Allenstown homes flooded in 2006 get aid

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 18:24:00 GMT

BY JENN McDOWELL

For many families whose homes were ravaged by the flooding of the past two years, there is finally a ray of hope. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has awarded $2.1 million in grants to the town for the purpose of buying out 14 homes along the Suncook River affected by the floods.

The town now has to secure the rest of the funding through state or other sources, as the grants will cover 75 percent of the total costs.

Most of those homes are not inhabited at this time and some are condemned, said Allenstown Police Chief Shaun Mulholland, also the deputy emergency management director for the town.

Mulholland sent letters out to the owners of the 14 worst properties, 11 of them on Riverside Drive, two on Alban Avenue, and one on JillErik Road. There are other properties considered in the grant, but those properties did not make the cut after a cost/benefit analysis for the buyout project.

Some owners of the properties approved may not want to have their homes bought out at this time, Mulholland said in the letter. He is looking into whether other properties can be added to replace those not being bought out.

“We are presently working with our legislators to draft a supplemental appropriations bill to receive the matching funds from the state of New Hampshire that will be necessary to complete the project.

The grant provides $2.1 million in federal funds. The state portion is approximately $650,000. The town’s portion is already accounted for,” said Mulholland in the letter.

Hazard Mitigation Officer for the State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Richard Verville said the grants will cover 75 percent of the total cost to buy out the homes.

“Approval of these flood mitigation assistance grants is a significant step forward for these projects,” Verville said in a press release. “All of these properties have been flooded several times. The only way to protect the residents is to help them move out of harm’s way.”

A public meeting on the buyout is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 11, at 7 p.m., in the Allenstown Elementary School gym.

Allenstown News : FEMA

Allenstown homes flooded in 2006 get aid