Innkeepers are a busy bunch. To save you time, VLA attends Governor Scott’s press conferences and takes notes for you. Below is the summary from 7/14/23.
Governor Scott and other state officials gave an update on flood recovery today. Governor Scott announced that President Biden had approved his request for a federal major disaster declaration, so individuals can now apply for FEMA relief.
NOTES:
- Governor Scott:
- Made it out better than expected yesterday – but power outages in Rutland and Addison
- Confirmed first fatality due to flooding confirmed yesterday – in Barre.
- Actively moving on recovery work
- Over next 48 hours incredibly important to get buildings as dry as possible – mold risk
- Sec. of Transportation Pete Buttigieg coming on Monday.
- President Biden approved federal major disaster declaration 20 min ago. Will open up aid to the state, businesses, and individuals.
- Working to develop list of resources for impacted Vermonters.
- Inspired by thousands of Vermonters, businesses, and organizations reaching out wanting to help – sign up to volunteer at Vermont.gov/volunteer or with local organizations.
- Commissioner Morrison:
- Relieved that last night’s storms did not bring full fury that we feared. No requests for rescue.
- Air assets will be out today to look for vehicles where they shouldn’t be
- 202 rescue missions, 100 evacuations, dozens of vehicle checks.
- 14,000 power outages last night, down to about 1,300
- Towns on 22A corridor hit hard last night.
- FEMA already here with boots on the ground – 198 people here.
- 2-3 dozen communities that we have not heard from – so doing outreach today.
- Commissioner Levine:
- Reach out for help with mental health – 1-800-985-5950
- Drinking water – if on muni system, follow orders. Assume water is contaminated if you have a well – test it before using it for cooking, baby formula, drinking, brushing teeth. Health Department is offering free test kits – call 802-338-4724 or check website for more information.
- Boiling water for one minute kills bacteria or other organisms, but don’t boil if it’s cloudy, smells like gas or other contaminates.
- People and pets should stay out of water after any flooding event. Bodies of water might be contaminated or have debris. Swimming can result in rashes, sore throats, or bacterial infections, or more serious issues.
- Returning to home – Wait until officials say it’s safe and water has gone down. Watch for downed lines, fuel leaks. Turn off power if electrical got wet. Consult with electrician. Don’t use generator inside or close to home and vent. Check tetanus status if get cut.
- Cleaning home – Don’t recommend anyone test for mold. If your home has been flooded and closed for a few days – assume it has mold. Open up to dry, use fans when safe. Children with breathing problems and those with weakened immune systems should not help clean up. Use protective masks and gloves. Fabrics will probably need to be thrown away – healthvermont/flood has more info.
- Don’t eat or drink anything that has touched flood water. Throw away contaminated food or anything that has not been refrigerated property. When in doubt, thrown it out.
- Secretary Tebbetts:
- Too early to estimate damages – but losses will be catastrophic. Expect the flooding and silt will destroy a large share of our produce and livestock feed. Some of our most fertile farmland is in river valleys – countless fields of corn, hay, vegetables, fruit, and pasture were buried.
- Vermont’s growing season is short – and flooding in limited window is devastating.
- Many crops cannot be replanted and losses will not be effectively mitigated prior to our early fall harvest.
- Heavy losses will put many at risk. There is a ripple effect – may disrupt our regional food system and food security.
- Among worst of the last century and arrived in the heart of our growing season.
- Farmers already cleaning up and calculating losses – preparing for fall and winter.
- Want them to document their losses – will need to present to FEMA and US Department of Agriculture
- Farmers should contact their insurance agent.
- Packet of resources available to help farmers address issues – on ag website.
- Public can support farmers by lending a hand, attending farmers markets, buy from farm stand. Donate to a fund that’s focused on farmers. There are many.
- Sec. Flynn:
- Damage on 89 – will be some paving today and one lane open.
- Amtrak opening tomorrow.
- 19 state roads still fully closed. 9 roads still partially closed.
- Currently AOT assisting 15 towns.
- (lists opened roads)
- QUESTIONS:
- IRS extending filing deadline for businesses?
- Scott – For quarterly filings – have a little time to figure out what we’re doing, but will do what we can to reduce burdens on Vermonters
- Some store owners asking about delaying collection of sales tax until the beginning of the month.-
- Scott – All in the mix. One of our discussions.
- Unemployment filings – At what point do people qualify? Seen uptick?
- Scott – Uptick anticipated – a number of people who can’t get to work. Preparing for that.
- Anything that state can do to prevent employers from firing people who can’t get to work?
- Scott – I believe so, but hard to believe that someone would do that – with workforce challenges, need people.
- Money from FEMA for salaries during cleanup?
- Sam Harvey/FEMA – There is disaster unemployment assistance – from FEMA to the state, for anyone who lost wages or employment. Would apply to Vermont Department of Labor.
- When will they be able to apply for assistance and what will they receive?
- Harvey – People with uninsured disaster losses can apply today. Call 1-800-621-FEMA, go online to disasterassistance.gov, or interact with one of our disaster survivors assistance operators in the field to apply. Each individual with have a different time frame and path forward based on their scenario. There is a 30-day deadline right now – starts today. Don’t delay any repairs. When FEMA inspectors go out – trained to look at what has been impacted and repaired.
- FEMA can give $700 emergency check?
- Harvey – Critical needs assistance – potentially eligible. Intended to be used for any critical need – food, hotel room… just to get them through. Always advisable to save receipts – may be request for verification, but will depend on each survivor situation. Not taxable.
- $41k for damage to home, $41k for other?
- Harvey – Three distinct categories: home repair, rental assistance for those displaced, personal property – each one has cap of $41K. Dependent upon unique situation.
- Who’s monitoring health and welfare of our unhoused population?
- Scott – They’re being treated just like everyone else – if they need assistance, they should call 211
- Damage to mobile home parks?
- Scott – Aware of some mobile home parks and looking into them at this time – visited one in Barre that was heavily impacted. Get back to you on that – report tomorrow. Have been concerned about them. Involved during Irene
- More clarity on two dozen towns as not having had contact? In areas that were known to be affected by floods – when you said National Guard will be deployed – what will that look like?
- Scott – We’ll have liaison visit so we can have face to face contact.
- Flynn – From AOT – majority of those towns are in northwestern Vermont where there was less impact.
- In Orleans County – many people concerned about safety of Casella landfill – any special attention given to things like runoff or other issues that could arise from heavy rainfall?
- Scott – Inspection process at landfills on daily basis. Any issues identified and repaired every single day. Not aware of anything.
- Visiting organization that had lithium battery-powered snowblower – found in ashes…
- Scott – Look into it to see if it’s an issue.
- How much milk has been dumped?
- Tebbetts – Couldn’t be transported – but not as bad as we thought it was going to be – but any is sad. Transportation identified areas of need – Rte 2 helped. Incredible stories of farmers fixing roads themselves. Still some pockets out there.
- Longterm viability of farming in Vermont?
- Tebbetts – Lot of discussion. One of worst was produce – need to get them as much support as possible. Haven’t heard of livestock losses. Encouraging farmers to test soil (with UVM extension) whether corn can be saved. Going to have an issue on the hay side. Testing crops and soil. Loss from May freeze was $10 million. Can’t forget loggers too – can’t get logs out.
- Housing – medium to long term solutions?
- Scott – Further burdens the crisis – doing all that we can on replacement of housing. Teams in ACCD working on it – seeing if there’s something to do in next legislative session.
- Dam issues?
- Scott – Were concerned about Quechee – but now that appears to be ok.
- IRS extending filing deadline for businesses?