Navajo officials report 500 homes damaged by recent Shiprock floods
Volunteers and out-of-state donors are distributing supplies at a local hub as floodwaters recede in New Mexico.
By Chloe Martin ·
Navajo Nation officials announced that recent flooding has damaged 500 homes in and around Shiprock, New Mexico. The event forced 200 evacuations and displaced more than 150 people into shelters.
Families are now dealing with the aftermath as floodwaters recede. Basic needs remain scarce in some areas, with one family at a donation center reporting they had gone five days without running water.
Virginia Kirk opened her business, The Mod, to serve as a distribution center for relief efforts. The shop, located off Highway 64, accepts and distributes donations to residents in Shiprock and smaller nearby communities. Kirk described the situation as a compounding of existing local challenges.
"We have so many challenges here, and then when a disaster comes through, like the flooding, it kind of piles on," Kirk said.
Relief efforts have also drawn support from outside the state. Arthur Gonzalez traveled from Kerrville, Texas, to deliver a trailer full of donations. Gonzalez said his home was also affected by flooding in July of last year, which motivated him to help others in need.
"I do this out of my own heart, or we do this out of our own hearts," Gonzalez said. Kirk noted that the influx of aid demonstrated the impact of cross-community support, adding, "It’s just community helping communities."
Source: KOB
