This week, on the second anniversary of Tropical Storm Irene VPR is completing work on our Mapping the Money Project. Our online interactive maps and charts show how much money was spent on Irene recovery and how and where it was spent.
By far, the lion’s share of the relief money went to rebuilt state and town roads and bridges.
"We pushed the envelope," Minter says.
Additionally millions of federal dollars has been devoted to helping individuals and families.
Deputy Transportation Secretary Sue Minter was Irene Recovery Officer when much of the work was going on.
This week, VPR’s Steve Zind sat down with Minter to talk about the numbers and the impact they’ve had on the state.
Minter says there were many discussions with FEMA over the extent to which it would pay for work to damaged infrastructure, including upgrading it to withstand future flooding. In the end, Minter says, the state got what it wanted.
“We came out with bridges, culverts and roads that were stronger in meeting our state standards, which are a higher standard,” she says. “We did appeal several of [FEMA’s] decisions and after several rounds of appeal actually were very successful.”
When it comes to assisting individuals and families in Irene recovery, Minter acknowledges there are still Vermonters who are rebuilding from the storm and those who did not receive the help they hoped for.
She says some people bumped up against the limits of FEMA funding and the rules governing how money could be spent, but she says the state was aggressive in pursuing federal dollars available to help families.
“We pushed the envelope,” Minter says. Where FEMA couldn’t help, Minter says many state and local organizations stepped in to provide assistance.
Minter says she’s pleased with how far the state has come in rebuilding after Irene and preparing for future disasters. When she looks back at her time as Irene Recovery Officer, she says, “I wondered if we would ever get to this place. I know there are still people who have outstanding needs, but we really have come so far. “
