Community Advisory – Hermit’s Peak/ Calf Canyon Claims Office
Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Office Advisory
The Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire Assistance Act provides $2.5 billion to compensate New Mexicans impacted by the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire.
Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Office
On September 30, President Joseph R. Biden signed the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire Assistance Act. This historic fire, and subsequent flooding, had devastating impacts on New Mexican communities. The Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Office will disperse the $2.5 billion in compensation included in the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire Assistance Act. The funding may cover eligible losses including personal injury, loss of property, business loss or financial loss. The losses must be a result of the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire. FEMA is committed to ensuring a simplified claims process. This will include providing one-on-one assistance at fixed and mobile offices to those who submit a claim.
Public Comment Period
On November 14, 2022, in the Federal Register, FEMA will announce the start of the 60-day public comment period for Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire Assistance regulations. These regulations will guide the claims process and describe necessary documentation, evaluation criteria, compensation available, and provide for appeal rights, arbitration, and judicial review. Note: The regulations will be published on November 14, before that date unpublished regulations can be found here.
The public comment period will run from November 14, 2022, through January 13, 2023, and comments can be submitted at Regulations.gov. The Federal Register Notice docket number is FEMA-2022-0037. For information on submitting a public comment, please visit: FEMA.gov/Hermits-Peak.
Additionally, four public meetings will be held to collect public comments. The in-person public meetings will be managed by FEMA and will be 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 Fire Assistance regulations and allow members of the public to provide verbal comments for the record during the public meetings. These public meetings will not serve as a forum for claimant questions and answers.
Public Comment Community Meeting Schedule
Old Memorial Middle School – 947 Legion Drive, Las Vegas, NM 87701
November 17, 2022, at 5:30 pm MT and December 15, 2022, at 5:30 pm MT
Mora High School – 10 Ranger Road, Mora, NM 87701
December 1, 2022, at 5:30 pm MT and January 5, 2023, at 5:30 pm MT
Your offices are encouraged to participate in these public meetings and your assistance in communicating them to the community would be greatly appreciated.
Claims Process to Begin
Also starting November 14, New Mexicans impacted by the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire can begin submitting Notice of Loss forms. Completing this form signals interest in starting the claims process.
The Notice of loss form and information on how to submit will be available on November 14 at FEMA.gov/Hermits-Peak. After submitting a Notice of Loss form claimants should expect to receive correspondence from the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Office acknowledging receipt of the form. Once the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Office acknowledges the receipt and completion of the Notice of Loss form, the Claims Office will have 180 days to determine whether compensation is due to the Claimant.
It’s important to emphasize that while Notice of Loss forms will be accepted beginning November 14, it will take time to build out the operation to its full capacity, which means that payment processing will begin in early 2023. The Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Office will include a physical footprint, with Customer Service Centers and mobile units to provide one-on-one assistance to those with questions about the claims process.
For your information, please find attached messaging information including a flyer on upcoming public meetings, Talking Points and FAQs. Additional materials will be provided to your office early next week.
Contact Us
If you have any questions, please contact your FEMA External Affairs Liaison Mike Peacock at Michael.Peacock@fema.dhs.gov.