Vermont gets $50M from federal government for flooding costs

(The Center Square) — Vermont is getting more than $50 million from the Biden administration to help the state with recovery costs from devastating floods last year that destroyed roads and washed out highways.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration’s Emergency Relief Program announced this week that it will fully reimburse Vermont for the costs of repairs caused by flooding in July and December 2023. The funding, announced by members of the state’s congressional delegation, was authorized as part of the annual appropriations process to the federal Highway Trust Fund.

“Devastating flooding has destroyed roads and highways across Vermont, and federal assistance is necessary to offset the extensive costs the State has incurred,” Sen. Bernie Sanders, D-Vt., and other lawmakers said in a statement. “When disaster strikes, states and localities act quickly — no matter the cost.”

The funding includes $49.4 million to reimburse Vermont for repairs following flash flooding in July 2023, which caused road and bridge washouts, land and mudslides, and property losses. Another $1.7 million will reimburse the state for repairs following severe flooding in December 2023 caused by heavy rain and snow melt. The flash flooding damaged pavement and caused structural damage and erosion, officials said.

The July 2023 floods caused extensive road and infrastructure damage, forcing the closure of 46 state roads, 409 miles of rail tracks and 64 bridges, according to state officials.

FEMA has already awarded $10 million in “quick-release” emergency relief funds to Vermont, and another $37.77 million in FEMA funds were allocated to the state in January, according to the federal agency.

Members of Vermont’s delegation are also calling for the passage of a supplemental funding bill in Congress that calls for replenishing the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Disaster Relief Fund, which is running out of money as the federal government struggles to provide aid following natural disasters that are growing stronger and more devastating with the effects of climate change.

“Let me be clear: there are families across America — in Vermont, and in communities impacted by natural disasters across our country — that need us to help,” Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., said in remarks on the Senate floor on Thursday. “And they can’t recover without us. These communities — and it’s especially the case with rural communities — cannot weather these storms alone.”

Meanwhile, President Joe Biden on Thursday approved a major disaster declaration for the state to recover costs for repairing public infrastructure damage caused by rainfall and severe flooding in June.

The declaration unlocks FEMA funding to reimburse municipalities for 75% of funds already spent on debris removal, road and public building repairs, and staff overtime for responding to the storm.

“This disaster declaration is good news for towns impacted by the June 23 storm in Lamoille County,” Gov. Phil Scott said in a statement. “As we’ve seen throughout the summer, federal resources are critical for communities as they repair storm damage.”