New Hampshire Governor Asks President For Help With Storm Relief

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This weekend's snow storm did some serious damage across New Hampshire.

Governor John Lynch is asking President Obama to declare an emergency for all New Hampshire counties as a result of last weekend’s severe snow storm. If the request is granted FEMA would give the state federal disaster aid to help deal with storm with damage.

The governor said in a press release that the federal aid would help to expedite recovery from the storm which caused power outages to 300,000 New Hampshire households.

“This was a historic storm that resulted in record levels of snowfall in some areas of the state, resulting widespread power outages and a tremendous amount of debris,” Gov. Lynch said. “The utilities are reporting power outages could last a week in some areas and an emergency disaster declaration will help ensure we have sufficient sheltering supplies and can recover from this storm as soon as possible.”

In a letter Lynch sent yesterday to the President, the governor outlined the damaged sustained by the storm.

As of this morning, more than 100 local roads remain closed due to downed power lines and debris.  Some 162 elementary and secondary schools are closed statewide.  Over 220,000 utility customers remain without power.  Utilities have been unable to provide definitive restoration estimates, only complicating the work of public safety and emergency management officials.  The state’s largest utility reports it may take a week to restore power to customers, which will likely increase the need for sheltering services as the week progresses.  Seven regional shelters were established that served over 270 persons last night.

The governor’s office would not put a dollar figure on the amount of money the state will need for storm recovery. According to Colin Manning, Lynch’s spokesperson, if granted, the federal aid would cover 75 percent of New Hampshire’s clean up costs. But so far says Manning ” a lot of residents are still without power and the towns do not yet know what their total costs will be.”

You can check out an earlier post explaining how state’s get FEMA aid in the wake of a disaster here.