♪ MUSIC REPORT FROM SANTA FE IS MADE POSSIBLE, IN PART, BY GRANTS FROM THE NEW MEXICO MUNICIPAL LEAGUE, A BETTER NEW MEXICO THROUGH BETTER CITIES AND FROM THE HEALY FOUNDATION, TAOS, NM.

HELLO, I'M LORENE MILLS, AND WELCOME TO REPORT FROM SANTA F. I'M DELIGHTED THAT OUR GUEST TODAY IS HOWIE MORALES, WHO IS THE 30TH LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR FOR THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO.

HE ALSO SERVED IN THE NEW MEXICO SENATE FOR 11 YEARS, REPRESENTING THE 28TH DISTRICT.

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR MORALES AND NEW MEXICO GOVERNOR MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM ARE THE ONLY HISPANIC GOVERNOR, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR TEAM IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'M SO GRATEFUL TO YOU FOR IS THAT YOU'RE VERY ACTIVE, YOU'RE NOT SITTING IN AN OFFICE SOMEWHERE, ALTHOUGH YOU ARE NOW TO BE ON THE SHOW WITH US, YOU TRAVEL AROUND THE STATE WHERE EVERYTHING'S GOING ON, AND A LITTLE LATER, BECAUSE THERE ARE SUCH TERRIBLE FIRES IN YOUR AREA, I'D LIKE YOU TO GIVE US AN UPDATE ON THAT.

ALSO, YOU HAVE AN INCREDIBLE EDUCATION.

YOU HAVE A BS, AN MA, AND A PHD, AND YOU'RE ALSO A RENOWNED COACH, AND YOU'RE A MEMBER OF THE NEW MEXICO HALL OF FAME OF COACHES, SO CONGRATULATIONS.

NOW, TALK TO ME ABOUT WHAT YOU SEE IS GOING ON AND WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW IN NEW MEXICO AND, OF COURSE, YOU ALWAYS GIVE US A PERSPECTIVE FROM YOUR TRAVELS AROUND THE STATE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING EVERYWHERE, THANK YOU.

>>HOWIE: THANK YOU, LORENE, ALWAYS GOOD TO BE ON THE AIR WITH YOU.

I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT YOU AND YOUR TEAM DO, GETTING THE INFORMATION OF WHAT TAKES PLACE IN SANTA FE OUT TO AROUND THE REST OF THE STATE.

I KNOW WE HAVE MANY VIEWERS ACROSS THE STATE WHO WATCH THIS WEEKLY, SO I'M GLAD ONCE AGAIN TO BE HERE AS A GUEST ON YOUR SHOW.

YOU'RE RIGHT, YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN EXTREMELY BUSY, WE GOT OUT OF LEGISLATIVE SESSION IN MARCH AND WE JUMPED RIGHT INTO BILL SIGNING, GOING OVER CAPITAL OUTLAY IN THE BUDGET, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, RIGHT NOW AS WE'RE SEEING ACROSS THE STATE IS WE REALLY ARE IN THE FIRE SEASON.

IT'S A TREMENDOUS CONCERN AS FIRES HAVE POPPED UP ALL ACROSS THE STATE.

YOU KNOW THAT BEGAN WHEN IT HAPPENED THERE IN SOCORRO, GRANTS, AND IT HASN'T REALLY STOPPED AND SO I'M ACTUALLY IN MY HOME OFFICE IN SILVER CITY, NEW MEXICO, WHERE WE'RE DEALING WITH THE TROUT FIRE.

THE TROUT FIRE HAS BEEN A HUGE CONCERN, WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THE GOVERNOR'S EMERGENCY DECLARATION THAT RELEASED FUNDS THAT WOULD ALLOW NATIONAL GUARD TO BE HERE.

WE HAVE OVER 1,500 FIREFIGHTERS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING FIREFIGHTERS FROM NEW MEXICO, WHO ARE HERE TRYING TO CONTAIN THAT, SO WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL.

BUT I'VE ALSO BEEN AROUND OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE, AS I SAID, I WAS IN SOCORRO, AND WE HAD THE FIRE IN GRANTS YESTERDAY.

I FLEW OVER THE FIRES THERE IN THE BOSQUE AND THE COTTON FIRE IN LAS LUNAS AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT IT WAS HEARTBREAKING TO SEE THE SMOKE, TO SEE THE FLAMES, AND TO SEE THE HOMES THAT HAD BEEN BURNT.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS NOT EASY TO SEE AS A NEW MEXICAN, BUT I HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT ONE THING THAT REALLY IS GRATIFYING TO ME IS THE AMOUNT OF SUPPORT THAT PEOPLE FROM NEW MEXICO COME TOGETHER TO PROVIDE RESOURCES, TO PROVIDE VOLUNTEERISM, TO DO THINGS THAT HAVE TO BE DONE TO TAKE CARE OF OUR FELLOW NEW MEXICANS AND THAT IS INSPIRING.

>>LORENE: I JUST THINK TO HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO LOOK AT IT FROM ABOVE AND TO REALIZE WHICH FLANK IT'S GOING TO EXPAND TO AND TO SEE ALL THE SMOKE, BUT TO BE ON THE GROUND, SO MANY HOMES AND SO MANY PEOPLE IN LOS LUNAS LOST THEIR HOMES AND IT'S JUST HEARTBREAKING.

THE TRUTH IS, WITH CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE DROUGHT, DROUGHT, DROUGHT, THE SEVERE DROUGHT THAT NEW MEXICO HAS EXPERIENCED, THE WHOLE SOUTHWEST IS EXPERIENCING IT, IT'S SOMETHING TO FEAR.

FIRE IS A REAL AND PRESENT DANGER.

>>HOWIE: IT REALLY IS.

IT WASN'T TOO LONG AGO THAT WE WERE COMING OFF OF THE HERMITS PEAK CALF CANYON FIRE THERE IN SAN MIGUEL AND MORA COUNTIES AND THE DEVASTATION THAT THAT'S CAUSED.

AGAIN, IT REALLY HAS HELPED US AS A STATE TO BE AS PREPARED AS POSSIBLE TO MAKE SURE THAT FAMILIES ARE TAKEN CARE OF, THAT OUR ANIMALS ARE TAKEN CARE OF, OUR LIVESTOCK, AND IT'S HEARTBREAKING WHEN THOSE ARE LOST AND GENERATIONS OF WORK THAT'S BEEN PUT IN PLACE BECAUSE OF A FIRE.

SO WE'RE WORKING EXTREMELY HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PROVIDE THE RESOURCES, AS A MATTER OF FACT, JUST A LITTLE WHILE AGO, THE GOVERNOR'S ORDER THAT NATIONAL GUARD MEMBERS ALSO BE PREPARED TO ASSIST WITH FLOODS BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO EXPECT SOME MONSOONS COMING TO THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS, AND WHEN THAT HAPPENS, OBVIOUSLY THE BURN SCARS CREATE THE FLOODS, SO SANDBAGS ARE BEING DELIVERED TO ALL PARTS OF NEW MEXICO AND OUR NATIONAL GUARDSMEN AND WOMEN ARE RIGHT THERE ON THE GROUND PROVIDING THAT SERVICE.

>>LORENE: WELL, YOU KNOW, THE RECENT HERMITS PEAK, CALF CANYON FIRE, WHICH THE FEDS TOOK RESPONSIBILITY FOR, BUT THEY HAD SO MUCH BEAUTIFUL LAND AND FOREST BURNED, AND NOW THEY'RE BRACING FOR THE FLOODS TOO.

WHAT CAN YOU DO, I MEAN, IT'S A MUDDY TORRENT, OFTEN FULL OF DEBRIS, AND UNSTOPPABLE.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO SEND OUR PRAYERS AND OUR BEST WISHES FOR THOSE PEOPLE BECAUSE IT'S A ONE-TWO PUNCH, AND IT'S VERY HARD TO RECOVER FROM.

>>HOWIE: IT REALLY IS AND YOU KNOW, WE'RE JUST COMING OFF OF LAST WEEK, THE ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF WHAT TOOK PLACE IN RUIDOSO AND SEEING THE IMPACT OF THE FIRES THAT HAPPENED THERE AND THE FLOODS, AS WELL AS IN CHAVEZ COUNTY AND ROSWELL.

SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT, AS AN ADMINISTRATION, THAT WE'VE BECOME ACCUSTOMED TO IS DEALING WITH THESE NATURAL DISASTERS, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, BETWEEN NONPROFITS, VOLUNTEERS ACROSS THE STATE, INCLUDING OUR CHURCH ORGANIZATIONS, ARE STEPPING UP TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN PROVIDE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE FOR WHATEVER NEED MAY BE THERE.

>>HOWIE: JUST YESTERDAY, I WAS IMPRESSED, WE HAD A CONVOY OF HOPE THAT CAME INTO SILVER CITY.

IT WAS A BUS THAT WAS COORDINATED BY ONE OF THE CHURCHES, HARVEST FELLOWSHIP CHRISTIAN CHURCH IN SILVER CITY WITH PASTOR CLYDE WOODS AND HIS CONGREGATION, THAT BROUGHT IN THIS EVENT THAT REALLY HELPED PROVIDE RESOURCES.

YOU HAVE YOUR SALVATION ARMY THAT'S HERE, YOU HAVE YOUR COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONS THAT ARE PROVIDING SUPPORT.

JUST YESTERDAY, I SAW THROUGH DANIEL FERNANDEZ COMMUNITY CENTER IN LOS LUNAS, YOU KNOW, JUST THE SUPPORT THAT HAS BEEN THERE ALL AROUND.

I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT OUR NEW MEXICANS STEPPING UP AS BEST THEY CAN WHENEVER THEY CAN.

>>LORENE: I UNDERSTAND THERE WERE SO MANY DONATIONS THAT WHEN NEW PEOPLE WANTED TO DONATE, THEY SAID, WE'LL TELL YOU WHAT WE NEED AND WHEN WE NEED IT, BUT RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW, WE'RE OKAY.

THERE'S SO MUCH AND WHAT I LOVE ARE ALSO THAT THERE ARE TOYS THAT ARE DONATED FOR LITTLE KIDS WHO NEED SOMETHING TO HANG ON TO AS THEIR HOMES ARE GONE AND THEY CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON.

BUT THE COMPASSION AND THE GENEROSITY OF NEW MEXICANS IS HEROIC.

>>HOWIE: ABSOLUTELY AND AGAIN, THAT'S WHAT I SEE AND I MENTIONED DANIEL FERNANDEZ'S CENTER IN LOS LUNAS, AND THE AMOUNT OF VOLUNTEERS THAT, YOU KNOW, WITH THE RESOURCES COMING IN, THE WATER, THE HYGIENE PRODUCTS, IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME, THEY WERE UNABLE TO ACCEPT ANY MORE JUST BECAUSE THERE WAS SO MUCH OUTPOURING THAT THEY HAD ENOUGH OF WHAT THEY NEEDED.

THAT IS THE SPIRIT OF NEW MEXICANS, THAT IS WHO WE ARE THROUGH THE DIFFICULT TIMES.

WE CELEBRATE THE BEST OF TIMES, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE FIRE SEASON ISN'T GOING AWAY ANYTIME SOON.

IT'S IMPORTANT THAT US, AS NEW MEXICANS, CONTINUE TO BE VIGILANT, TO KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR ANY SUSPICIOUS BEHAVIOR BECAUSE SOME OF THESE FIRES UNFORTUNATELY HAVE BEEN CAUSED THROUGH ARSON.

THESE ARE IMPORTANT THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO REMEMBER TO LOOK OUT FOR ONE ANOTHER, AND THAT MAKES SURE THAT WE'RE KEEPING OUR EYES OPEN TO PROTECT EACH OTHER.

>>LORENE: ONE OF THE THINGS, IT'S FUNNY, YOU HAVE THESE WONDERFUL DEGREES AND FABULOUS EDUCATION, BUT THE COACHING HALL OF FAME WAS SOMETHING THAT INTRIGUED ME.

SO IF NEW MEXICO WERE A PERSON, HOW WOULD YOU COACH US THROUGH THIS TOUGH TIME?

>>HOWIE: WELL, YOU KNOW, I THINK AT ANY TIME THE COACHING ASPECT IS ALWAYS WITHIN ME.

I HAD MANY GREAT YEARS AS A STUDENT GETTING OUT IN THE FIELD AND TO REALLY UTILIZE SOME OF THE LESSONS THAT I LEARNED FROM MANY OF MY MENTORS.

AS YOU CAN SEE ON MY FACE, I'M PRETTY SUNBURNED BECAUSE EVEN TO THIS DAY, I'M OUT THERE COACHING, MAKING SURE THAT I'M OUT GIVING BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY AND TO OUR YOUTH.

BUT EVERYTHING, YOU KNOW, ALWAYS BEGINS AND ENDS WITH LOVE AND I KNOW THAT LOVE ISN'T SPOKEN ABOUT AS MUCH IN THE POLITICAL REALM, BUT THE REALITY OF IT, THAT'S WHAT BINDS US TOGETHER.

AND THROUGH THAT COMES COMMUNICATION AND DURING CRISIS OR DURING TIMES OF UNCERTAINTY, COMMUNICATION IS KEY TO MAKE SURE THAT COMMUNICATION IS IN PLACE TO ENSURE THAT EVERYONE'S MOVING IN THE SAME DIRECTION.

THAT'S WHAT I SEE THAT'S HAPPENING IN NEW MEXICO.

I SEE OUR NATIONAL GUARD STEPPING UP, I SEE ALL THE VOLUNTEERS THAT I MENTIONED DOING ALL THEY CAN TO BE PART OF THE PROCESS IN A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT, SO I'M VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE COMMUNICATION ASPECT.

AND THEN THE HOPE.

I MEAN, IF YOU DON'T HAVE HOPE IN ALL THAT YOU DO, THEN YOU DON'T HAVE ANYTHING AND HERE IN THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO, WE'VE BEEN FORTUNATE TO HAVE SO MANY SHOWS SHOWING OF THAT HOPE THAT WE'RE THERE FOR ONE ANOTHER.

SO I'M EXTREMELY FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO OBSERVE THAT WHILE AT THE SAME TIME, WORKING ON THE GOVERNMENT AND TO PROVIDE THE RESOURCES.

THE GOVERNOR DIDN'T HESITATE WHEN IT CAME TO NEEDING AN EMERGENCY DECLARATION.

I KNOW THAT THERE'S CERTAIN THRESHOLDS THAT HAVE TO BE MET THROUGH FEMA, BUT SHE DIDN'T HESITATE, SHE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THE RESOURCES OUT THERE AND WE ACTIVATE OUR GUARD IN A WAY THAT THEY SHOULD BE UTILIZED AND USED IN A POSITIVE, MEANINGFUL WAY.

I VISITED WITH SOME OF OUR NATIONAL GUARDSMEN AND I THANK THEM.

I'VE SEEN THEM FILLING UP THE GAS CANS TO GO OUT TO PROVIDE SUPPORT WHEREVER THE FIRE LINES ARE BEING DRAWN.

THAT IS WHAT I BELIEVE MAKES UP A GREAT TEAM AND ANY TYPE OF CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFIED CALIBER TEAM OF A CHAMPION IS REALLY BEGINNING WITH EACH INDIVIDUAL PERSON CONTRIBUTING TO THE GREATER CAUSE.

>>LORENE: SO, WHAT KIND OF BOOTS ON THE GROUND DO YOU HAVE THERE FROM THOSE DIFFERENT RESOURCES?

>>HOWIE: YES, I'VE TOURED MANY OF THE CAMPSITES WHERE MANY OF OUR FIREFIGHTERS ARE CAMPING.

THERE'S TENTS SET UP ALL OVER DIFFERENT LOCATIONS ACROSS THE STATE, AS WELL AS THE CAMP SET UP WHERE THEY EAT, WHERE THEY'RE FED, WHERE THEY'RE ABLE TO SHOWER.

IT'S A TREMENDOUS OPERATION THAT TAKES PLACE AND THEY DO IT, YOU KNOW, FIRE AFTER FIRE, YEAR AFTER YEAR TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE THERE PROVIDING THE NEEDS.

SO IT IS SOMETHING THAT'S SOMEWHAT OVERWHELMING.

WHEN YOU HAVE A SMALL COMMUNITY LIKE LAS LUNAS, LIKE SOCORRO, LIKE SILVER CITY, WHERE WE HAVE OVER 1,500 FIREFIGHTERS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY THAT ARE HERE, IT'S PRETTY OVERWHELMING, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT NOT ONE OF THEM HAS STOPPED DOING WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO KEEP US SAFE IN ALL OUR HOME COMMUNITIES.

>>LORENE: THERE ARE HOT SHOTS FROM MANY NEIGHBORING STATES THAT HAVE COME TOO.

THESE ARE HIGHLY SPECIALIZED FIREFIGHTERS WHO ARE MIRACLE WORKERS, IF YOU ASK ME.

SO IT'S BEAUTIFUL THAT NOT ONLY AS A STATE, OUR COMMUNITIES ARE UNITED, BUT TO HAVE OUR NEIGHBORING STATES, ESPECIALLY IN THE SOUTHWEST, WHERE THIS IS A CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER FOR ALL OF US AND THEN WE JUST HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, FIRE IS THE ENEMY AND WE HAVE TO UNITE TO STOP IT IN ITS TRACKS.

>>HOWIE: AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT'S TAKING PLACE RIGHT NOW IS UNITY.

ALL OVER THE STATE THAT IS DOING ALL THAT WE CAN TO PROTECT OUR FAMILIES ACROSS NEW MEXICO, AS WELL AS OUR ANIMALS, OUR PROPERTY AND I'M JUST GRATEFUL TO SEE THAT EVEN THOUGH WE'RE NOWHERE NEAR AT THE END OF IT, I CAN SEE THAT THE COLLABORATION IS REALLY GETTING US THROUGH THIS.

>>LORENE: I REMEMBER WITH THE ROSWELL FLOODS, A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAD LIVESTOCK TRAILERS WOULD JUST GO AND TAKE THESE ANIMALS AND TAKE THEM DOWN TO THE FAIRGROUNDS IN ROSWELL, OUTSIDE OF ROSWELL, AND JUST PUT THEM IN A SAFE PLACE.

IT WAS, YOU KNOW, THEY JUST VOLUNTEERED, THEY DROVE THEIR LIVESTOCK VEHICLES AND LOADED UP THE TRAILERS AND TOOK THEM WHERE THEY COULD BE SAFE AND AGAIN, IT'S SO MOVING TO SEE HOW EVERYONE STEPS UP AND DOES WHATEVER THEY SEE CAN BE DONE.

>>HOWIE: I CAN STILL REMEMBER THE PHONE CALL I GET AT TWO IN THE MORNING FROM A FORMER SENATOR, NOW MAYOR, TIM JENNINGS, OUT OF ROSWELL, SAYING, WE NEED HELP, WE'VE GOT PEOPLE ON TOP OF ROOFS, THERE'S A FLOOD THAT RUSHED THROUGH HERE.

FORTUNATELY, WE WERE ABLE TO STEP UP AND ASSIST AS BEST WE COULD.

>>LORENE: YEAH, I HAD HIM ON RIGHT AFTER THAT.

FLOODS WERE NOT PREDICTED FOR ROSWELL, NOBODY KNEW, AND TO HAVE IT BE SO DRAMATIC.

HE REALLY DID A HEROIC JOB AS MAYOR THROUGH THAT WHOLE THING, IT WAS SCARY AND EXHAUSTING, BUT IT TURNED OUT OKAY.

BUT THAT'S WHAT I LOVE ABOUT OUR MUNICIPAL ORGANIZATIONS AND OUR COUNTY ORGANIZATIONS, EVERYONE REALLY STEPS UP THERE FOR EACH OTHER.

TO EXPAND A LITTLE BIT ON SOME OF THE THINGS, YOU'VE ALWAYS PRIDED YOURSELF ON BEING ON THE GROUND.

WHEREVER THERE'S A PROBLEM IN THE STATE, YOU ALWAYS GO THERE BECAUSE YOU SAID, THIS IS A QUOTE FROM YOU, "YOU WANT YOUR LEGACY TO BE THAT YOU'RE ACCESSIBLE, THAT I WAS AVAILABLE, I WAS APPROACHABLE AND RESPECTFUL."

AND YOU SAID, "ONE OF THE COMPONENTS THAT'S REFLECTIVE OF THE WORK I DO AS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR IS TRAVELING ALL ACROSS THE STATE, GOING INTO ALL THE DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES, KNOWING WHAT THE NEEDS ARE, AND THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT YOU CAN ONLY LEARN BY BEING ON THE GROUND."

SO, I REALLY WANT TO APPLAUD THAT ASPECT OF YOUR COMMITMENT TO YOUR WORK AND TO THE STATE, BECAUSE YOU REALLY, YOU ARE NOT SITTING IN AN AIR-CONDITIONED OFFICE, WELL, YOU ARE RIGHT NOW, BUT YOU ACTUALLY GO WHERE THERE'S TROUBLE AND SEE WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE AND ACTIVELY WORK AT PROVIDING SOLUTIONS TO THESE PROBLEMS, SO THANK YOU.

>>HOWIE: YEAH, THANK YOU AND I TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN THAT.

YOU KNOW, ME AND THE GOVERNOR ARE A GREAT TEAM, WE'RE ABLE TO DIVIDE UP ALL PARTS OF THE STATE AND TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE KNOW THAT THERE'S A PRESENCE FROM THE STATE GOVERNMENT, WHETHER IT'S OUR AGENCIES LIKE HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT OR DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH OR DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION OR US, OURSELVES, AS THE ELECTEES, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE IN THE COMMUNITY SO PEOPLE KNOW THAT WE TRULY CARE BECAUSE THIS IS A BIG STATE, BUT IT'S A CLOSE STATE.

AND RECOGNIZING THAT WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO BE THERE TO LEARN, TO LISTEN, AND TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN BEST APPROACH THINGS FOR FUTURE DISASTERS THAT MAY HAPPEN.

SO I'M HAPPY TO DO THAT, AS A MATTER OF FACT, I'LL GET ON THE ROAD IN A LITTLE BIT.

I'LL HEAD BACK UP NORTH, GET AN UPDATE ON WHAT'S TAKING PLACE WITH THE COTTON 2 FIRE, AND THEN HEAD UP TO RIO RANCHO.

SO THERE'S STILL A WHOLE LOT OF WORK THAT HAS TO BE DONE, BUT TO ME, THE PEOPLE ACROSS THE STATE ELECTED ME TO BE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND MY FOCUS AND MY MISSION HAS BEEN TO BE AT ALL PARTS OF THE STATE, ESPECIALLY PAYING ATTENTION TO RURAL NEW MEXICO, BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE I'M FROM AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT RURAL NEW MEXICANS KNOW THAT THEY HAVE A VOICE AT THE ROUNDHOUSE FOR THEM.

>>LORENE: YES, YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN VERY GOOD ABOUT THAT.

WHEN YOU WERE SENATOR, ESPECIALLY, YOU WERE THE VOICE, YOU KNOW ERNIE USED TO BE SO MAD THAT PEOPLE THINK THAT STATE GOVERNMENT IS ALBUQUERQUE AND SANTA FE.

HE SAID, OH, THERE ARE ALL THESE COUNTIES AND THEY'RE ALL EQUALLY IMPORTANT AND HAVE A UNIQUE FLAVOR AND GIFT, IT'S WHAT MAKES OUR STATE THE WONDERFUL STATE THAT IT IS.

THANK YOU FOR REPRESENTING THE RURAL COMMUNITIES SO BEAUTIFULLY, I'M SURE THEY ALL APPRECIATE IT.

I'D ASK YOU THIS, IT'S STRANGE, TELL ME MORE ABOUT THE TROUT FIRE NOW.

YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT WHO'S STEPPING IN TO HELP.

I KNOW THIS IS MONDAY AND THIS WON'T AIR TILL SATURDAY, BUT WHAT KIND OF ACREAGE, HOW MUCH HAVE WE LOST?

IT'S HEARTBREAKING TO ME BECAUSE THE GILA WILDERNESS AND THE GILA MOUNTAINS ARE SO BEAUTIFUL AND THE SIZE OF THIS FIRE IS TERRIFYING.

SO DO YOU HAVE AN ACREAGE EVEN THIS EARLY IN THE GAME?

>>HOWIE: I DO KNOW THAT THE LAST REPORT I GOT, WE WERE AT 22% CONTAINMENT, WHICH IS SIGNIFICANTLY AN IMPROVEMENT FROM WHERE WE WERE JUST OVER THE WEEKEND, SO THAT'S BEEN HELPFUL.

THE AMOUNT OF ACREAGE, I DON'T HAVE AN UPDATE ON THAT AT THIS POINT, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT MANY OF THE PIECES OF THE AREA WHERE THE TROUT FIRE IS BURNING, BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL FOREST AREA.

I HAVEN'T SEEN HOW IT IS NOW, BUT I CAN TELL YOU SOME OF THE PICTURES THAT I OBSERVED OVER THE WEEKEND WERE MAGICAL AND AT THE SAME TIME OVERWHELMING BECAUSE YOU KNOW OF THE DESTRUCTION THAT'S TAKING PLACE TO OUR BEAUTIFUL FOREST.

SO IT IS HEARTBREAKING TO SEE, IN OUR LIFETIME WE MAY NOT SEE THAT GROW BACK, BUT AT THE SAME TIME WE KNOW THAT PROTECTING FAMILY, PROTECTING STRUCTURES, PROTECTING LIVESTOCK IS GOING TO BE THE IMPORTANCE AND THEIR PRIORITY AND THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.

WHEN YOU LOOK AND SEE JUST OVER THE MOUNTAIN FROM MY HOUSE, I CAN SEE THE SMOKE THAT HAS NOW JUMPED OVER A MOUNTAIN AND IS BURNING, AND THE WIND THAT IS BLOWING.

WE'RE JUST HOPEFUL THAT THE MONSOONS WILL COME AND BE ABLE TO ASSIST US IN THAT WAY.

AGAIN, RIGHT NOW, THERE ARE NO APPARENT DANGERS TO STRUCTURES OR TO HOMES, SO THAT'S A GOOD THING.

BUT IF PEOPLE ARE BEING EVACUATED, THEY'RE BEING EVACUATED BECAUSE EITHER POWER IS BEING CUT OFF FOR PROTECTION OF FIREFIGHTERS OR LINES ARE GOING TO BE CREATED FOR PROTECTION OF PROPERTIES.

>>LORENE: YEAH, YEAH, THAT'S ACTUALLY THE PROPHYLACTIC, THE PREVENTATIVE SHUTTING OFF THE POWER LINES BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, A POLE GOES DOWN, THE WIRES ARE LOOSE AND START TO SPARK IN THE VERY DRY GRASS AND BOOM, YOU KNOW, IT JUST TRAVELS SO INCREDIBLY.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU DO, TELL ME A LITTLE MORE ABOUT WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO FLY OVER THE FIRE.

DID YOU GET A SENSE, COULD YOU PREDICT WHERE IT WAS GOING TO GO, COULD YOU, WAS IT LIKE AN ORGANISM, AN AMOEBA GROWING AND CHANGING, WHAT WAS YOUR EXPERIENCE LOOKING AT IT FROM ABOVE, YOU COULD SEE THE WHOLE SHAPE AND WHERE IT WAS MORE INTENSE AND MILDER.

>>HOWIE: YEAH, SO I FLEW SPECIFICALLY OVER THE BOSQUE OVER LAS LUNAS, COTTON 2 FIRE, AND WHEN I DID THAT, YOU KNOW, IT WAS HEARTBREAKING TO SEE BECAUSE THE FLAMES THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE FROM THE PLANE, THE SMOKE GOING UP, WE HAVE THE DARK-COLORED, BLACK-COLORED SMOKE.

YOU KNEW THAT UNDERNEATH THAT WERE STRUCTURES AND SURE ENOUGH, YOU KNOW, MANY, MANY HOMES DID BURN.

SO IT WAS SOMETHING TO SEE THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S UNFORTUNATE, BUT I ALSO AM GRATEFUL THAT IT WAS IMMEDIATE RESPONSE THAT HAS PROVIDED THAT SUPPORT TO GET PEOPLE OUT OF THERE, TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE.

AND FORTUNATE, AS WE SEE THE FORECASTS THAT ARE COMING IN, THAT THE RAINS WILL HELP US AS WELL.

BUT AGAIN, I CAN'T STRESS ENOUGH ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF PEOPLE BEING CAREFUL, EXTRA CAUTIOUS WITH WHATEVER THEY DO, WHETHER IT'S A SPARK, WHETHER IT'S A CIGARETTE, YOU KNOW WHATEVER IS DONE, PLEASE PAY EXTRA ATTENTION TO BEING EXTRA CAUTIOUS, AND THEN IF YOU SEE ANY SUSPICIOUS BEHAVIOR, PLEASE YOU SEE SOMETHING SAY SOMETHING BECAUSE IN THIS CASE, THIS MAY HAVE PREVENTED THE FIRES AND THE HOMES THAT WERE LOST IN THAT AREA.

>>LORENE: OH, GOSH, YEAH.

THAT JUST HAPPENED IN ALBUQUERQUE, SOMEONE REPORTED A BRUSH FIRE IN TIME FOR THEM TO PUT IT OUT, WHEREAS ANOTHER BRUSH FIRE, NO ONE HAD, YOU KNOW, IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING.

NO ONE HAD REPORTED IT, AND HOMES WERE LOST.

SO WE'RE SPEAKING TODAY WITH HOWIE MORALES, THE 30TH LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO, AND I'M SO GRATEFUL THAT YOU BRING YOUR CONNECTEDNESS WITH THE RURAL AREAS AND HELPING PEOPLE LEARN WHAT HAS TO BE DONE AND HOW WE CAN HELP EACH OTHER.

ARE THERE SANDBAGS FOR THE FLOODING, IF THERE'S GOING TO BE FLOODING, ARE THERE PLACES WHERE PEOPLE CAN GET PROVISIONS FOR THE FLOODING THAT MIGHT COME AFTER THE FIRES?

>>HOWIE: ABSOLUTELY AND WE JUST RELEASED JUST A LITTLE WHILE AGO, AS I MENTIONED, THAT OUR NATIONAL GUARD IS ON THE GROUND, WE HAVE SEMI-TRUCKS OF SANDBAGS BEING DELIVERED TO DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE STATE THAT WE KNOW THAT THERE'S HIGH PROBABILITY THAT THE BURN SCARS WILL BE IMPACTED WITH THESE FLOODS.

SO AS WE SPEAK RIGHT NOW, THOSE SANDBAGS ARE LOADED, THEY'RE ON TRUCKS, THEY'RE BEING SHIPPED OUT AND OUR NATIONAL GUARD WILL ASSIST WITH THAT.

WORKING WITH YOUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL AND YOUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICER FROM YOUR SPECIFIC COUNTY, PLEASE BE IN COMMUNICATION WITH THEM, BECAUSE WHAT THEY'LL DO IS THEY'LL SET UP AREAS WHERE PEOPLE CAN GO GET SANDBAGS, CAN ASSIST FAMILIES.

AND I REALLY WANT TO STRESS THAT POINT BECAUSE PEOPLE OFTEN ASK ME, WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP, OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S FOUNDATIONS, THERE'S LINKS, THERE'S FUNDS THAT ARE ACCEPTED TO HELP OUT IN MANY WAYS, BUT ALSO, IS HELPING WITH YOUR OWN HANDS.

WE HAVE MANY VULNERABLE PEOPLE ACROSS THE STATE, SENIOR CITIZENS, PEOPLE WHO MAY JUST HAVE DISABILITIES THAT CAN'T GET THOSE SANDBAGS INTO THEIR PROPERTY.

IF PEOPLE WANT TO HELP, GET WITH YOUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICER, FIND OUT WHERE THESE ARE AND THERE'S MANY ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO HELP ASSIGN PEOPLE TO ASSIST PEOPLE WHO MAY NOT BE ABLE TO DO IT FOR THEMSELVES.

>>LORENE: OH, THAT'S WONDERFUL, THAT'S WONDERFUL, BECAUSE THOSE SANDBAGS ARE HEAVY.

OF COURSE, THEY'RE HEAVIER WHEN THEY'RE WET, BUT THAT'S REALLY GOOD TO KNOW.

AND THEN ARE THERE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND PEACE OFFICERS GOING TO REMOTE AREAS TELLING PEOPLE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, ADVISING THEM TO EVACUATE AND DOES EVERYBODY REALLY EVACUATE?

I KNOW IN A LOT OF CASES OF FIRE, THEY THINK, NO, I'LL STAY HERE AND FIGHT IT, BUT YOU CAN'T FIGHT A FLOOD.

>>HOWIE: YEAH, AND I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR OUR VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS, OUR FIRE PERSONNEL, EMERGENCY SERVICES PROVIDERS, AS WELL AS OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT, YOU KNOW, STATE POLICE HAS BEEN AMAZING.

THEY WERE ON THE GROUND MAKING SURE THAT ROADS ARE THAT HAD TO BE BLOCKED OFF, THAT THEY WERE RIGHT THERE, MANNING THOSE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN ASSIST IN ALL THAT WE CAN TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE.

NATIONAL GUARD WHEN THEY WERE ACTIVATED, GOING TO HOMES HELPING PEOPLE TO GET OUT, EVEN THOUGH PEOPLE MAY HAVE BEEN RELUCTANT TO WANT TO EVACUATE, THEY WERE UNDERSTANDING FOR THE MOST PART, RECOGNIZING THAT EVEN THOUGH THE FIRES MAY NOT HAVE BEEN CLOSE TO THEIR HOMES OR STRUCTURES, BY PROVIDING THAT POWER TO BE TURNED OFF WAS SAVING A LIFE FOR THOSE FIREFIGHTERS AND PROTECTING THEM.

ALSO ALONG THOSE LINES IS IF FOR SOME REASON THERE'S A SHIFT IN THE WINDS, THERE'S A SHIFT IN THE WEATHER THAT CAUSES STRUCTURES TO NOW BE IN DANGER, THE LAST THING WE EVER WANT TO DO IS TO HAVE SOMEBODY TRAPPED IN THEIR HOME WHERE YOU HAVE TO HAVE FIRE PERSONNEL, EMERGENCY PERSONNEL HAVING TO RISK THEIR OWN LIVES TO GO IN THERE TO SAVE YOURS.

JUST BE EXTRA CAUTIOUS AND IF YOU'RE ASKED TO EVACUATE IN THE GO-STATUS, PLEASE DO SO BECAUSE IT'S NOT ONLY PROTECTION FOR YOU, IT'S PROTECTION FOR THOSE WHO ARE OUT THERE WORKING TO PROTECT EACH ONE OF US.

>>LORENE: WELL, A LOT OF THE REASONS PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO EVACUATE IS BECAUSE THEY HAVE PETS AND THEY'RE NOT ALL LITTLE KITTENS THAT CAN GO IN A SMALL CARRIER.

SO PEOPLE WANT TO TOUGH IT OUT AND THEY THINK THEY'LL BE ALRIGHT, WHAT'S THE STORY WITH PETS?

>>HOWIE: YEAH, AND AGAIN, I MEAN, OUR FUR BABIES ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO US, OUR LIVESTOCK, OUR CATTLE, ALL OF THAT, WHICH MAKES NEW MEXICO WHO WE ARE.

AND, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN REALLY GLAD TO SEE THE AMOUNT OF SUPPORT THAT HAS OPENED UP, OUR HORSEMEN'S ASSOCIATIONS, OUR ARENAS, AREAS, OUR HUMANE SOCIETIES WHO ARE ACCEPTING ANIMALS TO KEEP THEM SAFE AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE PROTECTED, BECAUSE YOU'RE RIGHT, BECAUSE THERE'S THE ATTACHMENT NOT ONLY TO THE HOME, NOT ONLY TO THE TREASURED BELONGINGS THAT PEOPLE MAY HAVE, IS THOSE ARE PART OF PEOPLE'S FAMILIES.

RECOGNIZING THAT THERE'S RESOURCES ALL AROUND THIS STATE THAT IS ACCEPTING THOSE PETS AND THEY'RE ACCEPTING THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROTECT ALL OF OUR HORSES, ALL OF OUR, AS BEST WE CAN.

I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE RECOGNIZE THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IT FROM ALL ANGLES AND WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO NEW MEXICANS.

>>LORENE: WELL, WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE, AS A COACH, TO PEOPLE WHO ARE HAVING TO MAKE THESE DECISIONS?

HOW CAN YOU HELP THEM PUT IT IN A PERSPECTIVE SO THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO DO THE MOST BENEFICIAL ACT.

>>HOWIE: SO I ALWAYS SAY YOU EXPECT THE BEST BUT PREPARE FOR THE WORST.

THE BEST WAY TO PREPARE FOR THE UNKNOWN IS TO BE EXTRA CAUTIOUS, TO GO ABOVE AND BEYOND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE DOING ALL WE CAN TO BE PROACTIVE.

IN THIS CASE, WHEN THERE WAS A "GO" STATUS THAT HAD TO HAVE PEOPLE EVACUATE, THAT YOU DO THE EVACUATIONS.

AND AGAIN, THIS WAS THE ASSISTANCE OF THE IMMEDIATE RESPONSE BY THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO FORM AN EMERGENCY DECLARATION THAT THE GOVERNOR WAS ABLE TO SIGN TO GET THEM TO HELP OUT, BECAUSE IT'S NOT SO EASY JUST TO GET UP AND TO LEAVE YOUR HOME, BUT WITH THE HELP AND THE SUPPORT OF WHAT WE'VE SEEN THAT HAS MADE IT SO MUCH EASIER.

A LOT OF SHELTERS AROUND THE STATE THAT HAVE PROVIDED THAT SUPPORT FOR PEOPLE TO STAY, PEOPLE HAVE OPENED UP THEIR HOMES.

I KNOW THE UNIVERSITY HERE IN SILVER CITY HAS OPENED UP THE DORMS FOR STUDENTS OR FACULTY AND STAFF MEMBERS WHO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED, SO IT TAKES ALL OF US.

AND AS I SAID AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SHOW, THAT'S WHAT MAKES NEW MEXICO SPECIAL, THAT'S WHAT MAKES US WHO WE ARE.

WE COME TOGETHER, DIFFERENT INSTITUTIONS, DIFFERENT SECTORS COME TOGETHER FOR HUMAN LIVES, FOR HUMAN WELL-BEING, AND PEOPLE-CENTERED CARE AND ATTENTION.

>>LORENE: WELL, THANK YOU.

OUR GUEST TODAY IS HOWIE MORALES, THE 30TH LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR FOR THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO.

AS BRUCE KING WOULD SAY, "YOU'RE DOING YEOMAN WORK."

I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING FOR THE WHOLE STATE AND THANK YOU FOR THE UPDATES ON THE TROUT FIRE AND WHAT'S GOING ON AND I LOOK FORWARD TO TALKING WITH YOU AGAIN SOON.

I'M VERY GRATEFUL TO YOU, HOWIE MORALES, FOR BEING OUR GUEST TODAY ON REPORT FROM SANTA FE.

I'M LORENE MILLS, WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

REPORT FROM SANTA FE IS MADE POSSIBLE, IN PART, BY GRANTS FROM THE NEW MEXICO MUNICIPAL LEAGUE, A BETTER NEW MEXICO THROUGH BETTER CITIES AND FROM THE HEALY FOUNDATION, TAOS, NM.

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