Flood Recovery Update | Mon. Nov. 6
Nov. 6, 2023 | By Lisa Scagliotti Waterbury Help continues to field requests
The Waterbury Help effort to assist those with damage from the summer flooding continues and has volunteers willing and able to assist local residents and businesses with their recovery projects.
Coordinator Tom Drake says anyone needing help with any flood-recovery-related task should not hesitate to send an email to waterburyhelp@gmail.com. It can be site-specific such as ongoing cleanup and remediation such as mold prevention or assistance with getting heating and other building infrastructure back in working order. Anyone in need of help navigating FEMA or SBA forms and appeals is also encouraged to get in touch. In addition to local volunteers assisting, Drake said there are resources to pass along that could be of help.
A new local effort called Community Resilience for the Waterbury area, or CReW will provide one-on-one support, technical assistance, and financial resources to help people rebuild their homes and businesses. That should have a website online soon. Those who would like to participate in the volunteer effort to help out may contact CReW organizers at the email info@thecrewvt.org.
And anyone wishing to make a financial contribution to the local recovery effort may direct those to the 2023 Waterbury Relief Fund via Revitalizing Waterbury, P.O. Box 473 Waterbury, VT 05676 or donate online at revitalizingwaterbury.org/2023-waterbury-relief-fund.
Barre Disaster Recovery Center open through Nov. 9
The Federal Emergency Management Agency's Barre Disaster Recovery Center will be open 8 a.m. through 6 p.m. this week through Thursday, Nov. 9. The center is located at the Alumni Hall Building, Third Floor, 16 Auditorium Hill, Barre.
While visiting in person is not required, FEMA staff at the centers are available to work one-on-one with individuals on their disaster assistance applications. No appointments are needed.
Individuals including homeowners and renters as well as business owners may check their application status, get guidance with submitting appeals, upload documents to support their case and get their questions answered at the FEMA center. FEMA assistance can provide grants and U.S. Small Business Administration loans for housing, home repairs and other disaster-related expenses.
To apply, visit DisasterAssistance.gov, download the FEMA App or call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. Those who use a relay service such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA your number for that service when you apply.
More information is online at fema.gov/disaster/4720.
Governor appoints Patricia Moulton to role in state recovery office
Patricia Moulton has been named Central Vermont Recovery Officer to assist with managing long-term recovery from the summer's historic flooding. Courtesy photo
Gov. Phil Scott and Chief Recovery Officer Doug Farnham recently announced the appointment of Patricia Moulton as Central Vermont Recovery Officer. This is the latest step in building out the necessary organizational infrastructure to coordinate the long-term recovery process for Vermont following this summer’s historic flooding.
The Recovery Office is the state-level entity charged with coordinating funds from the American Rescue Plan Act, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Inflation Reduction Act programs, alongside hazard mitigation and ongoing community revitalization work, to ensure that activities are in sync across the many government, nonprofit and volunteer efforts already underway or slated for future deployment.
“Pat will bring her wealth of experience and passion for Vermont into this important role, and I’m confident she’ll hit the ground running,” Gov. Scott said. “Our full recovery office will continue its focus on all corners of the state, but it’s clear that Central Vermont, which sustained the most damage from the floods, will need heightened focus. Pat is the right person to work directly with impacted communities to help them recover, rebuild, and revitalize the places they call home.”
Chief Recovery Officer Doug Farnham said much of the flooding damage was concentrated in Central Vermont meaning much of the recovery efforts will also be focused here.
“This damage was layered on top of challenges we were already facing recovering from the pandemic and decades of housing, economic, and demographic decline in some regions of our state,” Farnham said. “Pat has experience in key areas including economic development and environmental permitting, which will help in her work to shepherd recovery projects. She also has the benefit of having served in the Tropical Storm Irene recovery and helped put us on a path for a more resilient Vermont.”
Moulton most recently served as president of Vermont Technical College and previously was the secretary of the Agency of Commerce and Community Development. As secretary, she facilitated the expansion of many Vermont companies, helped attract new companies, and assisted in rebuilding Vermont after Tropical Storm Irene and helped create the nation’s first statewide comprehensive economic development strategy that has led to millions in federal grants for Vermont.
Moulton said she is honored to be tapped for this new role. “This is a great opportunity to continue the critical resiliency work started after Irene as well as address part of the housing challenges we face throughout Vermont,” she said.
Moulton has led four of the state’s Regional Economic Development Corporations and previously served as commissioner of both the Vermont Department of Economic Development Vermont Department of Labor. In addition, Moulton chaired Vermont’s Environmental Board which oversaw Act 250 and served for many years on her hometown Development Review Board.
The Recovery Office is a hub for operational, fiscal, policy and general coordination efforts across the state involving a multitude of local and regional groups. Their overall goal is to match federal resources with local needs involving players from state and local government, volunteer recovery groups and philanthropic organizations.
“We want to be certain that Vermont fully leverages the resiliency lessons we’ve learned over the last 12 years and the support of our federal partners during the recovery process,” Farnham said. “The ‘Vermont Strong’ philosophy applies to infrastructure and communities alike. A more resilient and affordable Vermont is the long-term goal, and this recovery process is a means to accomplishing much of that end.”