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VERMONT EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
NEWS ADVISORY

FEMA to Conduct Public Damage Assessment

WATERBURY, VT— Vermont Emergency Management conducted two meetings on December 18th with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and local officials from Orange, Windsor, Windham, and Bennington Counties. The purpose of these meetings was to meet with municipalities about eligible damage assessments to public properties and what would be covered under a federal disaster declaration should Vermont receive one for last week’s ice storm.

Vermont Emergency Management distributed forms to all towns in Vermont asking for damage estimates for the storm that began on December 12th. VEM, the Agency of Natural Resources and the Agency of Transportation are attempting to estimate how much damage occurred during the storm in hopes of being granted a federal disaster declaration. To qualify, the entire state must have sustained at least $1-million in damages during the storms.

Based on early estimates, Vermont has requested and received approval for a Preliminary Damage Assessment from FEMA. FEMA teams will work with Vermont state agencies and municipalities in southern Vermont beginning December 29, 2008. The Town of Wilmington will be a central location to coordinate visits with key towns that have reported damage. These estimates can and should include public building, municipal electric facilities and road damages, as well as the cost of debris and tree removal from public rights of way.

Governor Jim Douglas issued a state disaster declaration for Bennington, Windham, Windsor, and Orange counties earlier this week. Those counties would be the most likely to reach local thresholds that would trigger a federal disaster declaration. Please contact Vermont Emergency Management at 800-347-0488 for more information or to report damage to public property.