The purpose of this page is to provide the public with information relating to emergency preparedness for various types of problems, including, but not limited to, snow and ice emergencies, flooding, earthquakes, and some preventative measures relating to public health. This page is presently under construction, and additional items will be added in the near future.
Please use 911 for all emergencies. To notify the Town of a hazardous condition to the public that requires immediate attention, you should call Hillsborough Dispatch at (603) 464-5512. Other suggestions relating to public safety, not requiring immediate action should call Scott Murdough at (603) 464-3477.
There are now new information/hotline numbers for flood victims seeking assistance.
Anyone seeking flood aid will have to call both of these numbers, even if they have
called the 800 number before. Please be diplomatic, since some people may get a little
testy about having to make repeated calls. Make sure people take both numbers.
First, they must call the FEMA number to register as a disaster victim. These number
operates 24 hours per day:
1-800-621-FEMA (3362) voice
1-800-462-7585 (TTY only)
People can also register as disaster victims on-line at: www.fema.gov.
Second, they must call the following number for information on state benefits. This is for
personal losses and connects with an office set up for this purpose in Keene. This number
is staffed 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., effective Tuesday, November 1st: 1-888-540-5605
Remember: They have to call the FEMA number first to register as a disaster victim and
then call the second number for state assistance.
For business owners seeking assistance there is a third number: 1-800-417-4110
Frequently Asked Questions About Snow Emergency Declarations
FEMA has tightened eligibility for receiving snow emergency assistance. Federal assistance is
intended for storms that produce record snowfalls or otherwise cause extreme hardship to the
community. FEMA will consider the following factors when evaluating aid requests for near-record storms:
- Heavy snowfall over a very extended period of time;
- Severe winds and extraordinary drifting;
- Extraordinary ice formation;
- Cumulative effect of snow on the ground.
The National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) is the primary source of snowfall data. NCDC
provides current daily snowfall totals from its Cooperative Observers Network (COOP)
Monitoring Stations.
Historical snowfall record data is also provided by NCDC.
A COOP monitoring station’s current event snowfall is compared to the historic record snowfall
for the same station whenever possible. If the historic record snowfall is exceeded at any station
within a county, the current event will be considered a record snowfall in accordance with the
FEMA Snow Assistance Policy 9523.1, which can be found at:
https://www.fema.gov/government/grant/pa/9523_1.shtm
Daily and cumulative snowfall totals for the event in question must be compared to the historic
record snowfall over the same time period. For example, if the current event snowfall occurs
over one day, the snowfall for that day should be compared to the one-day historic record
snowfall. If snow falls over two days, then the cumulative total for those two days should be
compared to the two-day historic record snowfall, etc. Snowfall may occur over a time period of
24-hours or less, but will still be considered a two-day snowfall if the snowfall accumulations
occur during two 24-hour observing periods.
Snowfall within 10 percent of the historic record amount is considered to be a near record
snowfall.
FEMA’s policy is that state and local governments bear the primary responsibility for responding
to emergency situations. Federal assistance is supplementary and is appropriate only when an
event is of such severity and magnitude that response requirements exceed state and local
capabilities.