The flooding and damage caused by Tropical Storm Irene has been immense. Below is a comprehensive list of resources available from various agencies as will as how to proceed if your home or housing property has been impacted:
- For current VHFA homeowners affected by flooding or other storm related damages, please contact VHFA by telephone 802-864-5743 or toll-free at 800-339-5866. You may also email us at [email protected].
- For multifamily housing owners or managers affected by flooding or other storm related damages, please contact VHFA by telephone 802-864-5743 or toll-free at 800-339-5866. You may also email [email protected].
- From FEMA: 4 Counties have been Presidentially Declared for FEMA Individual Assistance. These counties include: Washington, Rutland, Windsor & Chittenden. Residents in these counties who were impacted by Irene can now register for FEMA assistance online or by phone 1-800-621-3362. More counties pending further preliminary damage assessment.
- Assisted multifamily housing projects that have vacancies should update their information at www.housingdata.org/doarh where managers can log in and report any available units. This information is helpful not only to displaced Vermonters locally, but is also being reported to HUD along with other states’ vacant units to ensure efficient utilization of these units. If you have any trouble logging in, please contact [email protected].
Vermont’s Department of Economic, Housing and Community Development has compiled the following summary of resources available:
If you are an individual and need immediate help, call 211:
Vermont 211 is the resource to help individuals access services now and to register information on individual property damage. For more information, go to their website or call 211 from any Vermont phone.
If you are a business (for-profit; non-profit; multi-family housing provider, etc.) call 828-3211:
If you are a business looking to report damage to your business or would like to speak to someone about additional resources available, please call 828-3211. Vermont's Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD) has set up a system to document damage to businesses and properties (both for and non-profit businesses, including multi-family housing providers and services) in order to assist FEMA in their collection of information.
Communities are reporting storm damage for inclusion in the preliminary damage assessment.
Communities also needing to report damages to Vermont Emergency Management should fill out a survey on their site. The Regional Planning Commissions are also helping with emergency management for towns in their region.
Documenting impacts to historic properties:
The state is helping to document impacts to historic resources for various reasons - a) When FEMA teams begin to work in communities they will be aware ahead of time of damaged/destroyed historic properties and can focus on those; b) It will give the historic preservation community a better sense of the extent and location of major damage and where we can help best during the recovery phase; c) It will help us better plan education and training information and workshops during the recovery phase. What you can do now:
- If your property has been damaged, take immediate corrective action -- if your roof is leaking, put a roof on your building; if your carpets are wet, get them dried. If your collections or museum facility has been damaged, put your Emergency Plan in Place NOW. FEMA recommends that you:
- Take lots of photos and document the damage
- Keep all receipts
- Document all volunteers who are helping out (you can use this for your cost share) -- Use a “Sign-in” book, with their name, time in, time out
- Take action NOW to protect your property
NOTE: You may or may not be eligible for FEMA or other federal assistance but in case you are, the above information will be critical.
As the Floodwaters Recede -- A Checklist of Things to Do: (Courtesy Preservation Trust of Vermont. Adapted from: INFORMATION, National Trust for Historic Preservation Booklet No. 82, 1993, Treatment of Flood-Damaged Older and Historic Buildings, and provided courtesy of the New Bern Historic Preservation Commission.
The following checklist will help you respond to flood damage in historic and older buildings. Read the steps through carefully and take time to plan. While it is tempting to wade right in with a shovel and mop, it is very important to develop a plan for cleanup and rehabilitation. Unfortunately, overly zealous cleanup efforts can result in historic materials being carted away, excessively rough cleaning methods, and the unnecessary loss of historic fabric. The best way to prevent additional damage to historic structures and materials during a time of duress is to use caution and plan ahead.
- Follow all emergency rules, laws, and regulations
- Turn off all utilities
- Document building damage
- Wear protective clothing
- Stabilize any unstable structures with temporary bracing
- Use caution when pumping basement water
- Keep building properly ventilated
- Clean everything that got wet with a disinfectant
- Allow saturated materials to dry using natural ventilation
- Check for foundation damage
- Replace soil around foundation
- Save historic materials if possible
- Use caution when removing lead-based paint or any products containing asbestos
- Clean and repair roof and roof drainage systems to protect building from future damage
In addition, single family and multifamily owners who may have been directly impacted by flooding, please refer to this publication from HUD and Healthy Homes titled Rebuilding Water-Damaged Homes: A manual for the safe, healthy, green, and low-cost restoration of housing.
Other resources:
- The VT Department of Taxes extended the deadlines through Sept. 30 for property tax adjustment claims, homestead declarations, renter rebate claims and current use applications. Details at: www.state.vt.us/tax/index.shtml.
- Call 800-889-2047 or go to www.vtlawhelp.org to speak to attorneys available at: VT Bar Association, VT Legal Aid, Legal Services Law Line of VT and the VT Volunteer Lawyers Project.
- The VT Economic Development Authority has $10 million in low-interest financing for businesses and farms that suffered physical damage from Irene. The funds are available immediately. Find details at www.veda.org.
- Call state insurance officials at 800-964-1784 with storm-related insurance questions or check out the frequently asked questions page at http://bit.ly/bishcaflood.
If you’re in a position to help others affected by the storm, please consider the following:
- VTResponse.com is working to connect volunteers ready to help with those that need assistance. The site includes a frequently-updated blog and a forum. If you’re looking to help clean up and rebuild, or if you’re in need of assistance, visit their site.
- The Red Cross is in desperate need of blood donations. Stop by their donation center at 32 North Prospect Street in Burlington, or the Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital Blood Donation Center at 125 Mascoma Street in Lebanon, NH. You can also donate to the Red Cross through their website. The Red Cross set up shelters immediately after Irene hit for flooded-out families to stay in.
- Text FOODNOW to 52000 to donate $10 to Vermont Foodbank. The Foodbank will turn each donation into $60 for families in need.
- You can donate to the United Way’s Vermont Disaster Relief Fund online, or buy sending a donation to your local United Way. Just make sure your donation is marked for the “Vermont Disaster Relief Fund.”