola County,” leaving affected roads impassable or unsafe and interfering with access for residents, emergency responders and other essential personnel.
Damage to miles of county-maintained roads and related infrastructure has also created an urgent need for assessment, stabilization and repairs.
During Friday's meeting, officials reported approximately 12 homes affected in the Bluewater area, an increase from three identified earlier in the emergency response.
The county's declaration acknowledges that the full extent of the damage remains unknown.
“Additional assessments will be necessary to identify affected properties, damaged infrastructure, emergency response requirements, and the costs associated with necessary repairs and recovery activities,” the document states.
County officials reported no known flood-related injuries as of Friday's meeting.
The declaration would authorize county officials to mobilize emergency resources, undertake emergency procurement and coordinate with state and federal agencies regarding available assistance.
Why Emergency Actions Became Necessary
The declarations come after two days of severe weather that brought heavy rainfall across western New Mexico.
Runoff entered the Rio San Jose and surrounding drainage systems, contributing to flooding in residential neighborhoods, roadways and low-water crossings.
In Grants, city crews responded to damaged embankments along the Rio San Jose and flooding affecting neighborhoods near Sergeant, Divine, Stephens, Nimitz and MacArthur.
The Cibola Citizen observed significant flooding near MacArthur Avenue and Nimitz Drive at approximately 9:47 a.m. Friday. The San Jose Bridge area was also inaccessible because of flooding.
The Grants Police Department urged residents to avoid flooded roadways, obey closure signs and remain away from arroyos, canals and drainage channels.
Fire personnel conducted door-to-door notifications in neighborhoods where residents were advised to prepare for possible evacuation.
Officials emphasized that preparations for possible evacuation did not necessarily mean residents had been ordered to leave.
Drainage Concerns and Possible Emergency Assistance
The Grants City Council also discussed the city's drainage infrastructure and its ability to manage significant rainfall events.
Council members raised questions about drainage near MacArthur and Nimitz, First Street and neighborhoods near Sergeant, Divine and Stephens.
Valencia explained that drainage in portions of the city depends on water levels in the Rio San Jose. When the river remains high, drainage valves cannot discharge water as effectively, contributing to flooding in nearby areas.
He also discussed the potential need for approximately five to seven additional relief ponds to improve the city's long-term floodwater management.
Officials discussed possible assistance with hotel accommodations and food for residents affected by flooding.
Grants Fire and Rescue Chief Mike Maes reported that the American Red Cross had been informed of potential needs, although a formal deployment had not been requested at the time of the meeting.
The possibility of opening the senior center as an emergency shelter was also discussed, but no opening was announced.
Flooding Extends Toward Laguna Pueblo
The National Weather Service issued a Flood Warning Friday afternoon for northeastern Cibola County and northwestern Valencia County, scheduled to remain in effect until 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24.
At 1:39 p.m. Friday, emergency management reported river flooding near Laguna Pueblo caused by runoff entering the Rio San Jose.
The National Weather Service said flooding was occurring just outside Laguna Pueblo along the Interstate 40 corridor.
The warning identified Grants, Laguna Pueblo, New Laguna, Cubero, Mesita, San Fidel, Skyline-Ganipa, McCartys, Paraje and Seama among the communities potentially affected.
A separate Flash Flood Warning was issued Friday afternoon for portions of northeastern Cibola County, including Seboyeta, Paguate, Encinal, Marquez, Cebolletita and Bibo.
The National Weather Service reported additional heavy rainfall in areas already affected by storms during the previous two days.