Rising river levels in Chama, New Mexico, prompted evacuation orders Sunday evening, with residents coming together to provide shelter and aid.
CHAMA, N.M. —
The village of Chama, New Mexico, issued evacuation orders Sunday evening as rising river levels at the nearby Rio Chama forced residents to seek shelter.
“What are we if we can’t come together as a village to take care of each other?” Nichole Maestas asked.
In a village of 600 to 900 people, Maestas highlighted the importance of community support during emergencies.
“I walked into the village hall yesterday to see locals sleeping on cots, and I just knew I had to take action,” she said.
Maestas responded by opening the doors of the Iron Rail Inn, which she manages, to provide shelter for those in need.
Sean and Maria Burkland were among those who evacuated their south Chama RV Sunday evening.
“We didn’t bring any blankets. We didn’t bring pillows,” Sean said. “We didn’t have anything to be comfortable.”
The couple described the urgency of their situation.
“All of a sudden, we looked out the door, and our RV was surrounded by 4 to 6 inches of water,” Sean said.
At the Iron Rail Inn, the Burklands found not only a safe place to stay but also a supportive community.
“We haven’t lacked food, that’s for sure — and warmth,” Sean said. “We have clothes if we needed [them], so we’re thankful and grateful.”
Chama emergency response coordinator Jesse LeFevre praised the collective efforts of the community during the evacuation.
“They all came together — just really, really a heartwarming thing to take part in,” he said.
LeFevre said they are already preparing for potential winter weather challenges by improving communication with residents.
“We can address those issues beforehand and have supplies and people ready to go [so] that there is not a delay in case we have some emergencies that occur,” LeFevre said.
Residents seeking shelter can continue to evacuate to the Iron Rail Inn, Chama City Hall and other locations listed on the village’s Facebook page.
