BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – Cleanup efforts are underway after this summer’s flooding, and Governor Phil Scott is trying to secure federal help.
Over the weekend, Governor Scott submitted a formal request for a federal disaster declaration for the flooding in early July.
If granted, the disaster declaration would bring federal resources to people and communities recovering from the July 10 and 11 flooding event.
Scott is requesting public and individual assistance in Addison, Orleans, Washington, Caledonia, Chittenden, Lamoille, and Essex counties.
And Vermonters on Capitol Hill are urging President Joe Biden to quickly approve that disaster declaration.
The state’s congressional delegation is also calling on Biden to expedite outstanding public assistance reimbursements, hazard mitigation projects, and buyouts from the flooding last year.
They say many Vermonters are still trying to recover from last year’s flooding.
They say in a joint statement: “Vermont has experienced 15 federally declared natural disasters since 2014, including three floods in 2023 alone. These extreme weather events have devastated Vermont communities, who have not been able to recover from previous disasters before the next one hits.”