On the morning of Friday, June 2, a six-foot standing fan in the corner of the white-washed cement-block room of the Rochester Community Center blew on the three people discussing the loan application process with workers from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Other employees set up computers, printers and phones for the temporary office.

“Normally, people could register (with FEMA) on site,” said Debra Young, the public information officer for the Strafford County relief project. “But we don’t have any phone lines set up yet. I’m telling people that next time, we had better come the night before so we can get all this set up.”

The Rochester recovery center, serving all of Strafford County, provides the opportunity for people affected by the several days of severe rain and flooding that began May 12 to discuss flood damage relief. Friday was the first day New Hampshire residents affected by the severe weather were able to apply for federal money. The flooding damaged an estimated 5,000 homes across the state.

In addition to the Rochester location, FEMA opened recovery centers in the other five counties that were declared federal disaster areas, including Hillsborough, Merrimack, Belknap, Rockingham, Strafford and Carroll counties. Gov. John Lynch had requested the designation on May 15.

“People are usually pretty shocked after an event like this,” said Debra Young. “They have questions, and, while they can register online, it helps to have their questions answered in person.”

There have been concerns that people assume they qualify for federal aid after reporting damages to local or state officials or the Red Cross, according to a FEMA press release. Those interested in applying for federal aid must first register with FEMA, however, either through their Web site (www.FEMA.org) or by calling 800-621-FEMA.

This is the third FEMA project for Young. She previously worked in Mississippi following Hurricane Katrina and in Kentucky after a series of tornadoes. She says that the primary purpose of centers like the one in Rochester is to inform people of their options and to guide them through the process of applying for federal aid.

At the center, tables were set up for information on disaster mitigation, housing assistance, business loans and home/personal property loans. James Viel of Rochester had come to discuss a Small Business Administration loan to make repairs to his Salmon Falls Road home, which was surrounded by water on three sides and had five feet of flood water in the basement.

“Fortunately, I made out pretty good,” said Viel, who only had his water heater and oil tank affected by the flood.
Viel, who is hoping to receive $4,000 to make necessary repairs to his home, said he had no complaints with the FEMA application process. “As long as they give me some money, I’ll be perfectly satisfied.”

Viel had been speaking with Grady Billingslea, an SBA loan specialist from FEMA’s Eastern operations headquarters in Atlanta. Billingslea said that he had been able to answer most people’s questions, but had not been able to help those who had not followed procedure.

“The first step for everyone is to register,” Billingslea said.

The SBA offers low-interest loans to cover damage to homes and personal property, physical damage to businesses and economic damage incurred while businesses recover from the flood. Renters also qualify for replacement of damaged or lost personal property, including cars. In addition to loans covering disaster-related damages, loans are also available for disaster mitigation. Money from these loans can be used to pay for improvements to protect property from future damage. FEMA hopes that people affected by the flooding will register and apply for aid.

“Right now, we’re still trying to get the word out,” said Debra Young.

The FEMA centers will be open “indefinitely,” according to Young.

“Our operation is based on need. When people stop coming in, we’ll start packing up. But there’s no fixed time limit for

our project.”