County gives hazard plan update

BERNALILLO — Sandoval County’s multi-jurisdictional hazard mitigation plan has an interactive website that will go live this summer.

Sandoval County Emergency Management Division reported this month that the five-year update for the Sandoval County Multi-jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan is on track, according to a release.

Dan Heerding, Sandoval County emergency manager, stated the plan’s update review started mid-spring. The Update Planning Team, composed of representatives from county government, 10 incorporated jurisdictions, and SWCA Environmental Consultants, meets bimonthly to revise the previous version of the plan, which was last approved in 2019.

An approved hazard mitigation plan provides each jurisdiction with a federal government-approved and locally adopted plan to support grant applications for implementing natural hazard risk reduction projects. An approved plan is a requirement for FEMA hazard mitigation grant funding and can serve as supporting documentation for other federal grants. It works to identify the natural hazards that impact each community, analyze the risks, and prioritize actions that can be taken to reduce those risks. E

Heerding said that a presentation for the involved communities’ governing bodies will be shared in late June and July. Then, their input will be added to the plan’s update discussions. In January 2026, the planning team’s draft will go out for public review through community meetings for feedback and input from residents, businesses and other stakeholders. Adoption of the plan by the governing bodies happens after FEMA approves the final draft.

For more information, contact Heerding at dheerding@sandovalcountynm.gov or Molly Chamberlain, SWCA, at molly.chamberlain@swca.com.

Area residents and interested parties may also reach out to:

• Bernalillo: Mike Carroll, fire marshal, mcarroll@tobnm.gov

• Corrales: Tanya Lattin, EMS director/emergency manager, tlattin@corrales-nm.org

• Jemez Springs: Rose Fenton, wastewater operations manager, jswm@jemezsprings-nm.gov

• Jemez Pueblo: Jerry Lazzari, emergency manager, Jerry.Lazzari@jemezpueblo.org

• Santa Ana Pueblo: Seth Muller, emergency manager, seth.muller@santaana-nsn.gov

• Santo Domingo Pueblo: Mario Garcia, emergency manager, mario.garcia@kewa-nsn.us

• Rio Rancho: Rose Martinez, emergency manager, romartinez@rrnm.gov

• San Ysidro: Danny White, marshal, d.white@sanysidronm.us

• Southern Sandoval County Arroyo Flood Control Authority: Andrés Sanchez, design services director, asanchez@sscafca.com