New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham estimated flood costs at up to $300 million
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said flood recovery costs could reach $200 million to $300 million, with infrastructure damage alone potentially costing hundreds of millions. She had hoped costs would be $30 million to $40 million. The federal government partially granted the state’s emergency declaration request, and she signed executive orders involving $8.25 million.
More context
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said flood-related costs in the state could reach $200 million to $300 million, far above the $30 million to $40 million she said she hoped recovery would require. Responding to estimates from San Juan County manager Mike Stark, Grisham said environmental damage, roads and infrastructure were expensive; NPR reported that infrastructure damage alone could cost hundreds of millions of dollars. The flooding followed intense rainstorms that NPR said were linked to a very active El Niño-driven Pacific hurricane season and had displaced thousands of people across the Four Corners states. On Monday night, Grisham announced that the federal government had partially granted New Mexico’s request for an emergency declaration. She also signed executive orders making an additional $8.25 million in state funding available for flood response.
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Reporting
- National Public Radio — New Mexico flooding damage in hundreds of millions of dollars, governor says : NPR
Verifier’s note
NPR reports that New Mexico’s governor estimated infrastructure damage from the recent flooding could cost $200–$300 million, consistent with the proposed event.