WASHINGTON - In the wake of the Las Conchas Fire, U.S. Senator Tom Udall welcomed Santa Clara Pueblo Governor Walter Dasheno to Washington today to testify before the Senate Indian Affairs Committee regarding federal support for tribes affected by natural disasters.
The nearly 160,000-acre Las Conchas Fire, the largest in New Mexico's history, impacted many of the state's native communities. The emergency response to the fire and post-fire flooding is a coordinated effort between local, tribal, state and federal government.
In his opening remarks, Udall praised the role that native communities played in the disaster response.
"Santa Clara's excellent fire crews helped throughout the fire and was on the front lines protecting their land and other federal and private land," Udall explained to the committee. "When the town of Los Alamos was evacuated, the Pueblo and other nearby tribes, opened their doors and facilities to the evacuees."
To watch Udall's entire opening remarks, click here .
Currently, inter-agency Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) teams, coordinated by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) are working on native lands, including Santa Clara Pueblo, to mitigate flood dangers in various ways, including reseeding severely burnt watersheds, creating erosion barriers, and removing debris. As BAER teams continue to propose actions and request approval for funding, Udall urged federal officials to promptly respond to their proposals.
Dasheno, invited by Udall to speak at the hearing, shared his experiences from the Las Conchas Fire, including suggestions for improved preparedness between New Mexico's tribes and federal agencies.
"One of the things that we would suggest is that resources be given to every tribe to develop a plan," said Dasheno. "If a tribe had a plan to work from, it's easier for us to determine what the resources are needed for and how it's going to be done."
To watch Dasheno's full testimony and questioning from Sen. Udall, click here .
Udall called for federal agencies to consider the recommendations by Dasheno and other tribal communities impacted by this year's wildfires.
