CONCORD - President Bush today signed Gov. John Lynch's request to make New Hampshire communities and families eligible for federal disaster assistance to recover from the recent floods.

"FEMA's preliminary damage assessment found that our communities suffered major and costly damage, as did our families," Gov. Lynch said. "I'm pleased that President Bush has moved to issue this disaster declaration so that families can get help in rebuilding their lives and our communities can get help to rebuild their roads and bridges."

FEMA offers two primary types of assistance, public assistance - which helps the state and communities cover emergency operations, debris removal and repair costs; and individual assistance - which provides some emergency assistance to individuals, such as for temporary housing, and will cover some - but not usually all - costs of the damage.

President Bush's disaster declaration will make public assistance available for Belknap, Carroll, Cheshire, Grafton, Hillsborough, Merrimack, Rockingham, Strafford and Sullivan counties. The president's declaration will make individual assistance and Small Business Administration assistance available for Grafton, Hillsborough, Merrimack, Rockingham, and Strafford counties.

FEMA had to complete the preliminary damage assessment before the President could issue a major disaster declaration. FEMA teams, working with state officials, completed the preliminary damage assessment for individual and public assistance last weekend.

FEMA will set up a 1-800 number for individuals to file claims for assistance. They will also open offices in the state. Individuals must apply directly to FEMA for assistance once the 1-800 number is established. Flood victims should collect as much information as possible on the losses they have suffered, including repair bills, estimates from contractors, pictures or video.

Preliminary damage assessments found nearly 1,000 homes were affected by the flooding, of which 24 homes were destroyed and 200 suffered major damage. In many cases, the owners of these affected homes were just completing repairs from the flooding that occurred in last year's Mother's Day floods..

During the course of the flooding, more than 400 state and local road segments were closed, and there were approximately 20 state and local bridges closed at some point during the storm. As a result of severe flooding, five dams were breached, there was a controlled breach of one dam, and four dams failed.

More than 75,000 people were without power during the height of the storm, while flooding at a switching station in Raymond cut off phone service, including 911 emergency services, to the town and surrounding areas for several days.

More than 300 National Guard members were on duty during the flooding assisting local towns with traffic control, sandbagging and evacuations.

People with flood-related questions or concerns can call the state's flood relief hotline at 1-800-458-2407. The hotline will be staffed Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The hotline cannot take applications for assistance.

"FEMA assistance likely won't be enough for some of our hardest-hit families. For some of these families, this is the second time in less than a year they have been forced from their homes due to severe flooding," Gov. Lynch said. "That is why I am encouraging everyone in New Hampshire to consider contributing to the State of New Hampshire Disaster Relief Fund, which will get our families on the road to recovery."

Donations to the relief fund can be made online at www.nh.gov, or by sending a check to:

State of New Hampshire, Disaster Relief
25 Capitol Street, Room 121
Concord, NH 03301

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Recovery Information for
Communities, Individuals, Businesses

If you are in need of immediate assistance
Call the State's Flood Hotline
At 1-800-458-2407
Hours staffed this weekend
8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Recovery Information for Individuals

* Gov. John Lynch formally requested that President Bush declare a major disaster on April 20 and FEMA began its preliminary damage assessment to determine the state's eligibility for public and individual assistance.
* President Bush issued a disaster declaration today, which will make FEMA assistance available.
* FEMA will set up a 1-800 number for individual claims and open offices in the state.
* Individuals must apply directly to FEMA for assistance once the 1-800 number is established. Flood victims should collect as much information as possible on the losses they have suffered, including repair bills, estimates from contractors, pictures or video.

With Individual Assistance, New Hampshire residents may be eligible for some:

* Housing Assistance - aid for lodging expenses, rental assistance, mobile homes.
* Repairs to homes.
* Replacement of housing - grants toward part of the cost of a new home.
* Depending on income level, residents may be eligible for assistance with expenses for replacement of personal property, transportation, moving and storage.
* Low-interest loans through the Small Business Administration.
* The objective of FEMA assistance programs is to help get disaster victims back on their feet, not to fully restore them to their pre-disaster condition.
* Additional aid may be available from personal insurance, the National Flood Insurance Program, the American Red Cross or other voluntary disaster relief organizations.

Recovery Information for Businesses

* Businesses that suffered damage in the floods may be eligible for low-interest loans from the Small Business Administration.
* New Hampshire's Division of Economic Development is offering technical assistance to businesses impacted by the flooding. Businesses that suffered flood damage should contact the state Business Resource Center at 1-800-417-4110 during regular business hours.