The Very Real Threat of a Large Flood Event

So Lets take a look at what the
"New Mexico Floodplain Managers Association"
has to say about flooding in New Mexico and Community Action

The Very Real Threat of a Large Flood Event

Floodplain management has generally had a low priority in New Mexico’s communities and state agencies because we have experienced little flooding in recent decades. This is due solely to the random nature of weather systems. Every state adjacent to New Mexico has had costly and deadly floods since 1990.

New Mexico’s turn will come and the New Mexico Floodplain Managers Association wants our communities to be prepared. Flood events have occurred in New Mexico in the past and they will happen again. If, this winter, an unusually warm March storm drops seven inches of rain on an unusually heavy accumulation of snow somewhere in the mountains of New Mexico, the resulting runoff would exceed the capacity of all of the downstream dams. New Mexicans would watch helplessly as the rivers flood their homes, businesses, farms and ranches.

Or, perhaps, next July, an unusually strong thunderstorm creates a downpour of rain on a watershed upstream from a New Mexico town. In addition to the damage to homes, businesses, farms and ranches, several people would die because they were unaware of the threat and unable to respond in time. Sooner or later, New Mexicans will experience the types of flood damage experienced by our neighbors in Arizona, Texas, Oklahoma and Colorado:"

Floodplain Mapping Issues

Priority M-3: New Mexico communities should use the best information available for floodplain
management.

Community Action: When the NMFMA has developed techniques and tools to estimate floodplain areas, flood depths and other factors needed for floodplain management, communities should adopt and implement these tools and techniques. (Funding: no cost)
Community Action: Whenever a community experiences a flood in an area where no floodplain has been mapped, that community should make all reasonable efforts to document the area flooded and the depth of flooding throughout the area. Then the community should adopt the flooded area as floodplain and use the flood elevation as the basis for floodplain management in that area. (Funding: no cost)

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Although this all sounds horrifying, it will happen here in New Mexico - just ask the leader of a community that has been flooded and had not addressed the potential damage from floods, thinking “It won’t happen to us.” Virtually every village, town, city, county, pueblo and Indian reservation in New Mexico has floodplains. In almost all of our communities, there are buildings that are subject to flooding. As our population grows and we build more structures in or near the floodplain, there will be more flood-prone buildings unless we take preventative action now."

Floods are the most frequent and costly disasters our nation faces.
Taking a pro-active role will add New Mexico to the dozens of other states that are working to protect their citizens and property before a catastrophe strikes."

Regulatory and Management Issues:
Construction Industries Division (CID) and Manufactured Home Division (MHD) Action:
Ensure that all new buildings built in floodplains and all manufactured homes installed in floodplains comply with local community floodplain management ordinances. (Funding: current staff; training and procedures as needed)
Community Action: Adopt a floodplain ordinance, certify a local floodplain manager and join the NFIP. (Funding: for each community $300 initial year, then $200 per year)

Priority R-3: Communities should adopt and enforce higher floodplain management standards.
Community Action: Adopt and enforce appropriate higher regulatory standards. (Funding: no cost)

Training and Education Issues:
Community Action: Promote New Mexico Flood Awareness Week with materials provided by NMFMA. (Funding: no cost)

Does this vision infringe on the rights of property owners?
Courts all over the country have said that floodplain management is a necessary regulation of land use to preserve public health, safety and welfare. In fact, comprehensive floodplain management techniques actually serve to limit the liability of property owners taking development action and to protect property owners downstream. Floodplain management is an inexpensive way to reduce potential flood damage in New Mexico. An investment of approximately $800,000 per year by the State, and approximately $50,000 by New Mexico’s communities (all communities combined), will prevent hundreds of millions of dollars in potential damage each time a major flood occurs.

Good floodplain maps are needed for good floodplain management!

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There is much more to Flood Plain Management and further reading in this document will give you more information and perhaps some Flood Information.

WE WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING IN NEW MEXICO
We should be prepared and so should our officials.
Our history in dealing with floods and flooding in RA County..
Not to good is my opinion!