Sandoval County wildfire evacuees get extra time to replace SNAP groceries

The New Mexico Health Care Authority has set July 14 as the deadline for about 101 households in ZIP codes 87025 and 87044 to replace SNAP groceries lost in the McCauley Springs Fire. They are eligible if they were evacuated because of the fire and lost food bought with SNAP between June 24 and July 14.

Families can start the process by calling 1-800-283-4465. Households must complete and sign a replacement request, and a telephonic signature is accepted for phone requests. Replacement benefits can cover the value of food lost, up to the household’s monthly SNAP benefit amount.

Niki Kozlowski, director of the Health Care Authority’s Income Support Division, said, “No family should have to choose between recovering from a wildfire and putting food on the table.” She urged households that lost groceries in the fire to contact the agency as soon as possible.

By July 2, the U.S. Forest Service had the McCauley Springs Fire at 712 acres, 63% contained, with 328 personnel assigned to the response.

The fire prompted evacuations for Sierra de los Pinos and Jemez Falls Campground. Emergency centers were set up at Jemez Mountain Baptist Church in La Cueva and the Jemez Valley Senior Center at 8154 Highway 4. During the firefight, Highway 4 was closed between mile markers 27 and 40, and Battleship Rock Campground, Jemez Falls Campground, Redondo Campground and Trail #137 remained closed.

USDA Food and Nutrition Service rules allow SNAP households to receive replacement benefits when food bought with SNAP is destroyed in a disaster, and federal D-SNAP policy says food loss can count as a disaster-related hardship.