2023 Flood Event Resources

We recognize that you may be facing challenges during this difficult time, and we want to provide you with some resources we’ve received that may be of use:

For further resources, reporting flood damage, you can dial 211, text your zip code to 211, or visit vermont211.org.

To help with the aftermath and clean-up – Community members can sign up to volunteer @ https://www.vermont.gov/volunteer#gsc.tab=0

If your municipality has volunteer needs, you should email them to volunteer@vermont.gov. You can direct individuals interested in volunteering to the state’s website.

Public assistance FEMA DR4720 FLOOD INFORMATION all in one spot!

All counties in Vermont declared for Public Assistance except for Grand Isle, Franklin and Essex. This means that in those counties those town organizations, State agencies, Schools, and certain non-profit organizations affected by the storm will be eligible for up to 75% federal share in recovery costs to rebuild again.

After you attend an applicant’s briefing next week and register for DR4720 in the FEMA Grants Portal, you will be assigned a FEMA program delivery manager and a STATE Public Assistance Coordinator to help you through the process. You may also be assigned a Guidehouse Contract Consultant that helped applicants during the Covid disaster. Please do not do anything other than registering for Public Assistance for DR4720, until you have been asked.

Regarding FEMA Public Assistance the state has put together a website full of information including a general questions answered, how to apply for the PA program, the schedule for next week’s applicant briefings, FEMA’s current equipment rate sheet and more!!! Please visit this site.

This Public Assistance website can be found here FEMA Public Assistance (PA) FAQs | Vermont League of Cities and Towns (vlct.org)

If you still have further questions, reach out to email address at ADM.2023FLOODS@VERMONT.GOV and they will get back to you.

FEMA Public Assistance Tips

While we are likely weeks away from seeing FEMA officials on the ground to conduct public assistance visits, it’s never too early to be prepared. A few important reminders:

Document everything – this includes taking A LOT of pictures and getting GPS coordinates! Organize your documentation by road (or road sections), bridge, etc.
Track all expenses for this event in your general ledger – this includes staff time and equipment use.
Keep detailed timesheets that show which hours were charged to this event, how (which road or road sections, bridges, administration etc.), and what pieces of equipment were used during these hours. Keep digital copies of these time sheets with your documentation.
Learn more about what FEMA will be looking for in the Applicant’s Guide for Submitting Public Assistance Documents and download the FEMA Public Assistance Checklist.
Beware of having contractors conduct more than $250,000 of contract work without a proper procurement processes. (See How to Avoid the Top 10 Procurement Under Grant Mistakes and FEMA Grant Contracting FAQs.)
Make sure your municipality has a Unique Entity Identification (UEI, formerly known as DUNS number) and an active registration with SAM.gov now – don’t wait.

Towns may use FEMA’s Public Assistance Project Templates to help track work. You may wish to study up on what Public Assistance is and how it will help your community recover costs. Lastly, municipalities are encouraged to hire contractors, using well-constructed contracts that include appropriate risk management and insurance requirements, such as those found here

Below is additional information that may be helpful to towns that have not participated in the FEMA Public Assistance program recently or just need a refresher.

There are a few short FEMA documents that may assist the cities/towns for a quick reference.

If you have time and need more detailed information, a 276-page policy document on everything Public Assistance is contained in FEMA’s PAPPG Version 4 (Public Assistance Program and Policy Guide)

ATTACHMENTS INCLUDE:

SBA Business Recovery Centers (BRCs) will open on Tuesday, July 18 at 8 a.m., at the Vermont Chamber of Commerce in Berlin. SBA Customer Service Representatives at the Center will assist business owners and residents in filling out a disaster loan application, accept documents for existing applications, and provide updates on an application’s status. The center will operate as indicated below until further notice:

Business Recovery Center Washington County
Vermont Chamber of Commerce, 751 Granger Road – Berlin, VT 05641
Opening: Tuesday, July 18, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. – Hours: Monday to Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m

The online application is available here.

Post flood procedures for Zoning Administrators (ZA) and Administrative Officers (AO)
Many towns in Central Vermont have been hit hard by recent flooding, many properties have sustained flood damage. Other than quick emergency level repairs, permanent repairs/improvement work in the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) needs to be permitted where appropriate by the Town. Additionally, municipalities in the NFIP are required to perform Substantial Damage determinations for structures in the SFHA.
Do you have questions about administering your towns flood hazard bylaws in the wake of a flood? CVRPC will be hosting a series of drop in sessions for Zoning Administrators (ZA) and Administrative Officers (AO) over the next few days to help local officials navigate post flood procedures for Zoning Administrators and Administrative Officers. Contact us at cvrpc@cvregion.com for more info

In addition, a team of committed and flexible translators put out a video about flooding and how to take care of yourself within 24 hours of the Governor calling for a State of Emergency.

Arabic. https://youtu.be/vm15hdu30MY

Burmese.https://youtu.be/L3_4-0nopms

Dari https://youtu.be/vIzTzN6lK0I

English ( Closed Captions). https://youtu.be/uglF3z4nhqM

French. https://youtu.be/QHucKqz9XYc

Kirundi. https://youtu.be/lddRLJZmQ4E

Maay Maay. https://youtu.be/oi5Rr6ckbio

Mandarin. https://youtu.be/2llcoxBIBx8

Nepali https://youtu.be/8xVgXmuSsqE

Pashto https://youtu.be/6SHPyhmjN2o

Somali. https://youtu.be/L2HyxM80LJ4

Spanish. https://youtu.be/tEM-ZqQXdWE

Swahili. https://youtu.be/KYiEJARk-is

Vietnamese. https://youtu.be/49MYAW-GtTk

Tigrinia. https://youtu.be/20PI19j67Mo

Ukrainian. https://youtu.be/uZ47vSXK_m4

Play list of all the videos. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtGuM3wrBhc&list=PL0uaGz81U–7XiSGftCBdoSMS29hPv3il

SCRIPT FOR ABOVE:

Staying safe during a flood and very heavy rainfall.

When there is a lot of rain that falls in a short period of time, certain parts of Vermont can become flooded. In Vermont right now there are many areas that are experiencing flooding. Here is some very important information to keep you and your family safe.

Do not drive or walk around barriers in the road that tell you not to enter.

Do not drive or walk through roads that say they are closed.

Do not drive or walk through floodwaters. The water can be much deeper than it seems. The water can hide deep holes in the road or sidewalk and carry trash. The water can be fast moving and powerful. It can even sweep you and your car away. If you see floodwater, turn around and do not go through it.

If your car stops in water, get out of the car and move to higher ground. If possible, avoid driving at night when it is hard to see.

Stay away from fallen electricity lines. Electricity can travel through water and hurt or kill you.

If there is water coming near your house, don’t wait – get out and move to higher ground.

If you can turn off your electricity safely before you leave, do it

When you leave your house, find higher ground. Plan that route now so you are ready for whenever there may be flooding.

If you touch flood water, wash your hands with soap and clean hot water. Do not eat or drink anything that has touched flood water.

Do not go into a home that is flooded unless you are sure that the power has been turned off.
Be safe. Do not take risks.