Vermont to receive federal relief money for Tropical Storm Debby

Correction: Vermont was granted a federal emergency declaration on Aug. 9. A previous version of this article misrepresented the type of federal declaration the state received.

Vermont is set to receive emergency federal relief dollars to respond to damage arising from Tropical Depression Debby, which blew through the Green Mountain State on Friday, Aug. 9, and left thousands without power over the weekend.

Thanks to the federal emergency declaration — announced Friday morning by President Joe Biden — the Federal Emergency Management Agency will coordinate and provide impacted Vermonters across all 14 counties resources to "save lives, to protect property, public health and safety and to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe," according to an Aug. 9 press release from FEMA.

"Specifically, FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize and provide, at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency," the press release said.

Compared to a major disaster declaration , an emergency declaration provides funding to help states prepare for a disaster — such purchasing sandbags and road closure signs — rather than cover the costs of infrastructure or home damage accumulated in the aftermath of the event (as would be authorized under a major disaster declaration).

Which counties are covered by the emergency declaration?

Under the declaration, Caledonia, Essex, Orange and Windsor counties are eligible for "direct federal assistance and reimbursement for mass care" that will cover 75% of emergency-related costs.

Vermont's other 10 counties — Addison, Bennington, Chittenden, Franklin, Grand Isle, Lamoille, Orleans, Rutland, Washington and Windham — also qualify for 75% coverage but only for direct federal assistance.

Vermont's third federal declaration of the year

Friday's announcement marks Vermont's third federal declaration this year and the fifth within the last 15 months. 2024's first major disaster declaration occurred in March and targeted damages acquired from severe flooding and storms in mid-December. FEMA approved a major second disaster declaration just over a month later to address consequences of the January storms that wiped out power in five Vermont counties .

Vermont government officials are also seeking a federal disaster declaration for the July 29-30 floods that devastated the Northeast Kingdom.

Megan Stewart is a government accountability reporter for the Burlington Free Press. Contact her at mstewartyounger@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Vermont to receive federal relief money for Tropical Storm Debby