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In Wake Of Flooding, Randolph Does It Right

It isn’t easy to navigate the maze of red tape after a natural disaster occurs.

The tornado that ripped through the Randolph area in 2010 gave town officials firsthand experience of that. They found out navigating the byzantine maze of forms, meetings, regulations and programs is too big a job for part-time officials to handle. Commend Randolph officials, then, for pursuing a different course of action in the wake of May flooding that caused damage throughout the town. Rather than muddle through the process alone, Town Board officials recently approved hiring a consultant to plan and help execute flood mitigation techniques in the town.

Activities include technical advisory services, maximizing state and federal aid, providing program and policy advice on federal disaster relief programs, support for strategic planning and coordination of all recovery efforts; reviewing contracts and purchasing documentation to make sure the town isn’t left holding the bag when the final bills come due, representing the town of Randolph in with FEMA and state emergency officials, handle damage site assessment and project worksheet formulations; identify potential improvements and maximize public assistance and mitigation funding; meet with town department heads and collect and compile cost documentation for public works projects; document permit requirements, maintain code compliance, help departments that have issues with claims; interact with the town’s public adjusting firm and close out grants.

In other words, Randolph is hiring someone to make sure town residents are made whole by the time this process is over and to lead a process to lessen the effects of future displays of Mother Nature’s fury. It is a good, and proactive, step to take.

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