FGGAM RECEIVED THIS NEWS RELEASE LATE LAST NIGHT:
Governor Susana Martinez, Law Enforcement, State Emergency Personnel Plead for Absolutely No Travel in 18 Hardest-Hit Counties for Winter Storm
Santa Fe, NM – Tonight, Governor Susana Martinez, law enforcement, and state emergency personnel are pleading for absolutely no travel in the 18 hardest-hit counties until weather conditions improve. They are: Colfax, Union, Harding, Mora, San Miguel, Quay, Guadalupe, Torrance, De Baca, Roosevelt, Curry, Lincoln, Chavez, Lea, Eddy, Otero, Socorro, and Santa Fe counties.
In those counties, emergency personnel will actively try to keep people off roadways and in their homes. Driving is strongly discouraged throughout the rest of the state.
“Law enforcement and state emergency personnel are working around the clock to ensure the safety of New Mexico’s families,” Governor Martinez said. “While we urge all New Mexicans to stay off the roadways as this state-wide severe storm passes through, we are pleading absolutely no travel if you live in one of the hardest-hit counties. Be prepared, stay informed, and stay off the roads.”
Heavy snow is expected to blanket the state throughout the next 24 hours. Counties east of I-25 are being hardest hit with accumulations in some areas expected to reach 2 feet.
Colder temperatures will make travel in these areas extremely dangerous. The storm is expected to leave the area by Monday morning, but travel conditions will still be challenging.
The New Mexico Department of Transportation reports that all of the major routes throughout the state are snow packed or icy, and road crews are fully deployed statewide. While travel is not recommended throughout the state, the worst roads are currently:
- I-40 from Arizona state line to Texas state line
- Areas of I-40 thru Albuquerque
- Paseo Del Norte flyover is closed
- I-25 north from Santa Fe to Raton
- I-10 between Las Cruces and Deming
- US 70 from Ruidoso to Roswell to Portales is closed
- US 60 between Vaughn and Clovis is closed
Crews will continue to work through the night and, once again, travel is not recommended throughout the state.
Earlier in the day, Governor Martinez announced that she has put the New Mexico National Guard on standby to respond to the winter storm. In addition, the Governor ordered the Department of Transportation and the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management to work closely together and prepare for the storm to ensure the safety of New Mexicans.
Homeland Security and Emergency Management is also on standby to mobilize if communities are heavily impacted by this storm. In addition, leadership has been in contact with local emergency managers as this storm develops, and will continue to stay in contact as the storm makes its way through New Mexico. The National Guard has units around the state monitoring the situation and will respond if needed.