Long Term Recovery Group Still Fundraising

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Eleven months after it was established to help individuals recovering from last August’s flooding, Vermont’s Long Term Disaster Recovery Group says it’s far short of its fundraising goal. Money raised by the group provides a fund-of-last-resort for people who’ve exhausted other Irene recovery resources – and organizers say there are still hundreds of people in need of assistance.  

From the beginning the Long Term Disaster Recovery Group estimated it would need to raise $8-$10 million to fill the gap between what FEMA provides to individuals and what they need to repair their homes and replace belongings lost in the flood.   

David Coates chairs the group. Coates says so far $3.6 million has been raised. Much of it came from donations and benefit events in the weeks that followed the flood. He says the money is going out nearly as fast as people get their final settlements from FEMA, but simple math makes it clear it will take as much as $10 million to meet the need. 

 "There are 900 cases that were opened," says Coates. "We’ve satisfied about 150 of those and paid out about a million and a half, so that leaves us about 750."

To give you an idea of the trajectory of the group’s fundraising, in the first seven months they brought in $3.4 million, but in the past four months only about $200,000 has been raised, largely through sales of Vermont Strong license plates. 

Coates acknowledges that getting people to contribute to Irene relief a year after the storm is difficult.

"Let’s just say that’s what keeps me awake at night, and when I wake up in the morning that’s the first thing that’s on my mind," he says.

Coates hopes the anniversary of the storm will serve as a reminder there’s still a significant need.  

A soon to be launched new fundraising effort will focus on large donors and several planned benefits, including a golf tournament with Vermont-born PGA champion Keegan Bradley, will provide an infusion of long term recovery funds.

Coates says other sources of funding will also help reduce the demand for long term recovery funds.  For example, Rotary International has given nearly $400,000 to help Irene victims, and federal community block grant money will also help. 

Coates says it will take two to four years to complete the long term recovery process. 

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