60 NH homes suffered the worst tornado damage
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CONCORD, N.H.—A month after a tornado struck New Hampshire, officials say help is almost here for costs incurred by the government, but many families still need assistance.
About 60 families suffered major damage to their homes or lost them completely from the July 24 tornado and another 80 to 90 homes received some type of damage, state emergency management Director Chris Pope said at a news conference Monday.
Though many of the less-damaged homes have been repaired, many families still need help badly, he said.
"There are still a lot of families that have experienced a lot of damage, some of which is not covered by insurance. We have a state disaster relief fund that is in desperate need of donations from folks that are willing to give," Pope said.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency provides most of the money for disaster relief, which in New Hampshire includes recent floods as well as the tornado. FEMA has agreed to provide public assistance to help the state and five counties hit by the tornado, but not assistance to individuals to pay for repairs or cover costs such as temporary housing.
The tornado tore through at least 11 communities and 8,400 acres and killed a woman in Deerfield.
Gov. John Lynch said he asked FEMA late last week to reconsider providing individual assistance.
"We want to do everything we can to help the families and individuals who suffered as a result of the tornado," Lynch said. He said he expected to hear back on the request within a couple of weeks.
Lynch said communities already have started making repairs and that FEMA's goal is to reimburse them as quickly as possible as soon as the projects are approved.
"We're very aware that communities have spent considerable dollars in the recovery phase after the tornado and the floods and we're very aware that many of them have budgets that are strained, which is why we're going to expedite the reimbursement process," he said.
Phil Parr, a FEMA official who is working with the state, said funds should be in the state's hands before the end of next week.
He said communities have until Sept. 11 to submit "applicant briefings," identifying public projects for assistance to restore infrastructure.
The state is holding meetings in the counties affected by the tornado -- Merrimack, Rockingham, Strafford, Belknap and Carroll. The first was held Monday in Ossipee. Meetings also were scheduled in Barnstead on Tuesday; Deerfield on Thursday; Epsom on Sept. 2 and New Durham on Sept. 3.
In addition, a public meeting addressing the flooding in the Lakes Region is scheduled for Thursday, in Meredith. The meeting will cover Meredith, Ashland, New Hampton and Center Harbor.
According to Alex Feldvebel, deputy commissioner of the state Insurance Department, 487 claims have been submitted to private insurers in response to the tornado damage. At least $1 million has been paid out and the estimated final cost is $4.5 million, about $3.5 million of which would cover homeowners.
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State disaster helpline number: 1-888-330-6764.
