'Right now they're failing': Rociada residents want more FEMA help from monsoon rains
Many people in Rociada are trying to rebuild after the devastating impacts of wildfires and floods.
And some days are harder than others.
"I've never seen this kind of flooding before," said Carlos Ortiz.
Ortiz has lived in Rociada for 45 years.
He said it's hard seeing his own community falling apart, including his own home, located on Route 105.
An area considered a burn scar from the Calf Canyon/Hermits Peak fire.
"I had a lot of debris come off the mountain," Ortiz said. "A lot of ash, branches, trees, junk all over my fields. There's no way I can get in there and clean them while it's wet, because I'll just ruin my fields."
He added he's not the only resident seeing the utter devastation from the recent monsoon rains.
"Right now, there's just nothing to hold [the rain] from coming straight down at our houses, our roads, and our creeks. They already replaced every culver on our road. They've had our highway closed several times. Our phone lines have been dead for a couple of months already," Ortiz said.
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is now hoping to provide some extra help from the federal government.
On Monday, she announced an extension of FEMA resources.
Not only for residents impacted by wildfires, but also those experiencing major flooding near burn scars.
Like Rociada.
"I think it's a cop-out because this is going to last three to four years. FEMA has got to stick around," Ortiz said.
The Rociada resident himself applying for the disaster assistance, but only met with further complications.
"Right now, they're failing, and their paperwork is ridiculous," he said. "You can't get a hold of anybody, so it's been kind of rough."
Despite the trouble, Ortiz is staying positive.
In hopes of putting his community back together again.
"I think a lot of people have a case of PTSD, because of all the trauma we've had to go through," he said.
FEMA's federal disaster declaration will now be in effect until Sept. 6. The previous deadline was Aug. 4.
To register, you can call 1-800-621-3362 or visit their website here.