Awaiting federal declaration, state forges ahead with Vermont’s flood cleanup

Two weeks after this month’s catastrophic flooding event, Vermont is still waiting on the federal government to issue possible disaster declarations, which could release significant funding to support recovery efforts.

In the meantime, Vermont officials are taking matters into their own hands, establishing state-run disaster recovery centers and exploring ways to redirect state funds in this year’s budget to quickly aid Vermonters in their recovery.

That’s not to say that the feds are absent. Rather, Gov. Phil Scott told reporters Wednesday, the Federal Emergency Management Agency is “moving in a more traditional path,” compared to its expedited response to last summer’s flooding, which he said was quicker due to robust media coverage of that event.

Since last Thursday , FEMA officials have been conducting damage assessments in eight Vermont counties to see whether the state qualifies for an emergency declaration.

“While it may seem like it’s taking a while for damage to be assessed, it’s important to remember it’s only been two weeks since the storm,” Scott said Wednesday.

Still, he acknowledged, “for many, two weeks feels like a very, very long time,” so the state has been forging ahead on its own. Namely, on Wednesday it began to open four of its own disaster recovery centers , modeled after those stood up by the Federal Emergency Management Agency in the wake of last year’s floods.

Those state-run centers are located in Barre, Hinesburg, Lyndonville and Plainfield, and are expected to remain open for about three weeks. Vermonters can visit them in order to receive assistance in documenting flood damage, filing reports with 211, connecting with volunteer groups, or receiving basic medical and mental health treatment.

“I encourage anyone who is impacted by the flooding to take advantage of this resource,” Public Safety Commissioner Jennifer Morrison said Wednesday. “Whether you are an impacted resident, a responder assisting with the aftermath or anyone feeling overwhelmed by recent events, you can stop by and have a snack and a bottle of water, provided by the American Red Cross, and talk to a trained professional.”

As the state awaits word on potential federal funding, Scott said, it’s exploring ways to redirect state money to recovery efforts before legislators return to the Statehouse in January. The governor said he met with state economist Jeff Carr last week to review the state’s finances, and the updated fiscal forecast was “generally good.”

In order to draw on funds from this year’s state budget, though, Scott said he would need the blessing of legislators on the powerful Emergency Board — composed of the governor and chairs of the Legislature’s budget-writing and tax committees.

“There’s not an appropriation to be made for that unless we change the current path for money that is spent,” Scott told reporters. “We can’t just spend new money.”

With the Emergency Board already scheduled to meet next week, Scott said he did not foresee the need to call a special legislative session in order to rework the budget. He said the greatest areas of need for state aid were flooded businesses and, as always, housing, including manufactured homes.

“We have been challenged by housing for a number of years,” Scott said. “As we know, the last flood exacerbated that, and this flood did, as well. So we need to do something now.”

Scott did not provide additional detail about how much state funding he would seek for flood recovery nor how it would be spent.

State officials are continuing flood response work in other areas, too. According to Morrison, the 211 system has received 2,215 reports of residential flood damage across the state, and 244 reports of flood-damaged businesses. Should Vermont receive a federal disaster declaration, residents of any counties that qualify for individual aid would have to apply for it through FEMA directly, Morrison emphasized, even if they had already reported damage to 211.

Vermont is down to three flood-related state road closures, from a peak of 54 immediately after the flood, Transportation Secretary Joe Flynn told reporters Wednesday. Those remaining closures — in Barnet, Duxbury and St. Johnsbury — are due to damaged bridges. According to Flynn, the state suffered “severe damage” to its roadways — enough to qualify for aid through the Federal Highway Administration’s emergency relief program.

State officials are also hustling to coordinate flood debris removal and state reimbursements to municipalities for that removal. Morrison directed Vermonters to remove flood-soiled debris from their homes and businesses by next week, when debris is “likely” to be picked up around the state. She directed Vermonters to follow local guidance on where to place their debris.

“In the meantime, clean up, dry out and get that debris to the right-of-way,” Morrison said.

Read the story on VTDigger here: Awaiting federal declaration, state forges ahead with Vermont’s flood cleanup .