By Michael Kitch

LACONIA -- Governor John Lynch visited The Weirs yesterday to inspect the damage caused by the August 7 storm. He was accompanied by Phil Parr, federal coordinating officer with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), who expressed confidence that the federal government would contribute to the cost of reconstructing the boardwalk as well as repairing other damaged public infrastructure.

Fire Chief Ken Erickson and Public Works Director Paul Moynihan briefed the governor on the cause and extent of the damage, which Lynch said would run to "several million dollars." Lynch described The Weirs as "a real jewel" and said that the restoration of the boardwalk was "a state issue."

Speaking with Parr at the scene of the devastation, Chris Pope, director of homeland security and emergency management at the New Hampshire Department of Safety, stressed the importance of the boardwalk to the economy of The Weirs, which each year hosted Motorcycle Week, one of the state's premier tourist attractions. Likewise, Erickson said that the damage has already begun to adversely affect the tourist economy, noting that several businesses have reported fewer patrons and stressing the importance of reopening the boardwalk as soon as possible.

Phil Parr of FEMA explains disaster relief procedure and policy to Gov. Lynch, N.H. Emergency Management Director Chris Pope, Sen. Kathy Sgambati and Laconia Fire Chief Ken Erickson. during yesterday's tour of the Weirs Beach docks area.  (Photo by Michael Kitch)

Parr pointed out that while FEMA could contribute to the repair and restoration of public infrastructure, businesses suffering losses as a consequence of the flooding should seek assistance from the Small Business Administration.

Parr said that the extent and value of the damage easily met the threshold required for disaster assistance from FEMA. He said that the immediate question was whether to incorporate the flood damage into the major disaster declaration issued for Belknap, Carroll and Rockingham counties earlier this week in response to the tornado of July 24 or to seek a a fresh declaration. Parr said that FEMA was consulting with the National Weather Service to determine if the flooding was part of the same weather system that spawned the tornado.

"We are working quickly and closely with the state," Parr said, adding that "I don't anticipate a problem whichever course we take."

Lynch emphasized that the declaration would not affect the amount of assistance, which could represent 75-percent of the cost of repairs, but combining the damage from the flooding with that from the tornado, which has already qualified for federal aid, would hasten the response.

The disaster declaration for the tornado included Belknap County, where a path through Barnstead and Alton suffered heavy damage, but excluded Merrimack and Strafford counties, where severe damage was concentrated in a few towns. Lynch said that he was seeking to persuade FEMA to include Merrimack and Strafford counties as well as to extend the declaration to assist individuals who suffered property damage from the tornado.

Pope said that in the response to the flooding teams from FEMA were assessing the damage in seven of the ten counties in the state.