Updated at 5:49 p.m.
Days after floods ravaged Vermont, and with more severe weather in the forecast, Gov. Phil Scott is seeking an additional major disaster declaration from the White House, which — if approved — could open up the state to receive even more federal disaster relief funds.
Scott announced his intentions to seek the additional federal aid at a Thursday morning press briefing, one day after officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, traveled to Vermont to assess the flood’s catastrophic damage, trudging through Barre City’s mud-covered streets.
By Thursday afternoon, his request was on its way to President Joe Biden’s desk.
“The disaster declaration is one of the reasons it was important to have (FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell) and members of her team here yesterday to see the enormous needs we have as we move forward,” Scott told reporters.
The major disaster declaration sought by the governor is separate from a disaster declaration already approved by Biden on Tuesday. The approved declaration has helped to deploy FEMA response resources to the state, with the feds picking up 75% of the tab.
An additional declaration would offer federal resources, and potentially millions of dollars, as Vermont moves from its emergency response toward recovery.
In response to a question Thursday morning, Scott declined to estimate how many federal dollars could come Vermont’s way if Biden approves his request.
“It would be a guess and I don’t think I should be guessing,” Scott said. “There’s so much damage that we haven’t seen yet locally, and so much residential damage and business damage and so forth.”
Vermont’s farms have also been rocked by this week’s floods, though federal aid to farmers would be approved through a separate disaster declaration issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Vermont officials last month requested one such declaration from USDA, after a late spring frost decimated millions of dollars in fruit crops.
If approved, a major disaster declaration could be two-pronged. For one, it could bring federal dollars for public assistance, meaning repairs to vital infrastructure.
Additionally, it could deploy funds to Vermonters who suffered financial losses due to the floods — in many cases, Vermonters whose homes were severely damaged. Under the Stafford Act, each household may be eligible for up to roughly $41,000 to help cover un- or under-insured damages.
In his eight-page letter to Biden on Thursday, Scott requested both public and individual assistance.
“For many Vermont communities, this statewide storm is the worst disaster in living memory, including Tropical Storm Irene,” Scott wrote. “The magnitude and severity of the damage will clearly exceed the capabilities of the State and affected local governments without federal assistance.”
Depending on what Biden approves, individuals could become eligible for so-called “other needs” assistance, also maxing out at $41,000. That allocation could help cover the cost of medical bills, a destroyed car, and other losses suffered outside of the home. Vermonters may also be eligible for FEMA dollars to help pay for hotel or motel shelter, if their homes are uninhabitable.
That means between money available for home damages and other needs assistance, each household could receive — if Scott’s request is approved — up to about $82,000. Vermonters would need to apply individually to receive any direct assistance.
For both public and individual assistance, Vermont’s losses must meet a threshold to qualify for aid, state officials told VTDigger Thursday.
In the meantime, officials urged Vermonters facing property loss to fastidiously document their losses, saving receipts and taking photos of the damage. Vermonters do not need to wait to begin cleaning up their homes, but should take photos first.
Flood damage such as this week’s can wreak havoc on buildings, the damage rendering them inhabitable. Violent waters can leave buildings structurally unsound, make them susceptible to dangerous mold and mildew, or damage their electrical systems. Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety Daniel Batsie told reporters that the state’s Division of Fire Safety is preparing to deploy structural engineers who can begin inspecting buildings for such damages.
For any federal aid issued to Vermont, the state likely must put forward match dollars to help cover the costs. How much is required of the state depends on the amount of damage incurred.
In its latest budget cycle, state legislators set aside $15 million for the state’s so-called FEMA reserve, but a significant portion of that money is already spoken for to cover past claims, Secretary of Administration Kristin Clouser said Thursday.
“We do have rainy day funds and other funds we can move around, but this wasn’t something we planned for,” Scott told reporters.
Numerous municipalities are still under water boil notices as of Thursday afternoon. FEMA delivered a total of 110 pallets of drinking water to Vermont Thursday afternoon, and the Vermont National Guard is distributing them to Ludlow, Marshfield, Woodstock and Morrisville, Scott’s spokesperson Jason Maulucci told VTDigger.
Additionally, Colonel Tracey Poirier, the Vermont National Guard’s director of the joint staff, said the Guard has “water containment vessels” currently being inspected for use, but the Guard has no water production capabilities of its own. For that, she said Vermont could seek resources from the U.S. Army, if necessary.
U.S. Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., who was among the officials who toured the flood damage Wednesday, made a plea to his colleagues in a speech on the Senate floor after returning to Washington, D.C. that night. “Vermont needs help now,” Welch said.
“(S)o many Vermonters have suffered very significant loss. They’ve got to have some help,” he said. “We’ve got a job here, and we’ve got to do that which only the federal government can do, and that’s provide those financial resources to help folks when there’s been a weather emergency where they live. And if there’s any base-level function of government, it’s to stand up and help folks.”
