Flood Recovery Resources

Dear Fellow Vermonter,

On July 10, exactly one year after the worst Vermont flooding in nearly a century, a number of Vermont communities were, once again, hit by floods.

Some of the hardest hit towns were Barre, Barton, Hardwick, Johnson, Lyndon, Middlesex, Moretown, Plainfield, Richmond, Sheffield, St. Johnsbury, Waterbury, Peacham, and Barnet.

What makes this year’s flooding so awful is not just the significant damage done to homes, businesses, and infrastructure. But the reality that many of the people recently impacted were the same exact people who had to deal with the floods of a year ago.

These folks spent a year struggling to get back on their feet – and now they have to start all over again.

Needless to say, my office will do all that we can to bring federal resources into the state to help impacted communities recover as quickly as possible. I have spoken to FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell about the role that FEMA can play, and my staff is working hard to coordinate federal, state, and local efforts.

In the midst of these local disasters, we should not lose sight of the fact that these extreme weather disturbances are becoming more and more frequent not just in Vermont, not just in the United States, but all over the world. We're talking about more and more floods, drought, forest fires, and other destructive occurrences. And that is clearly the result of climate change. Just today, Tuesday, the Washington Post had a headline stating: “Sunday was the hottest day ever recorded on Earth, scientists say.” That’s scary stuff. And that’s why the United States and countries throughout the world have got to work together in an urgent manner to transform our energy systems away from fossil fuels into energy efficiency and sustainable energy. The future of the planet is at stake. For the sake of our kids and future generations, we cannot fail.

Please read on below to find a helpful compilation of flood resources and please do not hesitate to contact my office if you think we can be of help. Our toll free number is 1-800-339-9834.

Sincerely,  

Senator Bernie Sanders surveying flood damage with Town Clerk Bram Towbin in Plainfield.

Senator Bernie Sanders meeting with community members and surveying flood damage in Barre. 

Resources

Getting Started

• July 2024 Vermont Flood Resources Compiled: We have compiled some helpful resources below, but you can also find information and resources online HERE.
  
  
• REMEMBER **Report All Damage to Vermont 211**: Vermonters, businesses, and communities impacted by the July 2024 flood should report all damage to Vermont 211. These reports will be critical to Vermont potentially qualifying for federal funding and assistance. Vermont 211 can also refer you to resources to address basic needs, like food and shelter. You can reach Vermont 211 by calling or texting 2-1-1 or visiting their website at https://vermont211.org/
  
  
• Vermont Flood Recovery Centers: Flood Recovery Centers serve as a one-stop shop location where organizations come together to answer questions and help Vermonters navigate the recovery process. These centers are open to all residents from throughout the state and are open to the public from 9:30am – 6:00pm unless otherwise noted. To find a Flood Recovery Center near you, see here: https://vem.vermont.gov/flood/marc
  
  
• Translated Flood Recovery Information: For translations of flood resources, see here: https://vem.vermont.gov/flood/translation
  
  

Basic Needs

• Community Action Agencies: Community Action Agencies help lower-income Vermonters meet their basic needs. Learn more here: https://dcf.vermont.gov/contacts/partners/caps
  
  
• Food Shelves: Vermont Foodbank partners with over 200 food shelves, meal sites, and organizations providing food assistance throughout the state. These organizations work closely with Vermont Foodbank to provide food to nourish neighbors facing hunger. Find a local food shelf near you here: https://www.vtfoodbank.org/access-food/find-a-food-shelf/
  
  
• Free Summer Meals for Children: Summer meals help fill the gap when school is out and ensure that children come back to school well-nourished and ready to learn. At summer meal sites, all children 0-18 eat for free – no paperwork, no registration, no I.D. needed. Find a summer meal site here: https://www.hungerfreevt.org/summer-meals
  
  
• Unemployment Benefits: Unemployment Insurance has been in existence since 1939. The purpose of unemployment insurance benefits is to provide short term replacement of lost wages to individuals who lose their jobs through no fault of their own. Learn more here: https://labor.vermont.gov/unemployment-insurance
  
  
• Area Agencies on Aging (AAA): AAA's provide information, resources, and support to Vermonters age 60+ and their families. Learn more here: https://dcf.vermont.gov/contacts/partners/aaa
  
  

Cleanup and Recovery 

• Returning Home Safely After a Flood: Flood damage isn’t always noticeable right away and oftentimes it can be dangerous when not approached correctly. Flooding can affect the safety of your drinking water, your electricity, your food, your air, and of course the structural integrity of your structure. Please see HERE and HERE for more information on how to return and begin cleanup safely.
  
  
• REMEMBER **Report All Damage to Vermont 211**: Vermonters who have been impacted by the flood should report all their damages to Vermont 211. These reports will be critical to Vermont potentially qualifying for federal funding and assistance. You can reach Vermont 211 by calling or texting 2-1-1. You can find more information on their website here: https://vermont211.org/.
  
  
• The Crisis Cleanup Hotline: Need help cleaning up after the flood? Call the hotline for volunteer assistance at 802-242-2054.
  
  
• Safe Drinking Water: Keep an eye out for boil water advisories in your area and call 802-828-1138 for fuel spills or basement issues. Find more information on public water notices here: https://anr.vermont.gov/document/public-water-notices
  
  
• Farmers: The Vermont Agency of Agriculture can help guide you on next steps to recover from flooding, including documenting and reporting damages to Vermont 211 and contacting your county USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) Service Center. You can find more information on the Agency of Agriculture’s website here: https://agriculture.vermont.gov/agency-agriculture-food-markets-news/severe-storms-and-flooding-recovery-next-step-farmers. 
   
• Small Businesses: The Vermont Small Business Development Center has suggested next steps, including reporting damages to Vermont 211, as well as a comprehensive recovery guide for small businesses. You can find more information on their website here: https://www.vtsbdc.org/flood-2024-and-your-businesswere-here-to-help/. The Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development also has a helpful resource center on their website here: https://accd.vermont.gov/flood.
  
  
• Volunteers: If you who would like to volunteer to assist your neighbors in cleanup and recovery, register at www.vermont.gov/volunteer or connect with your town office and community organizations to see what’s needed. You can also learn more about Long-Term Recovery Groups in Vermont here: https://vtlawhelp.org/ltrg-disaster
  
  

Emotional and Mental Support

• Disaster Distress Helpline: Call or text the Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990 for emotional support related to flood stress and trauma. For more information, see their website here: https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/disaster-distress-helpline  
  
  
• Start Over Strong: Start Over Strong is a program that helps people recover and rebuild their lives after a disaster. For more information see their website here: https://mentalhealth.vermont.gov/sosvt
  
  
• Helping Children Cope During and After a Disaster: The CDC has put together a helpful pamphlet on supporting children impacted by natural disasters. See here for more information: https://www.cdc.gov/childrenindisasters/pdf/children-coping-factsheet-508.pdf
  
  
• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: For free, confidential support for people in emotional distress or suicidal crisis, call or text the national 988 hotline at 9-8-8. See their website here: https://988lifeline.org/ 
  
  

Shelters and Cooling Centers

• Website: https://vem.vermont.gov/shelters
• Currently listed as of July 23:
  • Barre Auditorium, 16 Auditorium Hill, Barre
  • Lyndonville Fire Department, 316 Main Street
    
    

Preparation: Weathering the Next Storm

• Local Emergency Alerts: Sign up for VT-ALERT alerts and follow Vermont Emergency Management’s website and socials for local updates and additional resources on how to prepare.
  • Sign up for VT-ALERT here: https://vem.vermont.gov/vtalert
  • Find Vermont Emergency Management's website here: https://vem.vermont.gov/
     
• Flood Preparation Toolbox: For more information and tools to help you prepare for any future floods or storms that might come our way, see here: https://accd.vermont.gov/community-development/flood/veri/toolkit
  
  
• Road Closures: Visit https://newengland511.org/ for state road closures. Local road closures are not reported to the state; please respect all local detours.
  
  
• Weather Updates: For weather updates, follow the U.S. National Weather Service VT.
  • For weather updates in northern Vermont see their website HERE and their social media HERE.
  • For weather updates in southern Vermont, see here: https://www.weather.gov/aly/