Flood Recovery Update: Friday, Aug. 4
Town appoints Flood Recovery Coordinator
August 4, 2023 | By Lisa ScagliottiNote: This was updated on Aug. 5 with a link to a new state grant program for flood-affected businesses, nonprofits and farms.
The municipal building continues to be Waterbury’s flood recovery headquarters with supplies for building cleanup and mold mitigation, advice, and snacks for those working on projects.
The Waterbury Select Board meets Monday, July 31, in the Steele Room alongside flood-recovery supplies and equipment. Left to right in front: Kane Sweeny, Vice Chair Dani Kehlmann, Chair Roger Clapp; on the right are Mike Bard and Alyssa Johnson. Photo by Lisa Scagliotti
The effort has moved into a more targeted phase now as the Waterbury Select Board this week appointed Tom Drake as Flood Recovery Coordinator. The former Crossett Brook Middle School principal and a Randall Street resident who now has been through flooding in his own home twice, Drake has been helping out in the volunteer effort for the past couple of weeks. Liz Schlegel who had been one of the lead volunteer coordinators handed off organizing duties recently.
Municipal Manager Tom Leitz said he expects the responsibilities to be a full-time commitment through August with work tapering off afterwards.
According to a tally at the town offices meeting room, recovery organizers have tracked about 150 properties that were flood-damaged affecting up to about 400 households/families. Drake said the count does not specify the degree of damage. “Most of the impact was primarily basements,” he said.
The majority of structures were flooded by the Winooski River and Thatcher Brook overflowing along Main Street, Union Street, Elm and Randall, and U.S. Route 2.
Mold cleanup and remediation kits are available at the town offices. Photo by Lisa Scagliotti
The Recovery Team also has been working with a handful of homeowners in other parts of town, Drake said, where unusually heavy runoff flooded basements that had never before taken on water. For example, he said one Sweet Road homeowner experienced more than three feet of water in their basement for the first time living there for 23 years. “FEMA is working with those people as well,” he said.
Volunteer efforts are focusing on assisting some of those with more extensive damage that are still in need of cleanup and removal of building materials.
Drake is the contact monitoring the Waterburyhelp@gmail.com email to communicate with volunteers and those in need of assistance with recovery tasks.
Outside the town offices. Photo by Lisa Scagliotti
How to help and get help
The town website Waterburyvt.com has a resource document with helpful information about cleanup, registering for FEMA assistance, aid through the Waterbury Good Neighbor Fund and more.
It also has a link to the online signup form where volunteers may sign up to help with daily projects in specific homes or buildings. Currently there are shifts today (Friday, Aug. 4) and Saturday, Aug. 5, where volunteers are needed.
Tasks now include hands-on work such as cleanup, hauling and mold mitigation. Other help is needed to assist homeowners with forms and processing of insurance and various forms and applications for financial assistance.
Anyone who would like help with recovery-related tasks should send an email to Waterburyhelp@gmail.com or leave a message at 802-585-1152.
Humidifier roundup
If you still have a heavy-duty dehumidifier that the town provided, please let Tom Drake know to keep track. Photo by Lisa Scagliotti
The town government has rented 20 heavy-duty dehumidifiers that have been deployed to basements across the flood zone for property owners to use free of charge. Many have been returned.
As buildings are dried out, they ask that the units be returned to the town offices. Pickup can be arranged as well. Drake says that 2 or 3 units are unaccounted for, likely having moved to a new location when the initial user finished with them. He asks if those still using a unit or with one to check in via email or phone to let him know where they are so they can be picked up when they are no longer needed. The town is paying the rental fees for the units and would like to return them in a timely manner.
Contact Drake at 802-760-0613 or email to Waterburyhelp@gmail.com.
Dumpsters leaving soon
The Select Board this week decided that large trash containers would remain through this week. They likely will be removed by Casella after this weekend. They are for flood-related debris. Any hazardous waste items should not be placed in these containers. The former state police barracks in Middlesex on Rt. 2 is a collection site for hazardous materials. Read more about that in the July 30 Flood Update.
FEMA center
Flood recovery supplies can be found outside and inside the Waterbury municipal building. Photo by Lisa Scagliotti
Federal Emergency Management Agency staffers continue to work at the Armory building daily, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Anyone with flood damage – residents and businesses – is reminded to register with FEMA.
More details on preparing to open a FEMA application, etc. are online in the town resource document.
Local financial assistance
See the July 30 Flood Update for details on the Good Neighbor Fund and the new 2023 Waterbury Relief Fund organized by Revitalizing Waterbury. RW’s announcement of that fund is here as well with a call for volunteers to assist with the process to manage the fund and its grants.
State grants for businesses including nonprofits
Gov. Phil Scott and the Vermont Department of Economic Development this week announced the opening of the $20 million Business Emergency Gap Assistance grant program for flood-affected businesses. The grant application portal is open with information about the process online. The program is open to for-profit and nonprofit companies as well as farms.
Read more about the program in Business.
See all recent Waterbury Roundabout Flood Updates in the News section.