Residents Invited to Jan. 21 Sandoval County Hazard Mitigation Open House

Residents had the opportunity to review the draft 2026 Hazard Mitigation Plan at a Sandoval County open house held Jan. 21 at the Sandoval County Fire & Rescue Administration Classroom, 301 Piedra Lisa Road in Bernalillo. The session, announced in a Village of Corrales Mayor’s Message published Jan. 16, drew local stakeholders to examine countywide priorities for identifying natural hazards, assessing vulnerabilities, and prioritizing mitigation projects and FEMA-eligibility actions.

The draft plan became available for public review beginning Jan. 21, and Sandoval County opened a formal public comment period that runs through Feb. 4, 2026. Residents unable to attend the open house may submit feedback online using the county comment form. The public comment window gives homeowners, business owners, and local officials a direct channel to influence which projects are recommended and which actions the county will pursue to increase eligibility for federal mitigation funding.

The update process covers jurisdictions within Sandoval County and is intended to produce a unified assessment of exposure and risk across municipal and unincorporated areas. For communities along the Rio Grande corridor and in smaller villages, the plan can shape priorities for infrastructure repairs, hazard mitigation projects, and grant-backed resilience efforts. Local voices can affect how the county frames priorities when seeking FEMA programs and other federal support that often depend on an approved mitigation strategy.

The open house format provided maps and plan summaries for review and allowed attendees to offer in-person input between 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. County staff and planners used the session to explain technical elements and to collect community priorities. The draft plan outlines processes for assessing vulnerability and ranking projects, which will inform which mitigation measures may move forward and how resources are targeted across the county.

As of Jan. 23 the comment period remains open. Residents are encouraged to read the draft plan, attend future meetings, or submit remarks through the county comment form before Feb. 4. Participation matters because public feedback helps ensure proposed mitigation projects reflect local experience and need, increasing the likelihood that Sandoval County can secure federal funding and implement measures that reduce risk for homes, roads, utilities, and community services.

What comes next is a period of review and refinement: the county will consider public input as the draft moves toward finalization and potential adoption. For Sandoval County residents, this is a practical moment to shape which projects receive priority and to help steer investments that improve long-term resilience.