PAYMENT OF AUTOMOBILE LOSS CLAIMS FOLLOWING THE SALT AND SOUTH FORK WILDFIRES

STATE OF NEW MEXICO OFFICE OF SUPERINTENDENT OF INSURANCE SUPERINTENDENT OF INSURANCE Alice T. Kane Main Office: 1120 Paseo de Peralta, Fourth Floor, Santa Fe, NM 87501 Satellite Office: 6200 Uptown Blvd NE, Suite 400, Albuquerque, NM 87110 Main Phone: (505) 827-4601 | Toll Free: (855) 4 - ASK - OSI www.osi.state.nm.us UPDATED BULLETIN 2024-009 OCTOBER 2, 2024 TO: ALL INSURANCE COMPANIES THAT HAVE ISSUED AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE POLICIES COVERING RISKS LOCATED IN THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO RE: PAYMENT OF AUTOMOBILE LOSS CLAIMS FOLLOWING THE SALT AND SOUTH FORK WILDFIRES This bulletin is issued in accordance with Sections 59A-2-8, 59A-2-10 and 59A-4- 3 NMSA 1978, and with 13.1.2.9 NMAC. Upon an order by the Governor based upon the invocation of a state of emergency under the All Hazard Emergency Management Act, the Superintendent of Insurance, may “take those actions necessary to ensure access to insurance and the stability of insurance markets during the emergency.” NMSA 1978, Section 59A-2-8(A)(11). The Superintendent issued a Second Amended Emergency Order on October 1, 2024, related to the subject matter of this bulletin, Docket No. 2024-0051. The Second Amended Emergency Order may be found at the following link to the Office of Superintendent of Insurance website: https://a.storyblok.com/f/132761/x/b3a9404b71/second-amended-emergency-order-2024- 0051.pdf The Salt Fire and South Fork Fire burned a total of 25,508 acres. Both fires are now 100% contained in the State of New Mexico. The Governor issued an Executive Order, No. 2024-033 declaring emergencies caused by the Salt Fire and South Fork Fire. Executive Order No. 2024- 033 declared that over 500 structures have been impacted by the fires; the fires led to the evacuation of the Village of Ruidoso and may require other nearby communities to evacuate; the U P D A T E D B U L L E T I N 2 0 2 4 - 0 0 9 P a g e | 2 Main Office: 1120 Paseo de Peralta, Fourth Floor, Santa Fe, NM 87501 Satellite Office: 6200 Uptown Blvd NE, Suite 400, Albuquerque, NM 87110 Main Phone: (505) 827-4601 | Toll Free: (855) 4 - ASK - OSI www.osi.state.nm.us Mescalero Apache Tribe issued an executive order declaring a state of emergency due to these fires; Lincoln County issued a local disaster declaration, confirming that all local resources available are insufficient to cope with the resulting situation and requested aid, assistance, relief programs, and funding from the State of New Mexico. The purpose of this bulletin is to inform all insurance companies that have issued automobile insurance policies covering risks located in the state of New Mexico that they must follow the applicable requirements of the Superintendent’s Second Amended Emergency Order dated October 1, 2024, Docket No. 2024-0051. Questions regarding this bulletin should be directed to Melissa Robertson, by emailing Melissa.Robertson@osi.nm.gov or by calling (505) 670-2704. ISSUED this 2nd day of October 2024. __________________________________ ALICE T. KANE Superintendent of Insurance