Fire Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Seeks Public Comment For Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire Assistance Rule

Fire Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has published an Interim Final Rule in the Federal Register implementing the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire Assistance Act on Nov. 14, 2022 and is now seeking public comment on this Interim Final Rule.

The public comment period will run from Nov. 14, 2022, through Jan. 13, 2023, and comments can be submitted at Regulations.gov. The Federal Register Notice docket number is FEMA-2022-0037.

Hermit’s Peak/Canyon Fire Assistance Act

The Hermit’s Peak/Canyon Fire Assistance Act provides compensation for those impacted by the fire

The Hermit’s Peak/Canyon Fire Assistance Act provides compensation for those impacted by the fire. The compensation may cover eligible loss, including personal injury, loss of property, business loss or financial loss.

FEMA’s Interim Final Rule guides the claims process and describes necessary documentation, evaluation criteria and compensation available for those impacted by the fire and subsequent flooding. The rule also provides additional guidance for appeal rights, arbitration and judicial review.

Public meetings held by FEMA

Four public meetings will be held in the most heavily impacted communities to collect public comments. For each meeting, doors will open at 5 p.m. MT, with the meetings running from 5:30 - 7 p.m. MT.

• 17, 2022, from 5:30 - 7 p.m. MT

Old Memorial Middle School

947 Legion Drive, Las Vegas, NM 87701

• 1, 2022, from 5:30 - 7 p.m. MT

Mora High School

10 Ranger Road, Mora, NM 87701

• 15, 2022, from 5:30 - 7 pm MT

Old Memorial Middle School

947 Legion Drive, Las Vegas, NM 87701

• 5, 2023, from 5:30 - 7 pm MT

Mora High School

10 Ranger Road, Mora, NM 87701

The in-person public meetings will be managed by FEMA and staffed with both English and Spanish speakers, as well as American Sign Language interpreters. These public meetings will include an overview of the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Office Regulations and allow members of the public to provide verbal comments for the record. These will not serve as a forum for questions and answers.

Submitting a Notice of Loss Form

Notice of Loss forms can be submitted one of two ways: by email or through the U.S. Postal Service

Beginning Nov. 14, 2022, New Mexicans impacted by the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire may submit a Notice of Loss form signaling an interest in beginning the claims process. The Notice of Loss form and information on how to submit can be found at FEMA.gov/Hermits-Peak.

Notice of Loss forms can be submitted one of two ways: by email or through the U.S. Postal Service.

• Email: Send a Notice of Loss form via email to fema-hermits-peak@fema.dhs.gov
• Mail: Send a Notice of Loss form to the following postal address:

Attention - FEMA Hermit’s Peak Calf/Canyon Claims Office P.O. Box 1329 Santa Fe, NM 87504

Once the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Office acknowledges the receipt and completion of the Notice of Loss form, they have 180 days to determine the amount to be paid to the claimant.

Notice of Loss form

It is important to emphasize that while the Notice of Loss form will be accepted beginning Nov. 14, it will take time to build out the operation and the claims process to full capacity. The Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Office is expected to be fully operational in early 2023.

In the coming months a variety of methods will be utilized to reach impacted residents, including opening Customer Service Centers and employing mobile units to provide one-on-one assistance to those with questions about the claims process.

FEMA working closely with local leaders and partners

FEMA is working closely with local leaders and community partners in the roll out of these services and will keep New Mexicans and Tribal Nations impacted by these fires informed every step of the way.

These public meetings will include an overview of the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Office Regulations and allow members of the public to provide verbal comments for the record. These will not serve as a forum for questions and answers.