The county’s Department of Emergency Management has introduced a new Access and Functional Needs (AFN) Trailer, a 24-foot mobile unit equipped with resources that can be deployed to emergency shelters throughout the region.
County officials describe the trailer as a “warehouse on wheels,” carrying equipment intended to help shelters accommodate a wide range of physical, sensory, communication, and mobility needs during emergencies.
Items inside the trailer include:
- Wheelchairs
- Walkers and canes
- Specialized cots
- Shower chairs
- Hearing assistance devices
- Reading glasses
- Privacy dividers
- Weighted blankets
- Autism and sensory-support tents
Emergency Management Director Thomas Walmsley said the trailer was made possible through partnerships with the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and other agencies that helped fund and develop the project.
The initiative was created in response to challenges identified during the 2022 Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon Fire evacuations, when officials recognized the need for additional resources to support vulnerable populations in emergency shelters.
The trailer can be deployed during real-world disasters, training exercises, and preparedness events, and will be available for use by sheltering agencies throughout the area.
The public will have an opportunity to see the new resource during its official debut on Aug. 25 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Raymond G. Sanchez Community Center, located at 9800 Fourth Street NW. The event will be held in an open-house format, with formal remarks scheduled at the beginning of the program.
