Presidential Declaration Makes Federal Aid Available Grafton County
Press Release
Governor Chris Sununu announced today that President Donald Trump has granted his request for a major disaster declaration for Grafton county in response to the severe thunderstorms and flash flooding that occurred on July 1 through July 2, 2017.
"This storm significantly strained State and local resources as emergency responders dealt with statewide heavy rainfall, strong winds, and significant flooding that restricted travel and operations," Governor Sununu said. "Through this major disaster declaration, those most heavily impacted by the storm can have access to federal support for response efforts. I thank President Trump for his timely response to my request."
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), working with State and local emergency management officials, recently completed a Preliminary Damage Assessment, finding that the statewide costs for response efforts related to this event exceeded $6,000,000.
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. The purpose of the 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 costs of approved projects.
"We are very pleased to receive this declaration," Homeland Security and Emergency Management Director Perry Plummer said. "We will be reaching out to emergency management directors within Grafton County to provide meeting dates, information about the application process, and to assist with applications."
In response of the storm, Governor Sununu executed the State Emergency Operations Plan with an activation of the State Emergency Operations Center on July 1, 2017. The combination of numerous heavy rainfall episodes over a short period of time and damaging winds caused severe damage to hundreds of miles of local and State roadways and dozens of bridges and culverts.
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