BY ROD HANSEN

Richard Guay wore an expression of disbelief while observing the flood- waters at his Bay Street home on Monday, April 16.

“It’s taken this long to rebuild, and now it’s destroyed again. It’s hard to believe this is even happening,” Guay said.

As a resident of the area of town known as The Parks, Guay was one of several residents who suffered severe prooperty damage during last May’s Mother’s Day floods.

He had nearly completed repairs to his residence, which included raising the foundation three-and-a-half feet off the ground, when the latest round of flooding hit.

While his new garage suffered water damage and septic line filled with water, Guay also lost several tools and other items when the storage shed where he kept them wound up half submerged in water.

“What a great year this has been,” he said.

Guay stood with several other Bay Street residents during the flooding, all of whom were among the 30 residents evacuated due to the weather. Those residents were also among the 88 residents whose power was shut off by Public Service of New Hampshire as a safety measure.

Gov. John Lynch arrived in town the following day to survey the areas of town hit hardest by the flood. The Parks were the first stop on his trip, which was guided by Goffstown police Sgt. Robert Browne.

Speaking only yards away from a spot where flood waters had overtaken the road, Lynch expressed sadness for families affected by the flooding.

“It’s tragic. I feel so badly for the families. These are families that were evacuated last year, and some of them haven’t even returned to their homes. The hardship these families feel is really hard to fathom,” Lynch said.

The governor declared a state of emergency in New Hampshire on April 16. The move allowed the Department of Transportation to clear debris from clogged roadways, he said.

The governor also ordered 200 members of the New Hampshire National Guard out to assist communities in need. Eight of those troops were sent to Goffstown.

Lynch shared an emotional moment with some residents of Sonny Avenue, who were awaiting permission to return to their homes.

“This is surreal,” said Sonny Avenue resident Judi Puglisi. “We lost everything last year, and now it’s happened again.”

Puglisi said she had to rebuild her home following last year’s floods. The reconstruction included turning her former living space into a basement and adding a second story to the home.

The house could not be put on stilts, because the original foundation was a cement slab, Puglisi said.

Mark Payne, a resident of Russell Avenue, said he also had to rebuild his home following last year’s floods. He spoke with Lynch during the governor’s tour of the area, and afterward said he was considering selling his home.

“I’ve put $114,000 into repairs, and after this I think I’m out,” he said, wearing a pair of rubber wading pants.

“Everyone in this neighborhood owns a pair of waders. When I sell the house, I’ll leave them for the buyers. They’ll find out what to use them for,” Payne said.

High water could be found in other sections of town as well, including Goffstown Village. There was flooding in the parking lot and basement of town hall, causing the building to be closed on April 16. The town library, Goffstown District Court and all Main Street businesses were also closed that day.

Weather caused the closure of several local roads. As of Tuesday, April 17, roads remaining closed included Water Road, Danis Park Road from the Aurel Street intersection to the end, Chatel Road by Sonny Avenue, Russell Avenue, Andre Street, Dumont Park Road, and Bog Road from the Bell Road to the Lesnyk Road intersections.

The Police Department had established some checkpoints at Danis Park and Lynchville Park roads as of April 17. Homeowners were to be allowed into their residences on a case-by-case basis at that time in cases of emergency, with safety assessments necessary before residents could permanently return to their homes.

Selectmen will convene a special board meeting at 7 p.m., Thursday, April 19, at town hall and a community-wide meeting is scheduled for 1 p.m., Saturday, April 21, at Goffstown High School’s Heiber Auditorium.