The Federal Emergency Management Agency continues to assess flood-ravaged areas of Vermont to determine whether the state qualifies for federal disaster assistance. And Gov. Peter Shumlin is urging homeowners to report damages caused by record-high Lake Champlain flooding.
"We need a reliable estimate of individual damage," Shumlin said. "The state needs to show significant damage to primary residences to qualify for an Individual Assistance declaration to help homeowners who suffered damage by the floods of the past month."
The FEMA teams will be in the field on Wednesday to visit many homes that have reported damage. So far, the teams have found more than $3 million in damages to public property statewide. Officials say the counties of Addison, Chittenden, Essex, Franklin, Grand Isle, Lamoille, Orleans, and Washington have suffered enough damage to receive public assistance.
Shumlin says he’s confident Vermont will be granted federal funds to help rebuild roads, bridges, and other public property, but now the state needs to show private property damage.
The process of obtaining assistance for individuals and families is just beginning, and it could take weeks or even months to complete because many homes are still underwater.