Flood recovery aid is on its way to dozens of Vermont families who have waited years.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency approved most buyout applications submitted after the 2023 and 2024 floods, according to an announcement on Monday.
The $33.2 million package includes money for at least 90 buyouts, which give flood survivors the pre-flood cost of their home.
The money will go to residents in Plainfield, Vt., Starksboro, Vt., Huntington, Vt., St. Johnsbury, Vt., Richmond, Vt., and Groton, Vt., among other towns, said Stephanie Smith, deputy director of Vermont Emergency Management.
While the buyouts promise relief for many flood-affected families, it “definitely took longer to get to these awards than it would have under normal circumstances,” Smith said.
While the federal agency was processing the applications, the government shut down, which slowed FEMA’s work. The Trump administration also issued a rule change requiring state staff to resubmit applications mid-process. Former Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem also created a rule requiring her signature on all FEMA expenses over $100,000, which held up FEMA aid across the country.
“For too many Vermonters, our state’s recent floods are painful memories of homes washed away, livelihoods destroyed, roads and bridges decimated, and sadly, lives lost,” U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., said in Monday’s announcement. “There is no good reason that Vermonters should have to wait years to receive the help they need to recover and rebuild when disasters strike.”
Meanwhile, many flood survivors remain displaced. Some have had to pay expenses on their flood-affected homes — mortgages or property taxes — while also paying for rent or staying with family or friends.
“To say that these buyouts are long-overdue is a massive understatement,” said U.S. Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt. “We have Vermonters whose lives and livelihoods were in limbo for over three years as they waited for FEMA to act. These buyouts are a major step in the right direction, but our work helping folks recover from these floods isn’t over — not by a long shot.”
Though Monday’s announcement gives town officials and survivors certainty that they’ll receive aid eventually, the money still won’t reach survivors for months. The state needs to work with towns and survivors to set up appraisals, complete legal work and schedule closings.
“There’s a lot of steps,” Smith said. “It’s exciting. It means we can move. We’ve got all the systems in place to take those steps. My little bit of caution is, it’s still not going to happen tomorrow.”
FEMA’s process requires demolishing bought-out structures. The land is transferred to the municipality, which must maintain it as green space. In some towns, when multiple homes in a row are demolished, the town can transform the land into a floodplain, which can reduce the risk of damage from future storms.
This story was first published by VTDigger and is republished with permission as part of the Vermont Journalism Trust’s Community News Sharing Project.