Flood update | Aug. 4
Aug. 4, 2024 | By Lisa ScagliottiGov. Phil Scott on Saturday made a formal request to President Joe Biden for a federal disaster declaration to direct federal resources to individuals and communities recovering from the July 10 and 11 floods.
Gov. Phil Scott | File photo by Glenn Russell, VTDigger.org
The declaration requests funding under both federal Public Assistance and Individual Assistance programs for Addison, Orleans, Washington, Caledonia, Chittenden, Lamoille and Essex counties. It also includes a request for Public Assistance only in Orange County, the governor’s announcement explains.
“Flooding on July 10 and 11 devastated many of the same areas that were impacted by last summer’s flood, destroying infrastructure, homes, and property,” the governor said. “Although FEMA assistance won’t make towns and homeowners whole for the repair costs, if approved, this will help lessen their financial burden – help that is desperately needed for these communities and households.”
A federal assessment verified more than $5.5 million in damage to public infrastructure from the flooding. This is only a partial estimate that shows the state meets the minimum qualification for a disaster declaration, according to the governor’s office.
The total cost to repair damages will be much higher. If approved, a Public Assistance disaster declaration would allow communities in declared counties to receive 75% reimbursement for storm response and recovery, including repairs to public infrastructure such as roads, bridges and wastewater plants.
Individual Assistance would help individuals with some reimbursement for damages to personal property, emergency expenses, and serious needs that cannot be met through insurance or other forms of assistance. Eligible expenses include rental assistance, home repair, home replacement and lodging.
The request goes to the president after review and recommendation from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
By Saturday afternoon, Vermont’s Congressional delegation announced that they had co-signed a letter to President Biden urging his swift support for the disaster designation for the state. The disaster declaration would bring critical federal resources to Vermont to help individuals and communities recover after devastating flooding this summer, Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Rep. Becca Balint, D-Vt., wrote to the president.
The lawmakers also included a request that the Biden administration expedite outstanding public assistance reimbursements, hazard mitigation projects, and property buyouts from the flooding events in Vermont in 2023.
“We write in strong support of Governor Scott’s Major Disaster Declaration request to address the severe flooding caused by the remnants of Hurricane Beryl that occurred July 9–11, 2024 — exactly one year after the most catastrophic flooding Vermont has seen in nearly a century,” Sanders, Welch and Balint wrote. “Vermont has experienced 15 federally declared natural disasters since 2014, including three floods in 2023 alone. These extreme weather events have devastated Vermont communities, [which] have not been able to recover from previous disasters before the next one hits…We ask that you act swiftly and bring all available federal resources to bear — including immediately expediting reimbursements from 2023 — to enable Vermont to fully recover from the devastation wrought over the last 12 months.”
The Congressional delegation also has called on the U.S. Department of Agriculture to quickly approve Gov. Scott’s request for a USDA disaster declaration to support Vermont farms impacted by the floods.
In addition to the request for the July 10-11 storm damage, Gov. Scott on Friday asked FEMA to conduct a Preliminary Damage Assessment to determine whether the state qualifies for a federal major disaster declaration for flooding and resulting damage that took place just this past week on July 30 and July 31. The governor requested that FEMA consider public assistance for damage in Caledonia, Essex and Orleans counties and individual assistance assessments in Caledonia and Essex counties.
“Many of the communities impacted by the July 30-31 storms were still cleaning up from flooding less than a month ago,” Scott said. “This intense rainstorm devastated homes, businesses, roads, bridges, culverts and other public infrastructure. Vermonters impacted should report damage to 211, so we have the information we need to make our case for additional federal resources.”
State officials’ very early assessment so far has tallied damage to public infrastructure resulting from that storm exceeding $6 million. A disaster declaration from the federal government needs FEMA to verify at least $1.183 million in damage to public infrastructure, the governor’s office noted. Individual counties must also show damages of $4.60 per capita to qualify.
These requirements and the ongoing review to determine the extent of federal disaster aid to municipalities and individuals means it is still critical for Vermonters to report even minimal storm damage so authorities get a full picture of the extent of damage across the state. Individuals and local officials should continue to document and report their flood damage and losses to Vermont 211 either by dialing 2-1-1 or by visiting vermont211.org. Individuals with storm impacts should continue to clean and rebuild, collecting photos showing before, during and after repairs, the governor’s announcement said. Homeowners and renters should also keep records of all expenditures and a list of personal property losses.
Likewise, Vermont cities and towns should continue making repairs to public infrastructure, documenting all work carefully for possible future reimbursement. Federal aid will apply to repairs to public roads and buildings, tree and debris removal from public rights of way, municipal employee overtime spent working on recovery, contractor help, equipment rentals, and other storm-related costs.
Read Gov. Scott’s letter to the president here.
Read the letter from Sanders, Welch and Balint President Biden here.
Call for volunteers near and far
Local volunteers working on the flood response and cleanup in and around Waterbury are concentrating work days based on availability. Online signups to help out in Waterbury, Moretown, Duxbury and other nearby communities continue to be posted the CReW website here.
In addition, local residents with time and ability to travel are encouraged to check out the needs in the Northeast Kingdom after catastrophic flooding struck there on Monday, dumping up to 8 inches of rain in St. Johnsbury and other nearby towns. Volunteer labor, canvassers, supplies, etc. are needed for the response there.
A signup with volunteer shifts through Aug. 11 is online from Northeast Kingdom Organizing. CReW leaders encourage local residents to lend a hand if they can.
Aug. 7: Efficiency Vermont webinar on flood aftermath
The folks at Efficiency Vermont will host an online webinar at noon on Aug. 7 for those managing after recent flood damage to their homes.
Anyone in the process of drying out, cleaning up and planning repairs is invited to join. Efficiency Vermont will have engineering experts available to answer questions and offer information on the topic of addressing moisture and making homes more resilient to future floods and extreme weather.
Learn about current offers for rebates around upgrading household appliances and equipment.
Register at this link to join. If you cannot watch live, the session will be recorded and everyone signed up will receive an email with a link to view the recording afterward.
Block party poster courtesy of Vermont Beer Collective
Block party on Elm Street Aug. 10
A flood relief block party is planned for Elm Street on August 10.
Organized by Nathan Dunbar, owner of the Vermont Beer Collective shop on Elm Street, plans are coming together for the “Hell or High Water” event from 4-8 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 10. Rain date is Aug. 11.
The celebration will be held a month after the July 10 flood with the goals to gather the community downtown, support local businesses and raise funds for flood recovery efforts.
Elm Street will be closed for the party which will also use the municipal parking lot adjacent to the Pro Pig Brewery.
Flood-damaged businesses asked to complete state survey
The Vermont Department of Economic Development asks businesses that endured damage from July floods events to complete a Flood Damage Survey for Businesses.
Survey data will be used to help advocate for future relief and recovery programs for businesses and nonprofit organizations.
“The Department of Economic Development is here to help as best we can with the ongoing recovery in communities across Vermont,” said DED Commissioner Joan Goldstein. “Our goal is to understand everyone's circumstances so that we are better able to quantify the aggregate need at the community and industry levels.”
Non-profit and for-profit organizations that had physical property damage in the July 2024 floods should answer questions to the best of their ability. If multiple properties were damaged, a separate survey should be submitted for each location.
Should financial assistance for businesses be available, department staff will contact companies that have completed the Flood Damage Survey with information.
Damage should also be reported to Vermont 211 at Vermont211.org which is assessing the overall damage impact for the state. The department’s survey does not fulfill that request as well.
For information on flood recovery and support, visit accd.vermont.gov/flood. The Agency of Commerce and Community Development is providing updates on the recovery efforts with a newsletter. Sign up here to receive the updates.