Letter to Joseph R. Biden, President - Heeding Calls from NH Congressional Delegation, Biden Admin Awards Federal Disaster Relief Assistance
Letter
Dear President Biden:
We write in support of New Hampshire Governor Christopher Sununu's request for a Major Disaster
Declaration for the State of New Hampshire following the damage and expense caused by severe rain and flash flooding between the dates of July 17 and 19, 2021. The Governor's request includes a designation of the full Public Assistance Program for Cheshire County and a statewide designation of the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. As a result of the July 2021 storm, New Hampshire communities, specifically those in Cheshire County, experienced a combination of warm moist air and slow moving thunderstorms that resulted in severe rain and flash flooding that imposed significant property damage and overwhelmed state, municipal and county budgets and resources. During that timeframe, Cheshire County sustained widespread damage to State and local infrastructure. In response, Governor Sununu activated the State Emergency Operations Plan and Emergency Operations Center and the Director of Homeland Security and Emergency Management initiated
the appropriate Emergency Support Function lead agencies to ensure an adequate and timely response to the needs of the State. Additionally, the New Hampshire Departments of Transportation and Safety increased staffing levels to aid in response efforts and ensure the safety of citizens.
The magnitude of the damage caused by this storm is such that an effective response is beyond the capacity of New Hampshire's state and local governments, justifying federal assistance. Current verified costs associated with this incident are approximately $2.3 million statewide, surpassing the state's per capita benchmark. In addition, due to the substantial costs of infrastructure repairs and response efforts, Cheshire County, and the municipalities therein, exceeded their per capita benchmark. We urge you to grant a Major Disaster Declaration for New Hampshire as soon as possible in order to ensure that our state and towns have access to the resources and assistance they need to fully recover from this emergency. Thank you for your consideration.
Source