Vermont Business Magazine President Joseph Biden on Saturday declared that a major disaster exists in the State of Vermont and ordered Federal assistance to supplement state, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by a severe storm and flooding from December 18 to December 19, 2023.
Governor Scott made a formal request for the designation on February 20, 2024. The aid is to help communities in Essex, Lamoille, Orange, Orleans, Rutland, Windham, and Windsor counties recover costs for repair of public infrastructure damage.
Scott said, “I appreciate the Federal government’s quick response to the flooding disasters we’ve faced over the last several months. Between the July, August and December flooding, we have a long road ahead and my team will continue to do all we can to help with recovery, and support mitigation that will better secure communities in the future.”
Applicant briefings will be held for those towns seeking reimbursement; those will be held in person and online.
March 7 & 11, 9:00 a.m.: Online (contact [email protected] for information)
March 13, 10:30 a.m.: Vermont Agency of Transportation District Office, 224 Beswick Drive, White River Junction
March 14, 10:30 a.m.: Vermont Agency of Transportation Office, 61 Valley View Suite #2, Mendon
Federal funding is available to state, tribal, and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe storm and flooding in the counties of Essex, Lamoille, Orange, Orleans, Rutland, Windham, and Windsor.
Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.
William F. Roy of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has been appointed to coordinate Federal recovery operations in the affected areas. Roy was a familiar figure during Governor Scott's press conferences following the July 2023 flooding.
A federal Major Disaster Declaration unlocks Federal Emergency Management Agency Public Assistance Program funding to reimburse municipalities for 75% of eligible costs like debris removal, road and public building repairs, and staff overtime responding to and cleaning up after the storm.
Federal assessors identified more than $1.9 million in costs incurred by public entities statewide for repairs to public infrastructure. This figure exceeds the minimum amount of program-eligible costs ($1.2 million) the state must show to qualify for a Public Assistance disaster declaration.
Storm-related costs in Essex, Lamoille, Orange, Orleans, Rutland, Windham, and Windsor counties also exceeded the minimum per-capita amount they must show to qualify.
The declaration also unlocks funds from the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP). That funding can be used to provide 75% reimbursement for projects anywhere in the state that reduce the likelihood of damage to public infrastructure in future disasters.
Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.
Source: White House 3.2.2024.
