Several northern Vermont towns experienced heavy rains, flash flooding, and washed-out roads over the long Memorial Day weekend. Many of those towns turned to their municipal websites as a way to get emergency information out to residents. Even after the flooding, towns are using their home pages to provide updates on road repairs and encourage residents to report damage for the federal assessment that will determine eligibility for federal emergency assistance.
The state must show at least $1 million in damages to be considered for a Public Assistance disaster declaration. Underhill officials are estimating that town alone has $2 million in damages.
In addition, individual counties need to show damages to roads, bridges, and other public property equaling or exceeding $3.45 per capita. Even if the state and counties meet those monetary requirements, any disaster request is subject to the recommendation of FEMA and approval of President Obama.
In Chittenden County, the hardest hit in last week’s storms, the damage will need to exceed $550,000 to qualify for consideration. Lamoille and Essex counties are also undergoing federal damage assessments.
On the Town of Essex website the Public Works Department estimates the damage to town roads between $350,000 and $500,000.
Crews and contractors are working to get the roads open but the damage is so extensive that it will require weeks of effort to fully restore access. The plan is to open all roads and driveways to a least single lane access by the end of Saturday, May 25, 2013. The one exception will be Weed between VT Route 15 and Sleepy Hollow Road, which requires extensive rebuilding and will not be open for many weeks.
Essex is also informed residents, via its website, that the Memorial Day parade has been postponed until June 1.
Jericho is using its website to update residents on road closures and to remind people to report problem areas to the town.
Underhill is putting out the call on its website for residents to inform the town about flood-related property damage, in the event individual federal assistance is granted.
If you have suffered damage to your home or property, please contact the Town Administrator Dawna Brisson at 899-4434 option 7 or email underhillvt@comcast.net Please provide your name, address, phone#, brief description of the damages, and a cost estimate to repair. Please document your damages, take pictures, contact your insurance carrier, and keep good records of the repairs. Please pass the word to others as we are trying to collect the data to submit to the State, so they can determine if individual federal assistance will be available or not. Thank You.
FEMA crews visited Chittenden and Lamoille counties this week, but their findings have yet to be released. On Thursday, Vermont Emergency Management announced the state is also requesting a federal assessment in Essex County. There the per capita damage requirement there will be nearly $22,000.
