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Summer 2023 Severe Flooding Emergency Response & Recovery

Following the flooding event from July 7-12, 2023, President Biden approved Governor Phil Scott’s request for a major disaster declaration for Vermont to assist individuals, businesses, and communities recover. The declaration covers Chittenden, Lamoille, Rutland, Washington, Windham, and Winsor Counties. The contiguous counties of Addison, Bennington, Caledonia, Franklin, Grand Isle, Orange, and Orleans are eligible for certain limited assistance. Evaluations by FEMA and other federal and state officials continue and other areas may be added to the declaration. Also, the declaration dates remain open-ended in case further weather events occur.  

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO REPORT ANY AND ALL STORM DAMAGE BY CALLING 211 OR REPORT ONLINE AT VERMONT211.ORG. Businesses, individuals, residents, non-profits should all report.  211 does not provide resources or assistance; it is a way for Vermont to collect damage reports so that decision can be made regarding federal disaster declarations. Your reporting will also be used to follow up with you to provide information on resources and assistance.

Business Emergency Gap Assistance Program

The Department of Economic Development has launched the Business Emergency Gap Assistance Program to help businesses and nonprofits that suffered physical losses from the flood.  The application portal for the $20 million state funded grant program in now open.  Visit the Business Emergency Gap Assistance Program web page for more details and to apply.

 

State of Vermont Flood resource Page: https://www.vermont.gov/flood

Agency of Commerce and Community Development Resource Page: https://accd.vermont.gov/flood

Vermont Small Business Development center: Technical Assistance and Flood Resources for Businesses: https://www.vtsbdc.org/flood-2023/

Federal Assistance for Businesses

Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration are available to businesses and residents in Vermont following the announcement of a Presidential disaster declaration due to damages from severe storms and flooding that began on July 7. 

The disaster declaration covers Chittenden, Lamoille, Rutland, Washington, Windham and Windsor counties in Vermont, which are eligible for both Physical and Economic Injury Disaster Loans from the SBA. Small businesses and most private nonprofit organizations in the following adjacent counties are eligible to apply only for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans: Addison, Bennington, Caledonia, Franklin, Grand Isle, Orange and Orleans in Vermont; Franklin in Massachusetts; Cheshire, Grafton and Sullivan in New Hampshire; and Clinton, Essex and Washington in New York. 

Disaster survivors should not wait to settle with their insurance company before applying for a disaster loan. If a survivor does not know how much of their loss will be covered by insurance or other sources, SBA can make a low-interest disaster loan for the total loss up to its loan limits, provided the borrower agrees to use insurance proceeds to reduce or repay the loan. 

The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is Sept. 12, 2023. The deadline to return economic injury applications is April 15, 2024.

For more information, click here.

For SBA Business Information Flyers in English and Spanish, click here.

For Farmers and Agricultural Producers

The Governor has requested that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) issue a disaster designation for the State of Vermont to open the availability of low-interest USDA Farm Service Agency emergency loans to farms and farmers. As of July 21, that designation has not been issued.

For Information for farmers and producers, click here.

  • If your farm has sustained damage, report your losses to the Farm Service Agency. You can email agr.floodresponse@vermont.gov or call 802-828-5667.
     
  • There are also multiple funds that you can apply to now. Farmers can request up to $5,000 in grants from the Farmer Emergency Fund and can apply for up to $10,000 in emergency loans from the Vermont Farm Fund. 

For Restaurants

The Vermont Department of Health (VDH) has issued guidance for restaurants on reopening after a flood. VDH also released specific guidance related to reopening and operating under a boil water notice. This guidance is part of VDH’s Food and Lodging Program.

Unemployment Insurance Information

Vermont has been authorized to offer Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA). DUA is a federal program designed to help people who lost their jobs because of a natural disaster. This program gives temporary money to those who don’t qualify for regular unemployment benefits.

  • Before you can apply for DUA, you must apply for regular unemployment benefits first. If you do not qualify, the Department of Labor will provide you with the application for DUA. - File an initial claim
     
  • Claimants have 31 days to apply for DUA from the date the claimant's county was announced as a major disaster area (If the due date falls on a weekend, the last day to file will be the following Monday). Counties and dates of announcement are listed below. The Department will let you back date your claim to the week of July 9th to July 15th, 2023, which is the first week of eligibility.

VT DOL - Disaster Unemployment Assistance page: https://labor.vermont.gov/dua

DUA Fact Sheet - https://labor.vermont.gov/sites/labor/files/doc_library/DUA_FactSheet.pdf

Dept of Labor FAQs - https://labor.vermont.gov/sites/labor/files/doc_library/DUA%20Frequently%20Asked%20Questions.pdf

DUA process - https://labor.vermont.gov/sites/labor/files/doc_library/Disaster%20Unemployment%20Assistance%20%282%29.pdf

Vt Tax Department Information

VT taxpayers impacted by flooding and unable to meet Vermont tax deadlines occurring between July 7, 2023, and November 15, 2023, will now have until November 15, 2023, to file and pay taxes. Due dates between July 7, 2023, and November 15, 2023, will automatically be extended for taxpayers impacted by the flooding. For more details, click here. 

To Volunteer or Donate

Volunteer Resources

Donate to Storm Recovery Efforts

Other Resources

VAR Disaster Relief Fund – Provides up to $500 grants in immediate financial assistance for Vermonters impacted by the floods. Grants are first-come first-served. Applications can be submitted via this web portal.


VAR Relief Foundation – Provides financial assistance within 4-5 weeks for homeownership-related challenges, including support for renters. Assistance is available to qualified applicants towards one of the following options: 1) Monthly mortgage expense for the primary residence that was damaged by the Flooding Disaster or; 2) Rental cost due to displacement from the primary residence resulting from the Flooding Disaster or; 3) Hotel reimbursement due to displacement from the primary residence resulting from the Flooding Disaster. Relief assistance is limited to a maximum of $2,000 per household. Deadline for application submission is October 31, 2023. The following is not covered by this program: expenses including second mortgages (home equity lines or loans), clothing, appliances, equipment, vehicle purchase, rental or repair and or mileage are ineligible for reimbursement under this program. To apply for funding, complete this PDF application. It can either be printed, filled out and mailed to Vermont AOR 148 State Street Montpelier, Vermont 05602 or completed electronically and emailed to floodrelief@vermontrealtors.com.

USDA Resources: vt-disaster-relief-summerflood-072023.pdf (usda.gov)

FLOOD SAFETY RESOURCES

VT Emergency Alert System - sign up to receive emergency alert notices for your area

National Weather Service - for weather updates & alerts

VT Emergency Management - public safety emergency information

VT Department of Health - guidance, in multiple languages, about how to stay safe before, during, and after a flood

VT Agency of Natural Resources - information on drinking water notices & safety, landslide activity, dams status

VT Agency of Transportation - current road conditions in Vermont

New England 511 - state road closures throughout Vermont & New England. For local road conditions, check with individual towns.

Vermont Language Justice Project - information on staying safe during a flood in 17 different languages

FLOOD RECOVERY RESOURCES

Vermont 211 - report flood damage and find housing & social service assistance

Federal Emergency Management Assistance (FEMA) - individual & business assistance for areas with an approved disaster declaration

VT Agency of Agriculture - federal & state assistance for farmers who have lost crops, livestock, or had infrastructure damage

VT Agency of Commerce & Community Development and VT Small Business Development Center - resources for small businesses

VT Department of Labor - information on Disaster Unemployment Assistance for individuals who've lost jobs due to flooding

VT League of Cities and Towns - information on assistance for municipalities

VT Consumer Assistance Program - information on avoiding scams while applying for assistance or making donations

VT Department of Financial Regulation - information on flood insurance resources

Vermont Foodbank - food assistance information

Vermont Arts & Culture Disaster and Resilience Network - resources for arts & cultural organizations

VT Crowd-Sourced Flood Resource List - many helpful links, phone numbers, and information for flood-impacted areas