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Loudon seeks FEMA BRIC scoping grant to study new fire-suppression water intake at village dam
Summary
Fire and emergency management staff told the Board they will prepare a FEMA BRIC scoping-letter of intent to evaluate building a new intake and pump house at the dam after a site walk with FEMA and New Hampshire Homeland Security.
The Loudon Fire Chief reported that FEMA and New Hampshire Homeland Security and Emergency Management completed a site walk at the town's recreation fields and discussed next steps for hazard mitigation projects, including a potential BRIC scoping grant to study a new fire-suppression water intake at the village dam.
The chief said the dry hydrant at the dam froze this winter and was out of service for two months, limiting quick water access. He described the proposed scoping project as an engineering study that could analyze whether a small building with a fire pump at the dam is feasible and recommend alternative locations if necessary.
"The BRIC scoping grant would hopefully provide us with some money through FEMA," the chief said, adding that scoping grants typically require a local match estimated at 5 to 15 percent of the scoping cost. He described BRIC-funded projects as multi-stage and long-term: a letter of intent, a scoping grant, then the implementation grant, a process that can take two to three years.
Town staff told selectmen they would prepare a letter of intent and bring it back to the board for review before submission. A board member supported moving forward with the letter: "I think it makes sense to go forward with the letter of intent and see what comes back from that," one selectman said.
The chief also reported other operational updates: repairs to Engine 2's tank sensor and to Ambulance 2's power steering, solar-panel repairs at Station 2, a recent chimney fire that was controlled with mutual aid from neighboring towns, and emergency runs data for March (77 total runs; 37 EMS and 40 fire calls).
Staff emphasized the potential for grant funding but said any engineering recommendations would have to be weighed against available local match funds. The chief said the town has increased the emergency management line in recent budgets and could apply current funds to part of the scoping cost if needed.
The board did not vote to commit local funds at the meeting but directed staff to prepare the BRIC letter of intent and return it for review prior to submission.
