Norwich ― Business owners shared their Jan. 10 flood stories in the parking lot of the Yantic River Plaza on Tuesday as they waited for city and state officials to deliver them $5,000 checks.

Behind them, contractors laid an epoxy coating onto concrete floors in their shops, replacing flood-damaged vinyl, carpet or other material. It is one of several measures James Avery, owner of the plaza at 50 Pleasant St., hopes will minimize damage next time the nearby Yantic River overflows its banks.

The Yantic River rose to near-record 14.23 feet high Jan. 10, nearly 5 feet above flood stage. Compounding the flooding for some businesses was the emergency evacuation ordered after a leak was discovered in the Fitchville Pond Dam in Bozrah.

The same day, Kevin Brown, president of the Norwich Community Development Corp., contacted the Southeastern Connecticut Enterprise Region and the state Department of Economic and Community Development for help. The agencies redirected a portion of an existing small business grant program to provide immediate grants to the flood-damaged businesses.

Three weeks later, Paul Whitescarver, executive director of SeCTer, pulled into the Yantic River Plaza on Tuesday with a stack of checks, each for $5,000, to distribute to 13 Norwich businesses. Speakers on Tuesday marveled at how quickly the state grant money got to business owners.

“We are so happy we were able to come through and provide $5,000 grants,” said Sheila Hummel, director of small business at DECD. “It couldn’t have been done without the strong partnership between SeCTer and NCDC. Kevin emailed the commissioner, and the commissioner emailed me, and then we got SeCTer involved. Within a couple days, we had a program, and within three weeks, that’s record time, we’re here today.”

Olivia Dexter, owner of Dexter’s Smoothie Coffee Vault, said she had just restocked fresh fruit and food the day before the flood. As the storm worsened, the plaza lost power, and water 3 inches deep covered the floor.

When the city ordered the emergency evacuation, there was no time to arrange for freezers and coolers.

“We lost everything perishable,” Dexter said Tuesday.

Her shop opened in November 2019 for takeout and expanded to café seating in December 2022. She hopes to reopen next week.

Next door, her husband, Zach Dexter, owns Dexter’s Best safe shop. He already had a concrete floor, so the shop suffered no flood damage, Olivia Dexter said.

Erica Sullivan, owner of Small Potatoes Artisan Crafts & Unique Gifts, had planned to move from one spot in the plaza to a larger space. The new shop wasn’t yet opened, and her goods remained safe in storage. But her new space needs extensive renovations. She watched from outside Tuesday as workers laid the epoxy coating, not wanting to interrupt them.

Small Potatoes has been in the plaza for six years and has been in business 10 years in Norwich. Sullivan hopes to reopen on Valentine’s Day.

Danielle Barth, owner of Paragon Salon, said her 11 hairdressers are working at shared space graciously offered by other salons in the city. But she looks forward to reopening her spacious 3,000-square-foot spot in the plaza. She said the salon moved there when COVID-19 spacing restrictions prompted the need for more room.

Elsewhere in Norwich, Shilo and Keith Santor, owners of Busy Bees Play Hive indoor children’s play center at 19 New London Turnpike, continue to rebuild after floodwater destroyed the floor, walls and much of their play equipment.

Supporters have launched an online fundraiser at gofundme.com, and have raised more than $5,000 toward the $10,000 goal through Tuesday.

A spaghetti dinner fundraiser will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Feb. 24 at Poquetanuck Fire Department, 87 Route 2A, Preston to support Busy Bees.

Shilo Santor said they hope to reopen for business on Feb. 19.

c.bessette@theday.com