Heeding Calls from NH Congressional Delegation, Biden Admin Awards Additional Federal Disaster Relief Assistance

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Representatives Annie Kuster (NH-02) and Chris Pappas (NH-01) issued the following joint statement in response to the Biden administration’s approval of a Major Disaster Declaration for the State of New Hampshire and release of federal assistance to Cheshire and Sullivan Counties, which were impacted by severe storms and flooding in July.

Last week, the administration fully approved New Hampshire’s Major Disaster Declaration request for a previous set of storms from July 17 to July 19 in Cheshire County, and the NH Congressional Delegation welcomed the administration’s announcement of relief assistance heading to Cheshire County. New Hampshire also requested a Major Disaster Declaration for Cheshire and Sullivan Counties for an additional set of storms from July 29 to August 2, which the NH Congressional Delegation also called for. Today, the administration approved this second request in part. The approval does not include relief for storm damage that occurred on August 1st and 2nd, which the delegation originally requested the administration to approve.

“Severe storms and floods pummeled businesses, homes and communities across New Hampshire in July, causing millions of dollars of damage statewide. Our municipalities are still recovering and struggling to front these costs – especially as we still grapple with the financial fallout from the pandemic. We are grateful that the Biden administration responded to our calls to deliver federal funds to our hardest-hit communities in Cheshire and Sullivan Counties. This relief is a lifeline that will help our local governments restore damaged infrastructure and reimburse state agencies that provided costly assistance on the frontlines of the storms. We’ll continue urging the Biden administration to approve New Hampshire’s full request of funding through August, ensuring our municipalities have the resources they need to recover and become more resilient,” said the delegation.

The delegation’s letter can be read in full here.

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