At the request of GovernorPeter Shumlin, officials with the Vermont Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (DEMHS) have asked the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to conduct a preliminary damage assessment (PDA) in Vermont counties impacted by last week’s severe winter storm. The state is asking for the assessment in an effort to qualify for federal public assistance to help cover the cost of cleanup and recovery from the storm.
Governor Shumlin surveys storm damage from the air. CourtesyVermont Electric Cooperative.
DEMHS Director Joe Flynn has asked FEMA Regional Administrator Paul Ford to send assessors to work with utilities and stateagency personnel to assess damages initially in Chittenden, Franklin, Lamoille, and Orleans counties. The letter from Flynn to Ford is attached.
“Under the federal Stafford Act, publicly owned and municipal utilities can be eligible for 75% federal reimbursement of restoration costs should the state and counties meet federal thresholds,” Director Flynn said.“A Public Assistance disaster declaration would also assist towns to pay for qualifying damages to public infrastructure and some response and recovery costs.”
“This storm was hard on tens of thousands of Vermonters, some of whom were in the dark for several days or more,” Shumlin said. “Private and municipal utilities spent millions of dollars replacing poles, paying crews, and hiring contractors from out of state in restoring power to Vermonters as quickly as they could. We believe FEMA will agree that the state and public utilities meet the thresholds for assistance.”
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The PDA request notes that snowfall impacted Vermont from December 9th forward, causing power outages affecting more than 100,000 households. More than 10,000 customers remained without electric service for several days.
To qualify for assistance Vermont must show at least $1-million in eligible costs; individual counties must also meet separate thresholds for assistance. Should the thresholds be met, Gov. Shumlin would forward a formal request to FEMA, who would then determine whether or not to recommend that President Barack Obama sign the declaration.
Source: State of Vermont 12.15.2014