by Sharon Niederman
LOCATION — According to a March 27, 2023 press release issued by FEMA, starting March 27, Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Navigators will begin calling claimants who have already submitted their Notice of Loss (NOL) form. Claims Navigators will offer claimants the opportunity to discuss questions or concerns relating to their claim and make appointments to meet in person. Anyone who submitted a NOL by March 27 will be contacted by the end of April; those who submit an NOL after March 27 will be contacted within 30 days of submitting their NOL.
Claims Navigators are your guide through the claims process. To the extent possible, they’ll stay with you for the entire period of your claim, from start to finish. They’ll also help to connect you to other forms of assistance from additional federal, state, local and nonprofit organizations. All Claims Navigators are local New Mexicans and most are bilingual.
Claims Navigators will not be asking for banking information at this time. If someone contacts you and you are unsure about the authenticity of the caller, call the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Office at 505-995-7133 to verify their identity. If you haven’t submitted a Notice of Loss form yet, visit our website www.fema.gov/disaster/current for instructions about how to fill out the form.
Says FEMA: “We are committed to ensuring a simple claims process, including providing one-on-one assistance at fixed and mobile offices to those who submit a claim. We are also conducting government-to-government consultation with affected Tribal Nations to ensure that the claims process is accessible. We will keep local partners, Tribal Nations, and New Mexicans informed every step of the way as we stand up the claims office. You do not have to apply for FEMA disaster assistance to submit a claim to the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire Claims Office.”
To speed up the process, you can gather information you think will be relevant to proving your claim, including (if you have them) receipts and other documents, pictures of the damaged property, and other information about the loss.
