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Office of the Governor

490 Old Santa Fe Trail
Room 400
Santa Fe, NM 87501

The Honorable Governor Susana Martinez

I am writing to you in my capacity as Eddy County Emergency Manager and as President of the New
Mexico Emergency Management Association (NMEMA). I strongly urge you not to move the New
Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (NMDHSEM) back into the New
Mexico Department of Public Safety. Through the support of NMEMA the new Department was created
just over two years ago to address structural, management, and effectiveness concerns that existed for
years when emergency management was buried in NMDPS, first as a bureau and later as a division.

My colleagues that serve as local emergency managers throughout our great state and our partners in
members on NMEMA all have negative recollections of emergency command, control, and coordination
challenges as well as day-to-day administrative issues that existed under that arrangement. Consistent
and continued grant funding was also hindered while the department was a part of NMDPS.

Some of the concerns the New Mexico Emergency Management Association have with this bill include
the following. What will be the future of EMPG funding in New Mexico? While there is no indication
what DPS would do with EMPG funds there is the chance that they could change local funding
allocations. New Mexico DHSEM has always believed that funding the local Emergency Management
programs makes New Mexico that much more resilient. While historically DPS has supported local
programs, under the current agency/administration there is no guarantee that this philosophy would
continue.

DHSEM under DPS, the State Homeland Security Grant Program would be controlled by DPS which is a
program that competes with local Emergency Management programs for funding.

This consolidation recommendation has been discussed and proposed over the last year, yet there has
never been a comprehensive analysis of the cost savings, quantified efficiencies or impact to local
Emergency Management programs conducted by the State. The Department of Finance shares the
concern of bold claims that have been made about the huge cost savings without significant evaluation.
A complete and comprehensive analysis must be completed before NMEMA would consider supporting
this major government reorganization.

New Mexico Emergency Management Association Officers

President, Joel Arnwine Eddy County OEM

Vice-President, Sonia Arteche Luna County OEM

Treasurer, Liz Saavedra Albuquerque OEM

Secretary Jessica Blea, Los Alamos OEM

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These are facts and concerns that NMEMA hope the Legislative Committees and the Governor will
addressed during legislative session. This is also a major concern as it relates to Command and Control
of Homeland Security and Emergency Management in our State.

I am certain that efficiencies can be found and realized within NMDHSEM in these difficult budgetary
times and NMEMA welcomes the opportunity to help you find them but, again, we believe the
immediate and long lasting costs of moving the Department back into NMDPS far outweigh the benefits
of such a move.

Thank you for your consideration of this important change.

Sincerely,

Joel Arnwine
NMEMA President
Eddy County Emergency Manager

New Mexico Emergency Management Association Officers

President, Joel Arnwine Eddy County OEM

Vice-President, Sonia Arteche Luna County OEM

Treasurer, Liz Saavedra Albuquerque OEM

Secretary Jessica Blea, Los Alamos OEM