Letter to the Editor

While the tornado is fading news in many people’s minds, the residents of stricken towns are still working long, hard hours to repair the damage wrought by the storm. Barnstead’s response to this disaster reflects their strength as a community. People have worked hundreds of hours to help each other and to return their town to normalcy. At a selectman’s meeting I attended last week, there were no complaints. The focus instead was planning and organizing the days ahead. They are working in together with all levels of government and volunteers groups from religious organizations to county prisons to get the work done. They have been resourceful and compassionate in their response to their neighbors in need. Many of the downed trees are being cut and split and stored for emergency heating assistance for residents.

But they still need help. While state emergency response and volunteers crew have made enormous progress, the community lacks the equipment required to complete the clean up before winter. They are in great need of small excavators with thumbs to help load fallen tree limbs into dump trucks. They have operators available but they simply lack the necessary equipment. Additional dump trucks are also needed to haul the debris. If any individual or company has equipment that they could lend, for any period of time, it would be of great assistance to the town.

The removal of trees and debris is important to help repair the damage to the community, but it is also important to help prevent fires. Miles of downed trees presents a danger to the community at large if they are not removed. If you or anyone you know has equipment and is willing to help, please call Selectman Gordon Preston at 776-6044. Arrangements have been made so that the value of your donation is tax deductible.

Progress is being made in Barnstead and in other communities affected by the storm. The good news is that Governor Lynch was successful in securing town and state assistance for Strafford and Merrimack counties. The federal decision to deny help to individual homeowners had been appealed and is an important next step. In talking with homeowners, many insurance companies are covering the damage to their homes. However the cost of emptying their yard of fallen trees is not covered and turning out to be an expensive proposition for these families. We will continue to work with the federal government to secure the needed assistance but in the meantime, if you have access to equipment, please lend a hand --- or preferably a truck.

Thank you,

Senator Kathy Sgambati

District 4