Bill Overview
Title: Hermit’s Peak Fire Assistance Act
Description: This bill provides for monetary compensation to the victims of the prescribed fire burn in the Santa Fe National Forest in New Mexico that became a wildfire known as the Hermit's Peak Fire or the Hermit's Peak Fire/Calf Canyon Fire. Each victim of the Hermit's Peak Fire shall be entitled to receive monetary compensation from the United States, including for personal injury, loss of property, business loss, or financial loss. An Office of Hermit's Peak Fire Claims is established within the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to receive, process, and pay claims to victims of the fire. FEMA or the independent claims manager (which FEMA may appoint) shall, on behalf of the United States, investigate, consider, ascertain, adjust, determine, grant, deny, or settle any claim for money damages asserted by a victim of the Hermit's Peak Fire. Any claimant aggrieved by a final decision of FEMA concerning compensation may, not later than 60 days after the date on which the decision is issued, bring a civil action in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico, to modify or set aside the decision.
Sponsors: Sen. Lujan, Ben Ray [D-NM]
Target Audience
Population: Victims of the Hermit's Peak Fire
Estimated Size: 5500
- The Hermit's Peak Fire occurred in the Santa Fe National Forest in New Mexico, suggesting a geographically localized impact to that area.
- The victims include individuals who suffered personal injury, property loss, business loss, or financial loss due to the fire.
- The population affected will mostly be residents or business owners in the vicinity of the Hermit's Peak, New Mexico area.
- Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) involvement indicates a structured effort to identify and compensate these victims.
Reasoning
- The Hermit's Peak Fire Assistance Act directly targets victims of a specific wildfire in New Mexico. Thus, the policy specifically affects those who experienced loss or injury due to the Hermit's Peak Fire, most of whom are likely concentrated in a localized area in and around northern New Mexico.
- Within the estimated 5500 affected individuals, the distribution of experiences and needs will vary, with some facing severe property and business losses, while others might suffer minor disturbances.
- FEMA's role in administratively managing claims introduces a systemic approach that should ensure the allocation of resources is fair and well-documented, although administrative complexities could delay compensation for some individuals.
- The geographical concentration and clear eligibility criteria allow for a focused analysis of the policy's impact predominantly on residents and businesses in New Mexico, minimizing potential for false claims from those outside the region.
Simulated Interviews
Ranch Owner (Las Vegas, New Mexico)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm hopeful this policy will provide the financial help we need to rebuild our ranch. It's been a tough year.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 2 |
Small Business Owner (Mora, New Mexico)
Age: 32 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- With the shop gone, we've been out of work. I really need the compensation quickly to start over.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 2 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 1 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 1 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 1 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 1 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 1 |
Retired (Rociada, New Mexico)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm more worried about how the community will bounce back than about my own property damages.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Teacher (Santa Fe, New Mexico)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's a relief knowing FEMA is stepping in, even if I'm not directly impacted financially. Our community needs this.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Construction Worker (Ruidoso, New Mexico)
Age: 38 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 16/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope the policy is efficient. It's crucial for those who've directly suffered, like my sister's family.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Artist (Las Vegas, New Mexico)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Art is both my passion and livelihood. I'm really banking on this compensation to get back on my feet.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 2 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 2 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 1 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 1 |
Retired Forest Ranger (Taos, New Mexico)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Honesty about what we could have done earlier is important, but this compensation helps rectify some losses.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 2 |
College Student (Santa Rosa, New Mexico)
Age: 19 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope the policy works fast, my parents are stressed about the damages.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 2 |
Firefighter (Los Alamos, New Mexico)
Age: 27 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's tough seeing the destruction. I'm glad there's a plan to help those we couldn't fully protect.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Environmental Scientist (Albuquerque, New Mexico)
Age: 42 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm supportive of the policy, but we must address future fire prevention more effectively.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $250000000 (Low: $200000000, High: $300000000)
Year 2: $250000000 (Low: $200000000, High: $300000000)
Year 3: $250000000 (Low: $200000000, High: $300000000)
Year 5: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The funding source for this compensation is not specified and could influence federal budget allocation plans or require reallocation from other disaster funds.
- Processing and administration through FEMA requires careful management to ensure efficiency and prevent fraudulent claims.
- The possibility of appeals or court actions could affect total costs and extend the period of compensation payouts.