Presidential Declaration Makes Aid Available in Cheshire County

Concord, NH – Today, Governor Chris Sununu announced that his request for a major disaster declaration in response to the storms that severely damaged much of Cheshire County from July 17 through 19, 2021 has been granted by President Biden.

“This disaster declaration makes available the resources needed for communities in Cheshire County to rebuild after the flooding that greatly impacted the area,” said Governor Chris Sununu. “The state will continue to work with officials across the county to operationalize these relief dollars as quickly as possible.”

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), working with State and local emergency management officials, recently completed a Preliminary Damage Assessment, finding that the statewide cost for response efforts related to this event totaled $2,064,752.

The declaration allows communities in Cheshire County to move forward with seeking federal funding assistance.

“This is the first big step for recovery for the communities that suffered severe damage in mid-July,” said Jennifer Harper, Director of the New Hampshire Department of Safety Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. “We will work with the communities to guide them through the process of receiving funding to repair damages and mitigate future problems.”

The President’s declaration also makes federal support available through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide and the Public Assistance Program. The purpose of the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program is to reduce the loss of life and property due to natural disasters and to enable the implementation of mitigation measures during the immediate recovery from a disaster. FEMA can fund up to 75 percent of the eligible cost of approved projects. The Public Assistance Program provides grants to state and local governments to assist with disaster recovery, including debris removal, emergency protective measures, and permanent restoration of infrastructure.

NH Homeland Security and Emergency Management will contact communities in Chesire County to set up briefings to explain the process of applying for assistance. The briefings will be a combination of in-person and online. Agencies that are eligible for receiving assistance include local, county, and state agencies as well as nonprofits that provide critical services.

Additional details on the Governor’s request can be found here.