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 7/19/23.
Governor Scott and administration officials discussed flood recovery efforts at today’s press conference, focusing on FEMA’s response and mental health impacts. Gov. Scott announced that he directed the Commissioner of Taxes to extend Vermont tax deadlines for Vermonters impacted by flooding. Taxpayers impacted by the flood do not need to contact the Department of Taxes to request extensions for the tax types listed below. Due dates between July 7, 2023 and November 15, 2023 will automatically be extended for taxpayers impacted by the flooding for:
- Corporate and business income tax, including estimated payments
- Sales and use tax
- Meals and rooms tax
- Payroll withholding tax
- Estimated personal income tax payments, originally due September 15, 2023
- Filing of 2022 Vermont personal income taxes with a valid federal or Vermont extension
NOTES:
- Governor Scott:
- Continue to pivot to recovery phase of response
- Yesterday – I was in southern Vermont – Weston and Ludlow – clear that we still have a lot of work ahead of us.
- Vermonters continue to inspire with me with their resilience and can-do attitude
- Comprehensive list of resources available at vermont.gov/flood
- Today – have Federal Coordinating Officer Will Roy from FEMA
- Important to be clear – and level-set expectations – these FEMA funds are NOT FOR BUSINESSES and I know that businesses are impacted. There are SBA loans available to help and we’ll talk more about that in coming days – know that more help will be needed – have very creative team looking to bridge the gap as we speak. Also looking to Congress and working with our Congressional delegation as well.
- But there’s a couple of things we can do now as well – directing the Tax Commissioner to extend the due date for filing and payment of sales tax, rooms and meals, and Vermont payroll withholding tax to November 15 for those impacted by flooding.
- On Friday, we’ll be announcing more help.
- Team working to break down silos between agencies and departments, as well as nonprofits and private entities to ensure we’re coordinating and doing as much as we can to get through this.
- Commissioner Morrison:
- Rescue and emergency operations: no rescues were made last night. Have begun de-mobilizing out-of-state teams who have come to assist. To date, 211 people were rescued from homes, vehicles, trees, the top of a car carrier, a floating hot tub wedged on a tree, and a floating dumpster. By boats or rescuers walking through water. 127 evacuations, 18 animals rescued. Swift water teams will remain staged throughout the state. One death so far. Many deaths occur during cleanup and recovery phase.
- Waterways have significant debris and unusually strong currents – not business as usual yet for recreation.
- Division of Fires Safety and Haz Mat teams have been extremely busy – just the hazmat team has completed 75 responses (50% of annual call volume). Fire Safety have had rapid assistance teams in field – includes electrical, plumbing, and building inspector – focused on imminent life safety hazards. Completed more than 750 of these inspections. Changed database to accept no fee notices – for emergency repairs. Anticipate high degree of need for these teams. If your home was flooded, please inspect before turning back on.
- Amazon sent truckloads of dehumidifiers and fans throughout Vermont – distributed to 30 hardest hit towns.
- Right now we needs all hands on deck to get everything clean and dry – get wet carpet, sheetrock, etc. out onto the curb. Sort piles of debris. Let’s have a push to get this done before the end of the weekend.
- Working hard to connect volunteers with residents who need help at home – register atnwww.vermont.gov/volunteer
- Team taking info from 211 reports and contacting those who made reports to see what assistance they need – will be put in crisiscleanup.org. Asking organizations not to self-deploy but to use crisiscleanup.org. Encourage volunteer organizations to adopt missions on crisiscleanup.org to ensure best coordination of resources. VODA is also coordinating activities statewide.
- Municipalities should sign up for crisiscleanup.org access – can see details about damaged structures, who has asked for help, and what volunteer orgs are active in your area. Can see what missions are still in need.
- Volunteer info and debris management info available at vermont.gov
- Federal Coordinating Officer William Roy:
- As of this morning – 331 personnel in Vermont from FEMA. 1980 homes visited by disaster survivor assistance so far. Visited 144 businesses – members from SBA are part of team. Supporting three multi-agency resource centers that the state has set up – have never seen a state lean so far forward and set up centers like this. Also standing up mobile registration intake centers in Waterbury, Ludlow, and Springfield where people can go to sign up for assistance.
- Individual registration for assistance – for Irene about 4,000 signed up. As of last night, there were 1,644 already signed up for assistance. 96 from undeclared counties. Nice thing is, for those from undeclared counties, should they be declared, process will proceed automatically. As of last night approved over $700k for support for individuals and households, average of about $6100 per person. 991 requests for housing inspections, have already inspected 177 homes.
- 6 declared counties – a number of counties we’re working on individual assistance.
- 100% funding for emergency protective measures for 30-day period.
- Have to keep eye out for scams – if someone comes to your door they will have FEMA ID – if they don’t, don’t trust them.
- SBA has opened up two business resource centers, one in Berlin and one in Ludlow.
- Commissioner Hawes:
- Many facing challenges – homes, roadways, and businesses have sustained damages that will leave a lasting mark on our communities. Moreover, there are invisible damages.
- As we come together to rebuild – want to emphasize the importance of emphasizing the wellbeing of our communities. These means addressing the crucial impact of natural disasters on our mental health. Not just visible destruction that leaves a lasting impact.
- Make conscious effort to receive info and updates from reputable sources.
- Be attentive to physical and emotional needs – routine that brings stability throughout the chaos.
- Text 988 if you need help. Total calls answered from July 1-16 – were 378. Anticipate as folks start to digest what happened – they’ll be more inclined to reach out for support.
- QUESTIONS:
- 1,980 homes totality of damage?
- Scott – Believe that it’s a raw number – and being added to. I don’t think we know the extent of the damages yet.
- What’s your biggest concern right now?
- Scott – Still concerned about the weather – seems like every day we catch a break, it’s followed by a rain event. Flash flooding with the saturated soil that we already have – adds to day to day challenges and recovery.
- Flood of contractors that have come in from out of state – what is the state doing to organize and vet them – to make sure that they’re legitimate?
- Scott – (Commissioner Morrison says she can’t answer off the top of her head) – Some of those contractors aren’t one that we coordinated – coordinated between a business and the contractor or municipality and contractor. We would offer that if you haven’t fully vetted – make sure that you do and go to AG’s website and I believe that she’s provided info for vetting there.
- I’ve heard from businesses in downtown Montpelier that the lifeline is a SBA loan at 4% – that’s a tough factor in their decision to reopen or not.
- Scott – Something I’ve heard throughout the state – when we were on our tour on Monday, we were in Hardwick and the motel is in the river – literally. And the owners were there … new owners had made it into something very special and essential to the economic vitality of the town, talking to them about this – they’re in their 70s now – and do they want to take on another loan to put into this venture and have to rebuild and repay over a long period of time? Tough decisions to make – trying to get creative to provide bridge funding for some of these businesses – but going to need some help from Congress or the President – nothing that we can do on our own. Congressional delegation going to do what they can to get relief – but want to level-set this.
- Any role for VT legislature to provide funding for some of these businesses?
- Scott – Need to get through this time… working on issues and maybe some relief that we can provide, but obviously this is a long drawn out affair – but yes. Need resources and tax revenue in order to survive – if we don’t have economy rolling and businesses to do that, we’re going to be impacted. In our best interest to help businesses survive this.
- Any sense of how many acres of farmland impacted? How many roads?
- Tebbetts – U.S. Farm Service Agency is collecting data – as of Friday, 7,000 acres had been reported. Sure there’s much more now. Dozens of farmers. Debris is enormous on many farms.
- Flynn – 12 state roads remain closed, 12 state roads that are partially open (one lane) three state roads opened last night. Re-opened 103 since storm – working with 56 contractors on AOT projects across state of Vermont. 5 state bridges closed. One missing bridge. Conducted 311 bridge inspections. 64 mile of rail remains closed – primarily Green Mountain Railroad between Rutland and Bellows Falls.
- Scott – Venture to say that there are hundred of miles of town and municipal roads that have been impacted. Long recovery for them. Lots of projects we have to accomplish and a workforce challenge – don’t have workforce to do it all in one season.
- Ballpark on total financial number of impact?
- Scott – Wouldn’t venture a guess on that. I don’t know. It’s a lot of money.
- Is there a sense an estimate for how many people are still currently displaced?
- Scott – Have numbers from some of the Red Cross sites. Isn’t as extensive as it could be – people opening their doors to people in need.
- Roy – Shelters have 62 people – a lot more displaced people though. A lot of people living with relatives.
- Estimate for how many municipalities are without running water?
- Roy – 10 on Boil Water notice. One on Do Not Drink now.
- Scott – Three treatment plants not working
- How many people who have signed up to volunteer through state portal?
- Scott – 5700
- On call from Marshfield – has no water of any sort running?
- Scott – Wasn’t aware municipal system was out.
- Commissioner Morrison – Has emergency management director submitted request? Only way we’d know. There’s a formal structure to request assistance – talking to National Guard is not working system that is in place.
- (later in presser) Morrison – The SEOC has been in contact with Marshfield who reported that they were on a Boil Water notice, but reaching out again to make sure that that is still accurate.
- Commissioner Morrison – Has emergency management director submitted request? Only way we’d know. There’s a formal structure to request assistance – talking to National Guard is not working system that is in place.
- Scott – Wasn’t aware municipal system was out.
- Where is National Guard and what are they doing – 75 deployed?
- Have over 100 soldiers and airman working on some portion of flood response. Some in admin. Broken up in several teams – quick reaction force (getting towards a stand-down), aviation team, distribution team (gets most work), maintenance team, LNO teams – been to 50 towns to date.
- At some point numbers on direct impact of the storm will be known, but when do you think you’ll have an indirect impact number – obviously tax impact, Emergency Board is meeting soon – are economists working up numbers?
- Scott – Emergency Board meeting will still happen at the end of July. Something that’s unknown at this point – when you drive through Ludlow, Barre, or Montpelier – you see it’s going to be a little while to open up. Will have to remind people that not all of the state was impacted – and will want to send message that we’re ready willing and able to welcome people from out of state.
- Would it take an Act of Congress to get economic impact money similar to ARPA?
- Scott – Yes – but we’re looking under every rock and being as creative as possible.
- With number of FEMA boots on the ground along with volunteers, why is it going to take so long to cover more than 6 counties?
- Roy – The 6 counties that were declared were done via imagery to expedite. Now on the ground, have already completed inspections on non-declared counties to assess overall damage to see if they meet federally mandated requirements for assistance. As each of the info is completed – forwarded to FEMA headquarters to see if counties can be added on. Will hear soon.
- What is the criteria?
- Roy – Number of factors – how many homes destroyed, how many damaged? How badly? Other factors too. If county doesn’t meet requirements, doesn’t get added to list. If small part of county impacted very badly, doesn’t discount county from being covered.
- What can people expect from FEMA inspections?
- Roy – For disaster survivor assistance teams – operate with two or three people. Will knock on door of home, will ask if they have damage, if they’ve signed up – can sign them up or they can call in. If there are damages and they’ve signed up. Will get call from housing inspector scheduled. Inspector will inspect and report back. Application will continue. Letters that some of applicants will receive where we’re looking for more information. Unless they apply for assistance, they will not get a call from FEMA.
- In Montpelier, have heard from people that are disappointed that FEMA and state emergency management haven’t been on the ground – plans to bring in people to show presences?
- Morrison – There’s been a lot of chattering about what the state and FEMA hasn’t been doing – I personally went to Montpelier yesterday and met with the city manager, and he and his deputy and my team are very clear what the process is to request assistance – and they are comfortable and pleased with what they have received and is coming – so we’ve talked to the officials. But even as I was there talking to the city manager, there were people standing around saying that they knew better how to manage this than those of us who are working around the clock to actually address it. So don’t know if that helps you understand the context.
- How do they communicate that to those on the ground?
- Morrison – Don’t know – but I saw amazing volunteer effort on the ground there in Montpelier and Barre. And every community that I’ve seen. Plans haven’t changed – structure exists and has to be followed.
- Roy – Montpelier was the first place that disaster survivor assistance visited.
- How do they communicate that to those on the ground?
- Morrison – There’s been a lot of chattering about what the state and FEMA hasn’t been doing – I personally went to Montpelier yesterday and met with the city manager, and he and his deputy and my team are very clear what the process is to request assistance – and they are comfortable and pleased with what they have received and is coming – so we’ve talked to the officials. But even as I was there talking to the city manager, there were people standing around saying that they knew better how to manage this than those of us who are working around the clock to actually address it. So don’t know if that helps you understand the context.
- You mentioned $700k in FEMA $ – will there be more?
- Roy – We’re just starting – program got turned on on Friday due to declaration, and people had money in their bank accounts on Monday morning.
- Resources for houseless population?
- Scott – Shelters open to anyone – whether they had a home or were unhoused in any way.
- 1,980 homes totality of damage?