Disaster Legal Services - New Mexico Legal Aid

10/09/2026

!! Disaster Legal Services will be closed Monday, October 12th in observance of Indigenous Peoples Day !!

We look forward to continuing serving our community when we return. Have a great weekend!

10/07/2026

Knowing your options for recovery before a natural disaster occurs can help to relieve emotional and financial stress after a catastrophic event.

New Mexico Legal Aid Disaster Legal Services can help in long-term recovery efforts.

Need assistance?
☎️ 1-855-204-2569
📨 [email protected]

10/02/2026

New Mexico VOAD has activated a Crisis Cleanup hotline to help community members who were affected by he monsoonal flooding across the state reach out for cleanup assistance.

📱 575-446-4767

🗓️ HOTLINE IS OPEN Until October 9, 2026.

⏰ 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

🔺 WHAT CAN THEY HELP WITH? 🔺

✅ Muck Outs: removing water and mud from inside the home or building.

✅ Debris removal: removing damaged material, etc.

✅ Tarps: temporary fix over damaged or vulnerable areas to block water, wind-driven debris, and sun exposure until permanent repairs can be made.

10/02/2026

Another round of great work from our New Mexico Legal Aid Attorneys!

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1HWp7gEyn2/

How much time should someone have before losing their home?

For some New Mexico renters facing eviction, the legal process can move extraordinarily fast.

In a recent KUNM report examining challenges within New Mexico's rental housing system, New Mexico Legal Aid Managing Attorneys Bryce Dorato + Cassie Fleming shared what they're seeing through their work with tenants across the state.

Bryce spoke about how the speed of the eviction process can make it difficult for tenants to exercise their rights, prepare a defense or address problems with their housing.

He's timed some eviction hearings at as little as 37 seconds.

Cassie discussed another challenge: fees.

NMLA attorneys have encountered tenants charged excessive late fees, fees for preparing or posting eviction notices, unexplained charges + even costs for conditions that didn't exist in the rental property.

These aren't abstract housing policy questions.

They're issues that can determine whether someone can afford to remain in their home, challenge an inaccurate charge or meaningfully participate in a legal proceeding that could result in eviction.

Housing rights matter. And so does having enough time, information + legal support to exercise them.

Thank you to KUNM's Daniel Montaño for bringing attention to the experiences of New Mexico renters—and to Bryce, Cassie + the advocates across our state working to make the civil legal system more accessible.

Read or listen to the full KUNM Radio story to learn more: https://pulse.ly/wfm9zbklxe

09/30/2026

ATTENTION LINCOLN COUNTY RESIDENTS

📣 Sound of Safety Test

The Ruidoso Fire Department will be conducting the regularly scheduled test of the emergency sirens tomorrow, Thursday, October 1, 2026, at 5:00 PM.

These tests are routinely scheduled for:
🗓️ 1st and 15th of each month
⏰ 5:00 PM

As a reminder, you may hear a voice-capable siren announcement when routine tests are conducted. During real emergencies, these sirens provide additional details and instructions.

Learn more about the updated policy, view a list of siren locations, and sign up for important alerts via our website: https://www.ruidoso-nm.gov/emergency-information
- Wildfire incidents
- Flash flooding
- Other rapidly developing life-threatening situations

𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗢𝘂𝘁𝗱𝗼𝗼𝗿 𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗲𝘀: “𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲. 𝗦𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗡𝗢𝗪!”

Residents and visitors who hear the sirens outside of regularly scheduled testing should immediately seek official emergency information through the following channels:
- 𝗞𝗥𝗨𝗜 𝟭𝟰𝟵𝟬 𝗔𝗠 / 𝟵𝟵.𝟭 𝗙𝗠 The Mountain
- 𝗥𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗼𝘀𝗼𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝘄𝗲𝗯𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲: https://www.ruidosoready.com
- 𝗩𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗥𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗼𝘀𝗼 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸: Official real-time updates
- 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘃𝗶𝗮 𝗩𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗯𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲: No Facebook account necessary
- 𝗘𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀 - Opt In Alerts
iPAWS (Integrated Public Alert & Warning System)
CallMeRuidoso (voice/text/email alerts)
Lincoln County Notification System - Genasys (voice/text/email alerts)

𝗥𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗼𝘀𝗼𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆!
𝗦𝗶𝗴𝗻𝘂𝗽, 𝘀𝗮𝘃𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸 these important resources today!

Every Day is a Good Day to be Prepared!
Don’t wait for a weather event or an emergency; make preparedness part of your routine. Review, restock, and remain aware of every season and every situation.

🗣️ Share with family, friends, and neighbors!

09/29/2026

Have you, or someone you know, been impacted by a federally declared natural disaster? New Mexico Legal Aid Disaster Legal Services is here to help.

Call us on our hotline: 1-855-204-2569 | 9am - 5pm, Monday - Friday
Have questions? Send us an email: [email protected]

09/24/2026

!! FLOOD SAFETY !!
As New Mexico faces heavy rainfall, it's important to prepare in case of a flood event.

📋What to bring with you during an evacuation.
✅Preparing your home.
📺Stay Informed. Stay Safe.

Resources:

PNM Outrage Map - https://outagemap.pnm.com/
Flood Watch - https://www.flashfloodwarn.com/new-mexico
DHSEM - https://www.dhsem.nm.gov/preparedness-for-residents/flooding/

09/16/2026

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR MORA, SAN MIGUEL, AND TAOS COUNTY

The New Mexico Environment Department is conducting water quality testing of private wells in the burn scar of the 2022 Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon Wildfire. After August 14, 2026, NMED will not take any new WQ sampling requests. The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) is offering free sampling of...

09/16/2026

🚨ATTENTION🚨DON'T FORGET!!!!

📌📌New Mexico Legal Aid's Volunteer Attorney Program and the Fourth Judicial District Pro Bono Committee will be hosting a FREE LEGAL FAIR in LAS VEGAS, NM & DISASTER LEGAL SERVICES will be in attendance to provide assistance with LEGAL ISSUES related to natural disasters as far back as 2022.

🗓️DATE: September 17, 2026

⌚️TIME: 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

🏢LOCATION: New Mexico Highlands University Student Union Building - 800 National Ave, Las Vegas, NM 87701

🎯HELP IS CONTINGENT ON VOLUNTEER ATTORNEY AVAILABILITY AND AREA OF PRACTICE.

🎯FINANCIAL ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA APPLY- FAIRS ARE FOR PERSONS WITH HOUSEHOLD INCOME AT OR BELOW 200% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL WHO MEET OUR ASSET LIMITS.
_______________________________________________________________________

👉HELP IS PROVIDED ON A 1ST COME, 1ST SERVED BASIS

👉BILINGUAL ATTORNEYS AND STAFF WILL BE AVAILABLE

🚩FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR TO REQUEST AN ASL INTERPRETER, PLEASE CALL 1-877-266-9861 OR EMAIL LEGALCLINICS@NMLEGALAID.

09/11/2026

🛡️ PROTECT YOURSELF FROM SCAMS!!

✅ Slow down and don't feel pressured

✅ Verify information through trusted sources

✅ Never send money to strangers

✅ MOST IMPORTANTLY, TRUST YOUR GUT

If something doesn't feel right, it's okay not to respond. Stay safe!