After the flooding comes the help, but before the help comes the damage assessment.
That’s the stage New Hampshire has reached as federal officials began touring dozens of communities that suffered flood damage this month including hard-hit Antrim, which saw deluges on July 4th, 10th and 16th.
“It’s been one large incident for Antrim. For two weeks the dark cloud just didn’t seem to go away,” Marshall Gale, the town’s fire chief and emergency management coordinator, told Federal Emergency Management Agency officials on Tuesday. “Even when some of the neighboring towns didn’t get much rain, it seems like those torrential downpours would drop inches on us in less than an hour or so.”
Officials with the FEMA were scheduled to tour five towns Monday and nine more, including Antrim, on Tuesday, verifying damage and estimating replacement costs. Once the state hits a threshold of $2.4 million, which seems likely to happen, New Hampshire officials will likely ask for a formal disaster declaration that makes it eligible for more federal aid, said Vanessa Palange, spokesperson for the state Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. Preliminary damage assessment may continue in New Hampshire through next week.
The worst damage from flooding caused by downpours occurred in its southwestern corner, although communities throughout the Connecticut River valley were affected and some flooding occurred in Merrimack County. Vermont as a whole was hit much harder than New Hampshire.
Heavy downpours that overwhelm systems are becoming a problem in much of the world, fueled by the warming climate. Warmer air can hold more moisture, increasing the chance of torrential rains or other storms.
In Antrim the biggest problem, although far from its only one, involves Liberty Farm Road bridge over North Branch River. It was closed after July 4 due to structural damage caused by flooding and must be repaired or replaced. This has stranded 20 homes on the road, cutting off their only exit.
The Antrim road department has upgraded a Class VI road on Stacy Hill to be usable by emergency vehicles and homeowners – Class VI roads are not maintained and can be impassable by cars – but Road Agent Jim Plourde warned that the steepness of Stacy Hill means it will be difficult to keep the road open in winter.
“We’re in defensive mode, still trying to catch up and get things open,” Plourde told a roomful of FEMA representatives Tuesday in a meeting before the group headed out to tour some of the damage. “My biggest concern is that if this bridge stays out of service throughout the winter, we’re going to be able to maintain the (Stacy Hill) roadway.”
As explained by officials Tuesday, FEMA categorizes damage as it determines levels of restitution. Category A, for example, covers the cost of removing debris left behind by floods that must be removed – one issue that isn’t a big problem in Antrim. “The rains took care of most of the roads,” said Gale, although a number of catch basins still must be cleaned of silt, sand and rocks.
Category B covers the cost of protective measures, such as opening an operations center as Antrim did or paying overtime. Volunteer time can also be reimbursed if it is well documented, officials said.
The big expenses come under category C, which covers damage to roads, bridges, culverts and similar structures.
