WASHINGTON — Vermont’s congressional delegation Friday urged state residents to report any damage from the sweeping floods that hit central Vermont after Thursday night’s violent storms so federal disaster funding can be triggered.
The devastating rain drove about 200 people into local shelters overnight and caused major flooding at the wastewater treatment plant in Montpelier. Pressure from the flooding is forcing treated water back into the plant and releasing untreated water into the river, a Vermont Emergency Management officer said.
Montpelier officials are asking residents to avoid contaminated water, practice extreme water conservation and remain inside, said Mark Bosma of Vermont Emergency Management.
Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt., encouraged residents to visit his website or the Federal Emergency Management Agency site (www.fema.gov) or to call 2-1-1 to report damage as part of the process to request federal aid. Gov. Peter Shumlin must first issue a major disaster declaration before FEMA can evaluate the damage.
“I’ve reached out to Governor Shumlin to let him know the delegation will be working hand in glove to make sure whatever federal resources are available are swiftly delivered,” Welch said from his home in Hartland.
Sen. Bernard Sanders, I-Vt., who was in Burlington, and Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., also were in touch with federal disaster officials and local residents.
“It’s like standing in a car wash,” Leahy said. “It’s just such an unprecedented amount of rain. Everybody I’ve talked to who’s lived there for decades said they’ve never heard or seen anything like this.”
Leahy said he had been on the phone all day with residents, including his sister who lives just outside Barre and called the storm one of the most frightening storms of her life.
Welch said there are loans available for small business and property owners and farmers, but to receive them people must first provide detailed accounts of damage to trigger federal funding.
The state has enlisted the National Guard and is still operating under the state of emergency declared earlier this month after mass flooding from Lake Champlain.
Late last week and early this week a FEMA team looked at damage to private residences in a number of counties, but Bosma was uncertain whether previous funding can be connected to Friday’s disaster.
“We’ve got to pull together in the Vermont way to help each other clean up,” Welch said. “There’s an enormous amount of work for everyone in the flood plain, and we need to do everything we possibly can to help one another get back on our feet.”
For residents who need to seek shelter, the National Life Group building in Montpelier and the Barre Auditorium in Barre are open. For more information, visit the Vermont Emergency Management website, www.vem.vermont.gov.