Gov. Lynch Asks President Bush for Major Disaster Declaration

Media Advisory                                  CONTACT: Katja Fox
July 28, 2008                                           (603) 271-2121
                                                        (603) 387-3612

Gov. Lynch Asks President Bush for Major Disaster Declaration

CONCORD - With the Federal Emergency Management Agency continuing its preliminary damage assessments, Gov. John Lynch today requested President Bush to declare that New Hampshire suffered a major disaster during the tornado and severe weather last Thursday.

"FEMA's assessment has found that more than 100 homes were rendered uninhabitable," Governor Lynch said.  "I am asking President Bush to issue a disaster declaration, which would provide much needed federal assistance for families as they begin to rebuild their lives. We need to do everything possible to help our families get back on their feet and back into their homes."

Governor Lynch requested the disaster declaration for five New Hampshire counties - Merrimack, Rockingham, Strafford, Belknap and Carroll.

FEMA offers two main types of assistance:  public assistance, which helps the state and communities cover emergency operations and repair costs; and individual assistance, which provides some emergency assistance to individuals, such as for temporary housing, and may cover some home repair costs.

FEMA must complete its damage assessment before the President will issue a disaster declaration.  FEMA teams, working with state officials, worked through the weekend on their damage assessment for individual assistance.  That assessment was expected to be complete today.  So far, the assessment has found that more than 100 homes were rendered uninhabitable.  FEMA teams began their assessments for public assistance this morning.

On Monday, Governor Lynch met with FEMA and state officials to assess ongoing tornado response efforts and recovery planning.  He then traveled to Epsom, Barnstead, New Durham and Deerfield to meet with local officials and further inspect the damage.

                                                        July 28, 2008

The President
The White House
Washington, DC 20500

Through:        R. David Paulison, FEMA Administrator
                Arthur Cleaves, Regional Director
                FEMA, Region I
                99 High Street
                Boston, MA  02110-2132

Dear Mr. President:

Under the provisions of Section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 5121-5206 (Stafford Act), and implemented by 44 CFR § 206.36, I respectfully request that you declare a major disaster for the State of New Hampshire.  This request covers five New Hampshire counties:  Merrimack, Rockingham, Strafford, Belknap, and Carroll.

On July 24, 2008, a tornado, severe winds and heavy rains caused extensive damage to homes, businesses and public infrastructure.  In response to the situation, I took appropriate action under State law and directed the execution of the State Emergency Operations Plan on July 24, 2008, in accordance with Section 401 of the Stafford Act.  On July 24, 2008, I declared a State of Emergency in New Hampshire, placing the full resources of the State at the disposal of the Department of Safety, Homeland Security and Emergency Management to respond effectively to this disaster.

The tornado and high winds created a path of destruction through these five New Hampshire counties that destroyed homes, displaced families, downed trees and forest lands and closed major state roadways.  The impact to residents has been extensive, with over 100 homes rendered uninhabitable.  Phone and electric service was cut off to over 12,500 customers.  One fatality is attributed to a building collapse, and local hospitals reported numerous physical injuries associated with the severe storm.  The state is continuing to work with local communities clearing roadways, removing debris and repairing infrastructure damage.

On July 24, 2008, I requested that FEMA conduct a preliminary damage assessment of the affected areas.  FEMA began its preliminary damage assessment for Individual Assistance on Friday, July 25, 2008, and it continued work throughout the weekend.  The preliminary damage assessment for Public Assistance commenced today and is ongoing.  Once completed, final damage assessments will be submitted through the State Impact Statement for this disaster.

I have determined that this incident is of such severity and magnitude that effective response is beyond the capabilities of New Hampshire and the affected local governments and that supplemental Federal assistance is necessary.  I am specifically requesting Public Assistance and Individual Assistance, including the Individuals and Household Program (IHP), Disaster Unemployment Assistance, Crisis Counseling, and Small Business Administration Program assistance be designated for the five New Hampshire Counties.  I am also requesting that the Hazard Mitigation Program be designated statewide.

I request that you expedite the declaration of a Federal Disaster area so that these assistance programs will be available to meet the essential needs of the residents and businesses in the affected areas.

The State of New Hampshire has an approved standard Hazard Mitigation Plan, dated October 24, 2004.  The Plan has identified high winds and tornadoes as a high risk hazard and has prioritized projects to lessen these hazards statewide.  The State participates in the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) and the Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) program.  In addition, local Hazard Mitigation plans identify high winds and tornadoes as a severe hazard and also prioritize projects to minimize the effects of these hazards.

        The following actions have already been taken at the State and local levels to alleviate the conditions of this disaster:

                *       We have actively investigated the nature and severity of this disaster event.  Meteorologist John Jensensius of the National Weather Service has confirmed that the tornado touched down in 11 New Hampshire communities.  The tornado fluctuated between a category EF1 with winds ranging from 86 to 110 miles per hour and a more destructive category EF2 tornado with winds reaching 111 to 135 miles per hour.  The path of this tornado devastated a 40 mile swath of the State, ranging in width between one quarter and one half mile wide as the tornado advanced.

                *       Upon activation of the State's Emergency Operations Plan, I instructed the Director of Homeland Security and Emergency Management to staff the State Emergency Operations Center as necessary on July 24, 2008.  The Director activated Emergency Support Functions as necessary to respond to the flooding event.  The Emergency Operations Center remained open on a 24-hour basis through July 25, 2008.

                *       I activated the National Guard and deployed units to affected communities beginning on July 24, 2008.

                *       The State's Dam Bureau was activated, reporting to the State Emergency Operations Center, ESF-5, Information & Planning. This was a 24-hour operation to provide information on dam conditions and river flows due to the predicted high rain event by the National Weather Service for New Hampshire during that timeframe.

                        *       Department of Transportation road crews have been removing debris from the road system to allow emergency vehicles access to the affected areas and have been providing critical technical support to local public works crews.

                        *       The American Red Cross and other volunteer agencies were activated on Thursday, July 24, 2008, providing assistance and sheltering to families throughout the affected regions.

I certify that for this major disaster, the State and local governments will assume all applicable non-Federal share of costs required by the Stafford Act.

In accordance with 44 CFR Section 206.208, the State of New Hampshire agrees it will, with respect to direct Federal assistance:

                1)      Provide without cost to the United States all lands, easements and rights-of-way necessary to accomplish the approved work;

                2)      Hold and save the United States free from damages due to the requested work, and shall indemnify the Federal Government against any claims arising from such work;

                3)      Provide reimbursement to FEMA for the non-Federal share of the cost of such work in accordance with the provisions of the FEMA-State Agreement; and

                4)      Assist the performing Federal agency in all support and local jurisdictional matters.

In addition, I anticipate the need for debris removal, which poses an immediate threat to lives, public health, and safety.  Pursuant to Sections 403 and 407 of the Stafford Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 5170b & 5173, the State agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the United States of America for any claims arising from the removal of debris or wreckage for this disaster.  The State agrees that debris removal from public and private property will not occur until the landowner signs an unconditional authorization for the removal of debris.

I have designated Michael J. Poirier as the State Coordinating Officer for this request.  He will work with the Federal Emergency Management Agency in damage assessments and may provide further information or justification on my behalf.

                                                        Sincerely,

                                                        John H. Lynch
                                        Governor