KEENE, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) –  The city of Keene continues to assess and address the aftermath of severe thunderstorms that struck the region on July 16-17. The storms caused significant damage, particularly in the northwest part of the city, with Tanglewood Mobile Home Park being the hardest hit. The storms, which began around 7 p.m. on July 16, left eight homes damaged and displaced 15 residents in the community.

Emergency services in Keene were inundated with calls as the storms brought down trees, severed power lines, and even caused partial home collapses. The Keene Fire Department responded to approximately 35 incidents during the storm.

City officials have announced that repairs to public property, including pickleball courts, baseball fields, and tree damage in a cemetery, will be covered by insurance and the City’s operating budget. Fortunately, there was no damage to the City’s infrastructure, such as streets, roads, water, or sewer systems.

However, the impact on private property is more severe. Preliminary assessments by the City’s Community Department Building Division and the Fire Marshal’s Office estimate the damage to private property at just over $1.4 million, with most of the damage occurring in Tanglewood Mobile Home Park, said the City’s emercency management administrator, Kürt D. Blomquist, in an email.

Despite the significant damage, the City of Keene will not qualify for federal assistance through FEMA’s Public Assistance (PA) or Individual Assistance (IA) programs. The PA program, which is designed to support public infrastructure and buildings, requires a minimum of $351,707 in damage within Cheshire County and $2.53 million statewide to request a disaster declaration, Blomquist said. The localized nature of the storm means these thresholds were not met, making Keene ineligible for the PA program.

Similarly, the IA program, which provides assistance to individuals and households, also has stringent criteria, including considerations such as state fiscal capacity, uninsured property losses, and the overall impact on community infrastructure. The storm’s localized impact means Keene does not qualify for an IA declaration.

In the absence of federal aid, residents of Tanglewood Mobile Home Park have received short-term assistance from the American Red Cross, which provided temporary housing, replacement of medication, and access to meals.

Residents seeking disaster relief assistance can contact the Red Cross at 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767). City officials are also encouraging residents to prepare for future emergencies by visiting Ready.gov for guidance on disaster preparedness.