Mold forces New Mexico residents from homes

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Tribal officials in New Mexico are urging about 100 residents of Kewa Pueblo to leave their storm-damaged homes because of mold.

An Oct. 2 hailstorm damaged about 90 percent of the 600 homes on the pueblo and most now have mold problems.

The pueblo incident commander said that the hail punched holes through roofs and flooded houses with several inches of water.

The pueblo has set up temporary shelters in town office buildings for people who live in about 20 homes that suffered the worst damage. But many of those people are refusing to leave.

Gov. Bill Richardson declared Kewa Pueblo a disaster area on Sunday, which frees up $250,000 in state aid.

Kewa Pueblo used to be called Santo Domingo.