Rio Arriba County Disaster (Clayton, Chama: homes, shop, vehicles)

[sjbasin]

OK, here's the setup...

"Gov. Richardson declared Rio Arriba County a disaster area."

Native New Mexicans can make up their own punchline.

[GregW]

Why? Weather? Economics? I don't get it.

[jazzlover]

Want to see what real winter is like in some places in New Mexico? Go here for some pictures.

Chama (broken link)

In Chama, the roof of the only grocery store in town just collapsed from the weight of snow. Over on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic RR (which the states of Colorado and New Mexico jointly own), the roof on the Chama depot, and the locomotive shop are also heavily overloaded with snow. Local townspeople are desperately trying to save those, while also trying to save roofs on their own homes and businesses--as well as trying to dig out even enough to get emergency vehicles around town.

They need some support and assistance, not some smart*** remark on a nationally read forum.

[_yb]

The town is trying to pay locals ten dollars an hour to help in snow removal. They have there hands full up there for sure. Northern NM got hit really hard with snow over the last few days. They need our support and prayers.

[bigduly]

Wow! Chama has been hit hard from the recent storms. We got about 6-9 inches in Zuni.

[sjbasin]

Originally Posted by GregW1

Why? Weather? Economics? I don't get it.

All of the above. Rio Arriba County is reknowned for it's corruption, heroin addicts (highest rate of overdose deaths in the NATION!), and poverty. The punchline is that the govenor declared a weather disaster in a county that insists on maintaining itself in that state regardless of whether or not it snows. If things run true to form, someone's going to make a bundle of money in the next few days and the snow will still be there come the weekend. Viva Emilio Naranjo.

[KimK]

You know this brings up an interesting point to me. I have worked up there in the past for the government trying to get some support for public health concerns and what can be done to bring in federal money. Well, the feedback I got was "leave us alone-we dont' need you (the government) and we don't like you." I tried to point out when you have an economy based on illegal enterprise (drugs), you are 1) at the mercy of the drug barons who don't give diddly about your family's health concerns 2) you are not going to get basic services when you need them (okay so I must be wrong here in some respects). This is very interesting indeed.

[jazzlover]

There is a fair amount of difference, in my opinion, between the northern part of Rio Arriba County, Chama in particular, compared with the southern part. Poverty is a problem everywhere, but Chama people are some of the most decent I've met in New Mexico. To tar them all with the same disparaging brush is a little unfair, in my opinion. I notice from the OP's "handle" that he is probably a resident of Rio Arriba's western neighbor, San Juan County. There are certainly parts of that county that would fit the less than charitable description he infers for Rio Arriba.

And, let's face it, 12 feet of snow since the beginning of winter in Chama would test the mettle of even some of affluent resort towns. Oh wait, those "resorties" can just call somebody to come clear it off for them, or go to Florida 'til spring.

[catman]

Originally Posted by sjbasin

The punchline is that the govenor declared a weather disaster in a county that insists on maintaining itself in that state regardless of whether or not it snows.

I don't understand that. Please explain.

jazzlover: I don't see what is funny about it either. Whether there are meth labs in the county is beside the point. Chama is a nice little town, IMO, and I hate to see its residents suffer.

[BrianH]

Hope all goes well over there. We know all too well what its like to have something like that happen over here in Clayton, remember last year ?



Clayton New Mexico - SnowPics2006