By Nicholas Brown
Staff Writer

Local officials estimate that more than 30 Allenstown homeowners and their families are still displaced after flooding swept through the state a month ago.

At the height of the flooding, 57 homes in the Riverside Park Drive area were evacuated, and Town Administrator Kelley Collins said, “I would say more than half of them probably still can’t go home.”

Collins said she knows of people who are staying with friends and family, or even ex-spouses or bosses.

By press time, one neighborhood house had been condemned because of structural damage, and multiple others in the low-lying area were still under inspection, said Collins.

The town recently provided all the homes in the neighborhood with water test kits to determine if their well water was safe for drinking or showering.

During the deluge, many of the septic systems in the neighborhood backed up and sewage spilled into yards. Also, gas and propane tanks were spotted floating through the neighborhood. Days after the rain subsided, the neighborhood smelled of raw sewage, and coloration throughout the water suggested oil or gas contamination.

Town officials have been giving information to the neighborhood’s residents on how to disinfect wells, and have also distributed drinking water, courtesy of Anheuser-Busch.

“Every day the situation gets a little bit better,” said Allenstown police Capt. Shaun Mulholland.

Some residents have sought help through organizations like the Community Action Partnership of Belknap-Merrimack Counties, which set up shop at its Concord location to assist flood victims.

Collins said she’d heard that more than 45 Allenstown residents had already applied for some funding help from the group, and said, “I’m feeling pretty good about that.”

Residents from Allenstown and throughout Belknap, Carroll, Hillsborough, Rockingham, Merrimack and Strafford counties have also been registering for assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

President George Bush declared a major disaster for the state on May 25, freeing up some federal funds for home and business owners in those counties.

The struggles may continue for those people whose property was soaked by the Mother’s Day flood, as the warm months can spawn a myriad of potential health hazards, like mold.

FEMA describes mold as a fuzzy growth or discoloration accompanied by a “musty earthy odor or a foul stench,” according to a recent press release.

Mold can cause a number of problems including wheezing, difficulty breathing, nasal and sinus congestion, burning an watery eyes, dry cough, sore throat, shortness of breath or skin irritation, according to FEMA.

For safety tips in dealing with a flooded home, or to find out about financial assistance, visit www.fema.gov. For a wide range of useful flood-related information ­ including avenues for financial assistance ­ visit the state’s office of emergency management Web site at www.nhoem.state.nh.us, or call (800) 735-2964.