RUIDOSO, NM – March 28, 2024—The five-year update for the Lincoln County Multi-jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan has been approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency through March 19, 2029; Lincoln County, the Village of Ruidoso, the Town of Carrizozo, the Village of Capitan, and the Village of Corona are included in the approval. We anticipate Ruidoso Downs will also be included in the Approval in April. The final version of the Hazard Mitigation Plan is expected to be posted by the end of April.
The planning process assisted the County and all five incorporated jurisdictions in identifying the natural hazards that impact each community, analyzing the risks, and prioritizing actions that can be taken to reduce those risks. Examples of natural hazard mitigation actions are hazardous fuels reduction, drainage improvements, watershed stabilization, and public outreach.
Having the approved hazard mitigation plan provides each jurisdiction with a federal government-approved and locally adopted plan which will support grant applications to implement natural hazard risk reduction projects and outreach activities. The approved plan is a requirement for FEMA hazard mitigation grant funding and can serve as the planning eligibility requirement for other federal grants like the U.S. Forest Service Community Wildfire Defense Grant.
A Planning Team, made up of representatives from the County and the incorporated jurisdictions, met throughout the Spring of 2023, provided the draft plan for community input, hosted a community meeting in June 2023, vetted community feedback, and finalized the plan in the Fall of 2023. Updating the Hazard Mitigation Plan could not have occurred without meaningful participation and involvement from the community. Thank you for your input and feedback.
If you have questions or would like to discuss the newly updated Lincoln County Hazard Mitigation Plan, please contact the following:
• Village of Ruidoso: Joe Kasuboski, Fire Chief, JoeKasuboski@ruidoso-nm.gov or Eric
Queller, Emergency Manager, EricQueller@ruidoso-nm.gov
• Lincoln County: Brian Samson, Emergency Manager, BSamson@lincolncountynm.gov
• City of Ruidoso Downs: Jennet Recendez, Planning Director,
JRecendez@ruidosodowns.us
• Town of Carrizozo: Ray Dean, Mayor, zozocityhall@tularosa.net
• Village of Capitan: Kevin Kennedy, Fire Chief, KKennedy@villageofcapitan.org
• Village of Corona: Terri Racher, Village Clerk, villageofcorona@plateautel.net
Lincoln County residents are stakeholders in the Hazard Mitigation Planning process. Your input has been a very valuable part of the planning process. To view the public hearing version of the Hazard Mitigation Plan click here.
Public Hearings for the adoption of the HMP are being held on the following dates.
January 9, 2024: Village of Ruidoso
January 16, 2024: Lincoln County, Town of Carrizozo, Village of Capitan
January 19, 2024: Village of Corona
January 22, 2024: City of Ruidoso Downs
Planning Team Primary Contacts
Village of Ruidoso: Joe Kasuboski, Fire Chief, JoeKasuboski@ruidoso-nm.gov and 575-257-3473
Village of Ruidoso: Eric Queller, Emergency Manager, EricQueller@ruidoso-nm.gov and 575-973-8963
Lincoln County: Brian Samson, Emergency Management Director, BSamson@lincolncountynm.gov and 575-336-8603.
City of Ruidoso Downs: Jennet Recendez, Planning Services Director, JRecendez@ruidosodowns.us and 575-378-1342.
Town of Carrizozo: Lisa Maue, City Hall, zozocityhall@tularosa.net and 575-648-2372.
Village of Capitan: Kevin Kennedy, Fire Chief, KKennedy@villageofcapitan.org and 575-937-
0222.
Village of Corona: Terri Racher, Village Clerk, villageofcorona@plateautel.net and 575-849-
5511.