April, 2023
Volume 17 Issue 4
**Best viewed on a computer browser or horizontally if you are on a smart phone**
Vermont Receives Federal Disaster Declaration for December Storm
Vermont has received a Major Disaster declaration for public infrastructure damage caused by a winter storm December 22-24, 2022. The declaration will provide federal assistance for repairs to public infrastructure in Chittenden, Essex, Franklin, Grand Isle, Lamoille, Orange, Orleans and Washington Counties. 
Federal assessors identified nearly $3 million in program eligible costs incurred by public and non-profit utilities and communities in recovering from the storm, far exceeding the minimum threshold of $1.14 million in damages for Vermont to request a major disaster declaration. The counties included in the request incurred public infrastructure damages and recovery costs near or exceeding the $4.44 per capita threshold to qualify.
Municipalities and qualifying non-profits like public utilities in the declared counties are eligible to receive 75% federal reimbursement for storm response and recovery. Those costs include power restoration for municipal utilities, repairs to public roads, bridges, and other infrastructure that was damaged during the storm, as well as removal of debris from public rights of way.
A Public Assistance disaster declaration also includes funds from the federal Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. That program provides funds for any Vermont city or town to make improvements to roads, riverbeds, and other projects to increase the resilience to flooding and other hazards in a particular area.
The application process began the week of March 27th with a series of applicant briefings for municipal leaders from Chittenden, Essex, Franklin, Grand Isle, Lamoille, Orange, Orleans and Washington Counties. Those locals officials who did not attend can contact Kim Canarecci (kim.canarecci@vermont.gov) at Vermont Emergency Management for information on applying for reimbursement.
SBA Disaster Loans Available to Private Nonprofits
As a result of the federal disaster declaration for damages suffered in the December 22-24, 2022 storm, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will now offer certain Private Non-Profit organizations (PNPs) in Vermont that do not provide critical services of a governmental nature may be eligible to apply for low-interest disaster loans for damages suffered in that strom.
Eligible PNP organizations in the following Vermont counties may apply: Chittenden, Essex, Franklin, Grand Isle, Lamoille, Orange, Orleans and Washington.
Examples of eligible non-critical PNP organizations include, but are not limited to, food kitchens, homeless shelters, museums, libraries, community centers, schools and colleges.
PNP organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets. The interest rate is 2.375 percent, with terms up to 30 years.
Applicants may be eligible for a loan amount increase of up to 20 percent of their physical damages, as verified by the SBA, for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements might include insulating pipes, walls, and attics; weather stripping doors and windows; and installing storm windows to help protect property and occupants from future damage caused by a similar disaster.
Disaster loan information and application forms may also be obtained by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (if you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services), or by sending an email to DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov. Loan applications can be downloaded from the SBA’s website at sba.gov/disaster.
The filing deadline to submit applications for physical property damage is May 19, 2023.
*Photo courtesy of Green Mountain Power
Millions Remaining in Flood Resilient Communities Fund
Funding is still available from the Flood Resilient Communities Fund established in 2022.
Flood Resilient Communities Fund (FRCF) was established by the Vermont Legislature under Act 74 with the intent of improving landscape and community resilience and reducing the future public safety and water quality impacts of climate-related flood hazards in Vermont, focusing on buyouts of flood-vulnerable properties.
The fund has $8 million available for flood-vulnerable property buyouts; buyouts of vacant, at-risk properties; floodplain restoration projects; dam removal that reduces flood risk. More information is included in the attached fund overview document.
If you are looking for more information on eligibility, please attend our upcoming funding overview session (details below). This session will be recorded and available on our website. If you would like to discuss a specific project with us, schedule a meeting at the link below.
Flood Resilient Communities Fund (FRCF) Funding Session, Q&A:
- Tuesday, April 11, 2023 from 11am-12pm
- Join on your computer, mobile app or room device: Click here to join the meeting
- Or call in (audio only): +1 802-828-7667,,557469363#, ID: 557 469 363#
Flood Resilient Communities Fund (FRCF) Individual Project Calls:
For more information contact DPS.HazardMitigation@vermont.gov.
Training Opportunity: Crisis Management for School-Based Incidents
Vermont Emergency Management will be hosting:
MGT 417: Crisis Management for School Based- Incidents for Key Decision Makers
September 11, 2022, 8:00am- 4:00pm & September 12, 2023, 8:00am- 3:30pm
Missisquoi Valley Union Middle and High School Swanton, VT
Register at: https://ruraltraining.org/course/MGT-417/?scheduled=true&id=8972
Rural schools, law enforcement, other emergency responders, and community stakeholders are often limited in their access to resources, so it is imperative that all potentially affected parties collaborate in planning, preparation, communication, response, and recovery in the event of a school-based incident. Moreover, these affected parties must come together to practice their interoperable skills through drills and exercises to ensure the strategies in place provide for an effective crisis response and collaborative recovery.
This free two-day course will provide content instruction, develop concept-specific skills, and provide opportunities for law enforcement, school personnel, and community stakeholders to collaboratively apply the course objectives in scenario-based applications.
Topics include (but not limited to):
• All-Hazards Planning and Preparedness
• Vulnerability Assessments
• Threat Assessment Management
• All-Hazards Response
• All-Hazards Recovery
• Scenario-Based Activities
Who Should Attend:
• All First Responders—especially Law Enforcement
• School Administrators
• School Safety and Security Personnel
• Community Emergency Management Personnel
• Community Mental Health Personnel
• Community Stakeholders
Training Calendar
View all VEM and State of Vermont training opportunities at: https://vermont.csod.com/https://vermont.csod.com/
April 2023
Vermont Local Emergency Management Director Course - Virtual
April 10-13, 2023, 5:00p.m. – 7:00 p.m. each day
Registration required via State Learning Management System: https://vermont.csod.com/
AWR 136 Essentials of Community Cybersecurity - In Person
DPS Headquarters - Waterbury
April 25, 2023, 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Registration required via TEEX: https://my.teex.org/TeexPortal/?MO=mClassRegistration&D=EC&C=AWR136&S=648
MGT 384 Community Preparedness for Cyber Incidents - In Person
DPS Headquarters - Waterbury
April 25, 2023, 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. & April 26, 2023, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Registration required via TEEX: https://my.teex.org/TeexPortal/?MO=mClassRegistration&D=EC&C=MGT384&S=378
ICS-402 ICS Summary for Executives - In Person
Grand Isle Sheriff’s Department, Grand Isle, VT
April 27th, 2023, 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Registration required via the State Learning Management System: https://vermont.csod.com/
May 2023
SEOC Orientation - In Person
DPS Headquarters - Waterbury
May 2, 2023, 1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Prerequisite: IS-100
Registration required via State Learning Management System: https://vermont.csod.com/
NOTE: Individuals must be on the SEOC Roster to participate in this training
ICS-402 ICS Summary for Executives - Virtually
May 11, 2023, 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Registration required via the State Learning Management System: https://vermont.csod.com/
ICS 400 Advanced ICS for Command and General Staff – In Person
Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission - Winooski, VT
May 16-17, 2023, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. each day
Prerequisite: ICS-300
Registration required via State Learning Management System: https://vermont.csod.com/
June 2023
PER 344 Social Media Tools and Techniques - Virtual
June 6, 2023- June 7, 2023, 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. each day
Must attend both sessions to receive credit
Registration required via University of Hawaii: https://ndptc.hawaii.edu/training/delivery/3265/
Code 03216
PER 343 Social Media Engagement Strategies - Virtual
June 13, 2023- June 14, 2023, 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. each day
Must attend both sessions to receive credit
Registration required via University of Hawaii: https://ndptc.hawaii.edu/training/delivery/3266/
Code 81439
July 2023
ICS 300 Intermediate ICS for Expanding Incidents - In Person
Milton Fire Department- Milton, VT
July 18-20, 2023, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. each day
Prerequisite: ICS-100 and ICS-200
Registration required via State Learning Management System: https://vermont.csod.com/
September 2023
G0191 ICS/EOC Interface - In Person
Grand Isle Sheriff’s Department, Grand Isle, VT
September 7, 2023, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Prerequisite: IS-200, IS-700, and IS-800
Registration required via the State Learning Management System: https://vermont.csod.com/
Vermont Emergency Preparedness Conference
Burke Mountain Hotel & Conference Center
September 20-21, 2023
Registration details to come