Lynch Asks For Disaster Aid

From the Associated Press:

Gov. John Lynch asked President Bush yesterday to declare a major disaster in New Hampshire from last week's flood damage, saying more than 5,000 homes were damaged and 25 destroyed.

The governor also reported yesterday that preliminary estimates are that flooding caused more than $3 million in damage to businesses and more than $14 million in damage to public property, including roads and bridges.

Officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency completed a preliminary damage assessment yesterday of how the floods affected homes, Lynch said, and began to assess the damage to public property, including roads.

"I am asking President Bush to issue a disaster declaration as soon as possible so our families can get federal assistance as they begin to rebuild their homes and lives," the governor said.

He requested the disaster declaration for residents in six counties: Belknap, Carroll, Hillsborough, Merrimack, Rockingham and Strafford. As damage assessments continue, New Hampshire may seek to add counties to the disaster declaration.

Of the 5,000 homes affected by the flooding, 235 suffered major damage, the governor said. Most of the damaged homes were in Strafford and Rockingham counties.

Individual assistance includes temporary housing and the costs of some, but usually not all, flood damage. Public assistance helps the state and communities cover emergency operations and repair costs.

After the preliminary damage assessment for public property is completed, Lynch will ask the president to amend the disaster declaration to include public assistance