Roswell FEMA disaster recovery center closes after Chaves County flooding last year

Jan. 17—The Roswell Disaster Recovery Center will close permanently at 5 p.m. Saturday. The center was opened in October after powerful flooding in Chaves County that swept away cars and caused significant damage to several homes and government buildings.

The deadline to file an initial application passed Jan. 2.

Residents impacted by the flood who have filed claims will still be able to appeal a FEMA decision, check on their application status, report additional damage and request continued rental assistance from the federal agency.

Claimants who filed before the Jan. 2 deadline also have up to a year to submit additional documentation to FEMA if their insurance ends up not covering all losses.

“FEMA is not leaving Chaves County,” the federal agency states in a news release. “FEMA continues working with the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management to help survivors and communities in their recovery from the Oct. 19-20 severe storm and flooding.”