After a deadly storm hammered Epsom on Thursday, July 24, both the police and fire department are struggling to pay for overtime, fuel and damaged equipment.

“There’s no money,” said Rick Bilodeau, the town’s emergency management coordinator.

While Epsom officials praise the sheer number of volunteers who have given time and money to victims, Police Chief Wayne Preve is already questioning how the department will be able to afford patrols later in the year as budgets start to tighten.

Fire Chief Stewart Yeaton said between a suspicious fire last week and the tornado, his overtime budget has been wiped out. His department has spent $600 in fuel alone since July 24.

Gov. John Lynch is hoping a broad federal disaster declaration will enable 11 communities hit by the tornado to get reimbursed for the cleanup efforts.

During a meeting on Tuesday, July 28, with federal inspectors, Epsom emergency officials said they had just started tallying the costs.

Lynch met in private with the Epsom fire and police chiefs, the road agent and a school district official to get a handle on costs.

“We are in the recovery phase now,” Lynch said afterward. “Our first priority is housing, food and clothing for victims.”

As officials gathered inside the Epsom fire station on Tuesday, residents farther down Route 4 worked to put their lives back in order among downed trees and collapsed homes. “We are trying to get back to a normal status quo here,” Yeaton said.

An official inside the discussion from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Richard Henderson, refused comment, except to say he was still working on getting preliminary estimates.