by Guy Page
“We are Vermont Strong – tough, too!” proclaims the Vermont Strong 2.0 license plate rolled out by Gov. Phil Scott at today’s flood update press briefing.
The ‘tough’ reference is not only to Vermonters’ reputed resilience to adversity, but to participation by Darn Tough Socks. The Northfield-based hosiery manufacturer plans to provide bundles of socks for sale as a fundraiser. After Storm Irene, a fundraising license plate saying “I Am Vermont Strong” was popular among motorists.
Details of sale price, sales locations, and how proceeds will be spent are undetermined. More info coming soon, Scott said.
Flood claims second victim: Appalachian Trail hiker Robert Kerker “drowned in the swollen waters of Stony Brook,” Public Safety Commissioner Jen Morrison confirmed Tuesday.
Mobile home damage update – 61 mobile homes, thus far, have been reported uninhabitable.
State officials say owners of damaged mobile homes should: 1) report damages to 2-1-1. 2) Register with FEMA, apply for help. 3) Seek a certificate of condemnation. 4) File a claim with your insurance company. 5) Be patient. Don’t move home before a FEMA decision is made.
Damage has been reported to a total of 4,691 homes of all types, officials said.
2-1-1 “overwhelmed” – in response to a reporter’s question, Gov. Scott said the Vermont 2-1-1 emergency reporting system was “admittedly overwhelmed” in the early days of the flood. He compared the response backlog to the failure of the Department of Labor unemployment insurance site during the Covid-19 era.
“We weren’t given that information from 211 on the ground,” Scott said. “We can’t fix the problem if we don’t know about it.” The lack of staffing was “a communication issue, not a funding issue.”
Livestock feed outlook glum – Earlier hopes that flooded farmers could recover the corn crop now appear over-optimistic, Agriculture Secretary Anson Tebbetts said. Also, the hay crop is questionable because debris-strewn fields could damage expensive harvesting machinery.
Flood recovery czar announcement expected soon – The Scott administration will appoint a flood recovery czar to manage funding and operations, the governor said. When asked by a reporter if the new czar would be Mike Smith, Gov. Scott’s favorite short-time appointee to manage crises, Scott paused for a moment and said: “there’s lots of Mike Smiths.”