Too early to know flood damage to businesses

Officials from Keene and surrounding communities have little doubt their business communities will be greatly affected by the weekend’s drenching rains and flood waters. But it may be some time before the extent of the damage is quantified.

“There are certainly going to be a number of businesses affected by this,” Susan Newcomer, workforce development coordinator for the Greater Keene Chamber of Commerce, told NHBR Daily.

In light of the amount of damage done to homes in the region, the home-business sector may be hit particularly hard.

“We have a significant number of small businesses scattered throughout our communities. Many are home-based businesses, and I think we are going to see a great deal of loss there,” said Newcomer.

While expectations of loss run high among town officials, members of the New Hampshire West Chapter of the American Red Cross have just begun the assessment phase of recovery, said Newcomer, who recently completed the Red Cross assessment training program.

Some 447 businesses from Keene and the 25 other communities of Cheshire County are currently registered as members of the Greater Keene Chamber of Commerce. – TRACIE STONE