Vermont requests Federal assessment of June 23 flood damage
WATERBURY, VT – Vermont Emergency Management (VEM) Director Eric Forand has submitted a request for a Preliminary Damage Assessment (PDA) from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to determine if the state qualifies for a federal major disaster declaration for flooding and resulting damage on June 23, 2024.
The request asks for assessments in Caledonia and Lamoille counties to determine if the state qualifies for a Public Assistance (PA) Disaster Declaration for the storm. A Public Assistance declaration would provide 75 percent reimbursement to communities for local storm damage repairs. Additional counties could be added to the request as data collection continues.
“Much of the state escaped damage,” Vermont Emergency Management Director Eric Forand said. “However, the storm trained on pockets of the state, resulting in severe damage to roads and other public infrastructure in the impacted communities. This will be an expensive recovery for those towns, and we are requesting an assessment to start the process of getting those municipalities financial help.”
An assessment by the state suggests damages to public infrastructure resulting from the storm to be more than $1.5 million. To qualify for a major disaster declaration, FEMA must verify at least $1.183 million in response and public infrastructure recovery costs. These costs include road repairs, debris removal, contractor expenses, and municipal employee overtime.
The assessments are expected to begin the week of July 8.
Beech Leaf Disease threatens Vermont’s forests
With over 78% of Vermont’s forested land privately owned, including by farmers with woodlots or sugarbushes, the threat of invasive pests is significant. One such pest, beech leaf disease (BLD), was detected last fall in southeastern Vermont. The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets has urged vigilance against BLD, which can kill all species of beech trees, including the native American beech and the ornamental European beech. Now present in all New England states, BLD is steadily advancing northward.
BLD is caused by the nematode Litylenchus crenatae mccannii. As summer progresses into fall, these nematodes multiply and inhabit beech tree leaf buds, causing deformed, yellowed leaves and, in advanced stages, leathery leaves. The disease leads to premature leaf drop, branch dieback, and eventual tree death. Spread by wind, rain, birds, or human activity, the disease can be mitigated by destroying infected plant material or avoiding its transport. To prevent the spread of invasive pests, it is advisable to purchase firewood locally or use certified heat-treated firewood.
Nursery stock is another vector for plant pests. Any nursery stock entering Vermont should have a valid certificate of inspection from the state of origin or a federal USDA, APHIS, PPQ inspector, ensuring it is free of pests or diseases. While treatment for BLD in individual residential or street trees is possible, there is no known method for forest-scale treatment. Pesticides used must be registered in Vermont, and their application must comply with label instructions.
Vermont 211 back up and running
Vermont 211, the program hosting Vermont’s one-stop number to call for information about community, health, and human services, returned to 24/7/365 service as of July 1.
“The restored hours are the result of an appropriation by the Vermont Legislature,” said Vermont 211 Executive Director Elizabeth Gilman in a news release. The hours were cut last July by the Agency of Human Services, the Journal-Opinion reports.
Contact Vermont 211 simply by dialing 211 or 802-652-4636 from anywhere in Vermont at any time, visiting https://vermont211.org, or by texting your zip code to 898211 (between 8am–10pm Monday through Friday).