Spring Flood Victims Still In Need

The floods that hit the state last May weren't as dramatic or deadly as those the affected western NH six months earlier……But they were still severe --- washing away some homes and leaving others filled with sewage or tainted by mold..……Goffstown resident Deb Gaudette was among those who lost everything……..So far she's spent 83,000 dollars on a new foundation but is still owes even more than that on the modular home she's wants to put there…….For months, she's and her children have been living in an RV……warming themselves by spaceheater, cooking meals on an outside grill and using friends homes to bathe ……Gaudette says she tries to remain good humored, but says survival has basically become her family's full-time job.

"It's been a real struggle to try to hang on to my property…..and pay my mortgage……because I'd already used all my child support money on the RV……Which didn't leave much money for food."

And Gaudette's is apparently not alone……..700 homes needed remediation work and State emergency management director Chris Pope says……. despite hard work from volunteers -- there's still plenty to be done.

"There are 200 families with unmet needs of some type….25 of those families are still not back in their homes…..The unmet needs include cracked foundations, damaged heating systems and in some cases entire houses were lost. These families need our help."

To that end, a fundraiser has been planned for next week in concord…….Organizers hope to raise about 500,000 dollars…….. The money will go to fix damaged homes…….Volunteers are also needed to help with repair work…….Paula Young is director of No Place Like Home, a group whose mission is to construct homes for families who lack the means to re-build after natural disasters….She says her group -- which uses students as volunteer laborers - can build a 1200 square foot three bedroom house for $50,000……She says five such homes are needed for NH families……but says absent further contributions they won't be built.

"Things are at a standstill for whatever reason, and that's why were here today and we have to ask again for financial support, for volunteers. Whatever contribution you can land --no contribution is too insignificant in this uphill battle."

Lawmakers, meanwhile, have been considering stepping in to offer help for some time…….The topic was first broached shortly after the floods hit……but stalled because the final tally on damages was unknown and the legislature was out of session ..State senator Ted Gatsas, says at the very least, the state should match what it did for southwestern towns after the floods of 2005. Gatsas has filed a bill to cap local flood costs at $5000 the state and federal govenment would pick up the rest.……Gatsas says he'd also be open to adding money to help individual victims as it did for some homeowners in Alstead.

"There is no question that the state spent somewhere around 3 million dollars to replace those homes or buy them back and I hope we understand that we should follow through with the rest of the state as we did with the western part of the state."

Governor Lynch, who made his response to the 2005 floods a centerpiece of his reelection bid, is asking citizens to donate money and labor at next week's fundraiser……His office says he's been in contact with local service agencies that are helping flood victims……And will bear the flood costs in mind as he works to set spending priorities when lawmakers reconvene in January.