Flood Update | Aug. 18
Below is the latest flood update from The CReW – Community Resilience for the greater Waterbury area, the long-term recovery group based in Waterbury and serving Bolton, Duxbury, Middlesex, Moretown and Waterbury.
The volunteer organization since the July 10 severe storm and flooding has been focused on flood cleanup response, assisting numerous local residents with their immediate needs following the disaster. The group now is looking to shift gears to assist the community in the next phase of flood recovery and rebuilding.
Flood cleanup supplies outside the town offices in July. Photo by Lisa Scagliotti
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Moving into Week 6, CReW shifts operations
To the Community:
As we head into Week 6 following the devastating impacts of Hurricane Beryl on July 10-11, all of Vermont is waiting and hoping for a FEMA disaster declaration, which will help provide some much-needed repair funds for those dealing with flood-damaged homes, driveways, culverts and roads. Gov. Phil Scott has requested the declaration, but it has not yet been approved.
A handmade sign from a young volunteer. Photo by Lisa Scagliotti
In the five-town area served by the CReW, there are approximately 600 affected properties (based on reports directly to CReW, to Vermont 211, and to Crisis Cleanup). Damage ranges from homes with devastating flooding on the first floor and basement, to private roads, bridges and driveways destroyed, and everything in between. Over 50% of the affected properties have reported driveway, road and culvert damage.
CReW has mostly completed their clean-up phase, which was focused primarily on cleaning up living spaces and basements in homes. As property owners get their properties cleaned up, the natural next step is to focus on rebuilding – which, for many, requires access to additional financial resources. CReW is focused on helping people find available funds for smart rebuilding, whether that is from local community funds, FEMA grants, SBA loans or the Vermont Disaster Recovery Fund. Unfortunately, many of these dollars will not be available until there is a disaster declaration. Some available resources can be viewed here.
To help support mental health needs for flood-affected neighbors, CReW has partnered with the counseling and wellness provider Love University here in Waterbury, to put together some free in-person wellness offerings for the rest of the month. (See details here.)
In addition, Vermont’s Starting Over Strong program has free mental health resources available. Residents of Washington County can call Washington County Mental Health at 802-229-0591 to talk about flood-related stress. No cost, no obligation, no records, just helpful conversation.
Seeking Rebuild and Resource volunteers
CReW’s volunteer operation will be shifting gears in the coming weeks, toward supporting people with their repair plans and identifying funding resources to help them put those plans into action. CReW is looking for Rebuild volunteers, who can help with assessment, repair plans, materials lists and hands-on construction projects; and Resource volunteers, who can help people figure out which grants to apply for, help with insurance or FEMA appeals, and chase down information. Anyone interested in volunteering in one of these roles can send an email to volunteer@thecrewvt.org with REBUILD or RESOURCE in the subject line, sharing a little about your construction or administrative experience, and they will follow up with you.
The work of the property owners and volunteers over the past month – and over the past year! – has again and again shown us all the power of community. It is overwhelming to experience repeat flooding, to experience flash flooding, to cope with disaster. But the community support, the volunteers, the outpouring of collective energy and effort we’ve all experienced here is what gives us all hope.
CReW is looking forward to helping our community learn, grow, and build back smarter from these disasters, and we’d love to have you join us!
~ Liz Schlegel, CReW vice chair
More information: thecrewvt.org