A recent report discusses a bill enacted in New Hampshire to allow the state to buy property damaged by floods in southwestern New Hampshire last October. The zip codes for the referenced areas (Alstead, Acworth, Langdon and Walpole) are 03601,03602 and 03608.

7 months later, Alstead flood aid is approved

Thu. May 25, 2006
Lawmakers voted Wednesday to spend $2.8 million to buy property damaged by floods in southwestern New Hampshire last October.

The bill sent to Gov. John Lynch for his signature allows the state to buy property in Alstead, Acworth, Langdon and Walpole, which were hard-hit by the floods.

The property would be bought at pre-flood assessed value, minus the total financial aid the owner got from insurance or in federal disaster relief. No one would be required to sell.

A commission would be established to determine the best use of the property.

Lynch applauded passage of the bill.

"This assistance is critical to helping some of the hardest-hit families recover from the devastation of the floods," Lynch said in a statement. "These families saw their homes washed away - in some cases even the very land where their houses once stood is gone. They are paying mortgages on properties that no longer exist."

The state is responding to last week’s flooding separately.