The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has set up disaster recovery centers in Vermont communities affected by severe flooding in mid-July. Governor Phil Scott has requested a second federal disaster declaration for the additional flooding that occurred at the end of last month. President Joe Biden approved the state’s request for a major disaster declaration for the flooding from Hurricane Beryl’s remnants on July 9-11, providing federal funding for recovery efforts. The state is also offering $7 million in grants to businesses impacted by this year’s flooding, along with $5 million approved in the past legislative session for those affected by last year’s storms.
While federal and state resources are crucial for recovery, Governor Scott acknowledges that they may not be enough to cover all the costs or make people whole. He has witnessed the toll of repeated flooding on municipal and family budgets during visits to affected communities like Lyndon, Plainfield, and Hardwick, as well as smaller rural towns hit by both storms in July. FEMA representatives are present in all seven counties and have opened disaster recovery centers in Barre, Plainfield, and Waterbury. More centers are planned for Lyndon, Addison, and Orleans counties. Roy encouraged flood victims to register with FEMA for assistance online, by phone, or in person at the centers.
State grants for businesses and nonprofits will cover 30% of net uncovered damages, according to Economic Development Commissioner Joan Goldstein, with applications opening soon. Those who received grant funding last year but still need assistance may be eligible for new funding. FEMA is currently operating on immediate needs funding until a budget is passed by Congress, limiting support for public assistance projects but still offering life-saving and life-sustaining measures and individual assistance. Housing or rental assistance, as well as repair funding, are available for eligible residents in seven counties affected by the mid-July storms.
FEMA’s disaster survivor assistance team has visited over 2,400 homes, with 375 Vermonters requesting home inspections and 235 inspections completed. More than 500 residents have applied for individual assistance, and the Small Business Administration has approved over $78,000 in disaster loans as of Tuesday. FEMA can provide funding for underinsured or uninsured residents with disaster-related expenses, in addition to support for eligible individuals or families in Addison, Caledonia, Chittenden, Essex, Lamoille, Orleans, and Washington counties whose homes were impacted by the mid-July storms. The portal for state grants for businesses and nonprofits opens Thursday, allowing those in need to seek financial assistance for recovery efforts.
