As Vermonters seek to recover from three major summertime storms, the federal government has begun to approve State of Vermont requests for help.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack August 29 approved Governor Phil Scott’s request for a Secretarial Disaster Designation for six Vermont counties in response to this July’s rain and flooding events. Caledonia, Essex, Orange, Chittenden, Lamoille and Washington counties were recognized as part of the declaration.

This designation makes farm operators across Vermont eligible to be considered for Farm Service Agency (FSA) emergency loans, provided eligibility requirements are met. Farmers in eligible counties have eight months from the date of a Secretarial disaster declaration to apply for emergency loans.

The USDA Disaster Declaration will also enable non-industrial forest property owners to apply for financial support to restore damaged properties through the USDA Farm Service Agency’s Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP). The program provides a 75% cost share to property owners to cover costs associated with restoring forest lands where the damage from the storm event would either harm the natural resources on the land or significantly affect future land use if left in a damaged state. EFRP projects can include debris removal to help establish a new stand or provide for natural regeneration and forestland road repair or erosion control structures. For more information, visit: www.fpr.vermont.gov/forest-flood-resources ..

Scott seeks late July disaster relief – Governor Scott on Wednesday, August 28 made a formal request to President Joe Biden for a Major Disaster Declaration to help communities and individuals in Caledonia, Essex, and Orleans counties recover from damages incurred in the storms and floods of July 29-31, 2024. The declaration requests funding under the Public Assistance (PA) and Individual Assistance (IA) programs.

A federal damage assessment identified more than $3.7 million in public infrastructure damage because of that storm. Floodwaters also destroyed or damaged 85 homes across the three counties, according to the initial assessment.

VT approved for July 9-11 flood relief – Last week, Vermont was approved for a disaster declaration for storms and floods on July 9-11, 2024. That declaration provides funding for individuals and municipalities in Addison, Orleans, Washington, Caledonia, Chittenden, Lamoille, Orange, and Essex counties. Individuals can get more information and register for federal aid at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or call 1-800-621-3362. Even if you previously reported damage to 2-1-1, you must register with and apply to FEMA.

June 22-24, 2024 Storm help requested – Last week, Governor Scott also requested a Major Disaster Declaration to help communities in Lamoille and Caledonia counties recover costs for repairing public infrastructure damage caused by rainfall and severe flooding beginning on June 22, 2024.

Business assistance portal opened – Governor Scott and the Vermont Department of Economic Development (DED) today announced that the Business Emergency Gap Assistance Program (BEGAP) application portal will open on Thursday, August 29 at 8:00 a.m. BEGAP is a grant program for businesses, nonprofits, landlords, and farms that suffered physical damage from flooding. It is available for properties damaged in 2023 and/or 2024.