Fire Disaster: Cash – Confirm – Connect
Palo Duro Presbytery recently responded to wildfires in the Texas Panhandle by collecting and quickly forwarding over $83,500 of donations to First Presbyterian Church in Canadian and First Presbyterian Church in Borger. These church Sessions, in turn, distributed the gifts to sustain fire crews and to aid in recovery, especially food and housing insecurity.
Now, as we see fire devastation repeat in New Mexico, we would like to offer our help. The church there was spared, but they will be a source of response. If you choose to offer a donation via the presbytery office, we will consolidate the gifts and turn them around within seven days. The mayor has announced that no one is welcomed back into town for several days since the fire isn’t contained. Presbyterian Disaster Assistance will be onsite as soon as allowable.
You may use Palo Duro Presbytery’s PayPal link or send a check to Palo Duro Presbytery, P.O. Box 16267, Lubbock, TX 79490.
The most potent thing is also to pray for our brothers and sisters in the faith.
Ground efforts in managing the South Fork and Salt fires are hindered by severe weather. South Fork fire is 69% contained, and the Salt fire 66%, covering 17,569 and 7,939 acres, respectively. No evacuations, but some areas remain restricted. Scattered storms increase the risk of flash floods.
BURNED AREA EMERGENCY RESPONSE (BAER) TEAM BEGINS ASSESSMENT FOR SOUTH FORK AND SALT FIRES
The Village of Ruidoso, in collaboration with the Department of the Interior and USDA Forest Service, initiated the Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) assessment for the South Fork and Salt Fires. With 24 specialists on board, the team is evaluating post-fire damage, despite cloud cover hindering satellite imagery. Ground assessments and community input are ongoing, with daily updates provided until the assessment is complete.
SOUTH FORK FIRE, SALT FIRE DAILY UPDATE: JUNE 20, 2024
The South Fork and Salt fires, affecting over 23,000 acres with zero containment, continue to pose significant risks to Ruidoso. Over 800 personnel are working tirelessly to protect lives and property. Two people have died and more than 1,400 structures have been lost. Emergency personnel continue to work through a list of missing persons. In some cases, families are trying to reach loved ones and cannot because of limited cell service. Because of recent and predicted rains, flooding has also become a risk.
The everybody-out “go” signal for the Village of Ruidoso was sent at 5:40 p.m. Monday. The town was empty just a few hours later. Numerous additional evacuation orders have been issued, including Fantasy Lane, Summit area, Botella Road, Snow Springs, Fence Canyon, Whitetail, and Chihuahua Well. An estimated 8,000 people have been evacuated from Mescalero, Otero, and Lincoln Counties. Mayor Lynn Crawford estimated it might be a week or more before Ruidoso-area residents will be allowed to return to their homes. A State of Emergency for the Mescalero Apache Reservation has been implemented by the Tribal Council. Evacuations remain in place.
[From the Municipal Website of the Village of Ruidoso, NM and the Ruidoso News.]