Alstead residents gathered last night for their first town meeting since floods ravaged the community about ten days ago.
They all came wanting to know 'what's going to happen next?'
Local, state and federal officials did the best they could to provide answers.
New Hampshire Public Radio's Dan Gorenstein reports.
Sfx: meeting room
Chairs covered the floor of the Alstead elementary school gym right to the walls.
State officials reported that Alstead had just qualified for aid and should expect the feds to cover 75% of the costs to public projects such as bridges and roads.
And that the governor is in talks with the legislature about picking up the other 25%.
But with 36 homes destroyed and 70 others in disrepair what people like Paul Garritone really wanted to know was whether FEMA would be footing their personal bills.
T.8
:03 I am expecting to find out about what folks are going to do for us, especially out of Washington. I know our governor and our local people are working their buns off. Well, now we need some bigger help...they got to help us, let's see what happens.
T.16
4:30 we do not have an answer yet on individual assistance, but...
New Hampshire Emergency Services Director Bruce Chenney.
...I think, I certainly think, the individual damage we've seen is so substantial that it would be difficult for the federal government not to give us individual aid, that is to business owners and home owners.
A FEMA representative said the damage assessment was completed Tuesday, and a request for assistance would be sent to Washington shortly.
Governor Lynch has said if a disaster declaration is issued, aid may arrive as soon as November 1st.
While, FEMA questions dominated the three hour meeting, many also talked about the future of the river.
The flood ate away backyards, and now a number of families have riverfront homes.
And that's a scary proposition.
T.47
:00 there's some talk over the next few days they are going to be moving the river back where it's supposed to be. My house is currently standing on a 20 ft cliff with nothing behind it, and if the river keeps its current course b/c of the erosion...not only is my house in danger, but the houses next to us. is there any discussion of that?
Yes, Department of Environmental Services Renee Pellitier says, people are talking.
But, he quickly adds, moving a river is complicated.
T.13
:12 if the channel needs to be widened, or brought back, for public health, obviously we are gogin to entertain that. But when you look at the breadth of the stream bank, how you could ever stabilize, if you are doing half an acre of fill or something, you may be doing more damage down the road, b/c if you get spring floods, and it's not rip-rapped properly you get erosion on the other side of the banks.
This meeting was more than just some big question and answer session though.
In some sense, it was a chance for people to express their grief.
At one point, people began blaming the police department of two for not evacuating their homes in the middle of the night ten days ago.
Chief Chris Lyons took exception.
T.53
1:24 as far as evacuation, I was the one who went door to door...some of the fire department went door to door, we used everybody we could at that time, and as far as a mandatory evacuation, there are some people in this town that refused me. I can't go to you and stick and gun to you and make you leave..Yeah, but you could come to our doors! Storm by myself.
The frustration and tension in the room was too much for Constance Allen.
On her way out she says some people in town just want to blame somebody.
T.56
5:25 I think that people aren't listening that it will take so much time. we want an instant answer. And people aren't hearing it and freightened. This is a terrifying event that happened to a town of 2000 people. Nobody expected something like this...and people are just reacting.
Some left the meeting satisfied, others said it was a waste of time.
Carlene Thompson says she doesn't even know how to feel.
T.8
1:20 I don't know what I wanted out of it. I guess none of us know what we want, where to start...unless you've been in this situation, it's like you are dreaming and you are going to wake up.
Selectman chair Matt Saxton says people had plenty of specific questions, but they shared a basic concern.
T.17
5:29 when is this going to be over? With some basic assumptions under that, when it's over, the affected person will be whole again, that my life will be back the way it was again. And see, that's the tragedy in this, that isn't going to happen. We can do with government what we can, but we still are going to have dreadful loss here.
Over the next few days, aid is expected to come pouring in.
Money, clothes, tools and supplies.
He says WMUR is even planning a telethon.
When Saxton first heard that, he says he thought I am proud, I am self-sufficient, I don't want to be here...and I think a lot of people feel that way.
For NHPR News, I'm DG.
