Flood Disaster Related Information
October 14, 2011
Joint Information Center
Burlington, VT
TWO DISASTER RECOVERY CENTERS CLOSING,
BUT AID STILL AVAILABLE
BURLINGTON, Vt. − Federal and state officials
announce the closing of two disaster recovery centers, but
assistance is still only a phone call away.
Vermonters who were affected by Tropical Storm Irene flooding can still apply for federal
disaster assistance until Monday, Oct. 31st.
The centers which are closing this Thursday, Oct. 13, are located in Lyndonville and
Ludlow.
Other centers in Rutland, Dover, and Waterbury will continue to serve Vermonters
and be open Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
It is not necessary for Vermonters affected by Tropical Storm Irene to visit a center in
order to receive disaster assistance. In fact, people with storm-related losses are
encouraged to register with FEMA before visiting a center.
Register by calling toll-free 800-621-FEMA (3362), online at
www.DisasterAssistance.gov or via a web-enabled mobile device at m.fema.gov.
Multilingual registration assistance is available if needed. Those with a speech disability
or hearing loss who use a TTY can call 800-462-7585 directly; or 800-621-3362 if using
711 or Video Relay Service.
Those who have questions about disaster assistance can call 800-621-3362 and select the
“help” option. Applicants who would like to speak to someone face to face can visit a
center, which is staffed with disaster recovery specialists from various federal, state and
local agencies and organizations who can answer questions about disaster assistance.
The following two centers will close at 5 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 13
Municipal Office Building
119 Park Avenue
Lyndonville, VT 05851
Okemo Market Place
Between Cool Moose and Dark Side Snowboard Shop
57 Pond Street, Suite #4
Ludlow, VT 05149
The three centers below will remain open.
Hours are Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Rutland Heart Center
1 Commons Street
Rutland, VT 05701
Dover Town Hall
120 Taft Brook Road
Dover, VT 05341
Waterbury Fire Department
43 South Main Street
Waterbury, VT 05676
________________________________________________________________________
News from Vermont Department of Health
Vermont Department of Health District offices are a local source of information
and supplies for flood recovery and cleanup. Offices have: water test kits for
testing private wells, N-95 respirator masks, and gloves. You can also
get printed information to distribute on safe cleaning, dealing with mold, water
disinfection, how to deal with stress, what to say to your children about the
disaster, and much more.
The Health Department web site
(http://healthvermont.gov/enviro/water/flood.aspx ) has extensive information on
flood cleanup and mold. There are links to a variety of materials that can be
printed for distribution and posting in community locations.
We have produced several press releases and had had some television and
radio spots about mold cleanup. FEMA has also produced press releases on
mold and its prevention and have handed out materials about mold cleanup.
General mold cleanup guidelines
• Dry any and all wet materials as soon as possible.
• Remove and dispose of mold-contaminated materials that can’t be cleaned –
especially porous materials that may have absorbed moisture: wallboard,
insulation, plaster, carpet/carpet pad, ceiling tiles, wood and paper products.
• Anything that is clean and dry, and does not smell musty or earthy or appear
to have water damage can be salvaged.
• Carefully inspect anything that is porous: e.g. fabric, padded furniture, books
and papers. These items may have been affected with mold or mildew from high
humidity even if they were not in direct contact with flood waters.
• Fabric may be washed with detergent and hot water. If washing removes the
sight and smell of mold, the fabric item is safe to keep. • Non-porous items
made of wood, steel, plastic, ceramic, glass or concrete can be cleaned with
detergent and water, or a weak bleach solution of no more than 1 cup bleach to 1
gallon water. • If other special cleaning products are used during the cleanup,
carefully read and follow directions. Never mix bleach with ammonia or any other
household cleaner. • Make sure you have good ventilation during cleanup.
• If you see large amounts of mold growth on porous surfaces, consider hiring a
professional to remove the material. • If you develop chest pain, shortness of
breath or other respiratory symptoms, seek immediate medical attention.
Resources for mold after a disaster:
http://healthvermont.gov/enviro/water/flood.aspx
http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/mold/
FEMA video guidelines for mold cleanup after a flood:
http://www.fema.gov/medialibrary/media_records/726
(We have posted this on our Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/HealthVermont We would encourage you to “Like” us
on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for timely information.)
------------------------------------------About mold cleanup….
After flooding, many people want to know how to get rid of mold. You can clean
mold with a weak solution of 1 cup bleach to 1 gallon water. That’s 1 cup bleach
– to 1 gallon water.
Never mix bleach with ammonia or any other cleaner. Always read labels and
follow directions.
For big jobs, you may need a professional cleaner.
For more on cleanup visit your local Health Department or
www.HealthVermont.gov
________________________________________________________________
Help May Be Available for Vermonters
With Contaminated Wells
BURLINGTON, Vt. -- State and federal officials are reminding Vermonters whose wells
may have been contaminated by flooding after Tropical Storm Irene to apply for
assistance to repair or replace the well.
Homeowners whose wells or septic systems were damaged or flooded may receive funds
to perform required well repairs, pump their septic tank, or even replace them if the
damage is permanent, according to Vermont Emergency Management (VEM) and
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials.
“The repair or replacement of contaminated water wells is covered by FEMA assistance,”
said James N. Russo, FEMA’s Federal Coordinating Officer. “This can include site work
or grading to keep existing wells from being contaminated by standing water, and
sometimes bringing the well up to code by extending the casing above grade.”
Recovery officials urged residents to have their water system inspected and tested if any
of the following conditions exist:



The well was flooded;
The well was in close proximity to a flooded area;
There has been a change in water quality such as the odor or taste.
“Residents can contact their Vermont Health Department district office or town health
officer for a free test kit and disinfection instructions,” said Vermont Emergency
Management Director Mike O’Neil. “Water samples must be submitted to the Health
Department Laboratory according to the instructions in the kit, and must be clearly
marked ‘contaminated by flooding.'"
If tests determine the well was contaminated and homeowners are unable to disinfect the
well with standard bleach treatment, they should report the results to FEMA and request
help with repair or replacement of the well.
Several steps are required to meet eligibility requirements.


The FEMA inspection must indicate that the well was contaminated as a result of
the disaster.
If the initial inspection does not support the applicant’s claim for a particular line
item, or the claim is denied, the applicant may request an appeal inspection and
may be required to provide itemized receipts.
Renters who have septic system problems that forced them to vacate their homes can
apply for FEMA rental assistance which can provide renters with safe, secure, temporary
housing until the landlord completes septic system repairs.
For more information about drinking water safety and how to test your well, visit:
www.healthvermont.gov.
_______________________________________________________________________
MYTHS AND FACTS ABOUT THE NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE
PROGRAM
BURLINGTON, Vt. – As Vermonters rebuild from the damage caused by Tropical
Storm Irene, the provisions of the National Flood Insurance Program may be creating
confusion for some.
Officials with the Federal Emergency Management Agency are trying to clear up some
myths about the NFIP, which offers federally-backed flood insurance to property owners
and renters in communities that participate in the program.
In exchange, those municipalities agree to adopt and enforce floodplain management
ordinances that set standards for building or repairing structures in the floodplain to
reduce the risk of damage from flooding in the future.
“The NFIP is a key part of our efforts to help prevent flood damage and loss of life,” said
FEMA’s Federal Coordinating Officer James N. Russo. “Understanding more about it
can make rebuilding after a flood easier for both individuals and communities.”
Nearly 21,000 communities participate in the NFIP nationwide. As of this year, some 231
Vermont towns and cities are participating in the program, which is administered by
FEMA but whose policies are sold through private insurance agents throughout Vermont.
More than 25 percent of claims paid are from areas at medium or low risk of flooding. In
these areas, NFIP flood insurance can be purchased for as little as $129 a year to insure a
building and its contents, or $49 for contents only.
Homes can be insured against flood damage for up to $250,000 and commercial buildings
insured for up to $500,000. Policies can be written to include contents coverage up to
$100,000 for homes and $500,000 for business owners' contents. Renters can insure their
personal property for up to $100,000.
The average homeowner pays about $600 a year for flood insurance, which pays claims
even if a disaster is not declared by the president. Less than half of the floods in the U.S.
result in a federal disaster declaration.
Since 1973, the NFIP has paid nearly $40 billion dollars in flood insurance claims,
helping hundreds of thousands of families and businesses recover from floods.
Myth: If you live in the “100-year floodplain,” that means there is only going to be one
big flood every 100 years. You don’t really need insurance, since the flood risk is
relatively small.
Fact: NFIP now calls areas where flooding is most likely to occur “Special Flood
Hazard Areas”(SFHA). Previously, NFIP described these areas as the “100-year
floodplain,” a term that continues to cause confusion. The term “100-year floodplain”
does not mean there will only be one big flood every 100 years. It means that every single
year there is a 1-in-100 chance of a flood. Sometimes there may be two severe floods
only a few years apart in these areas.
Myth: You can't buy flood insurance if you are located in a high risk flood area.
Fact: In Vermont, you can buy flood insurance through the NFIP no matter where you
live, as long as your community participates in the NFIP.
Cities or towns that do not join the NFIP after having flood-prone areas identified, or that
fail to adopt and enforce floodplain management ordinances, are considered sanctioned.
Buildings in those sanctioned communities that could have been insured by the NFIP are
not eligible for FEMA grants to repair or rebuild them, and property owners or renters
will not be able to purchase a NFIP flood insurance policy.
For property located in a Special Flood Hazard Area – an area with a 1 percent chance of
flooding in any year, often mistakenly called the “100-year floodplain” – lenders must
require borrowers to purchase flood insurance as a condition of receiving a federallybacked mortgage loan.
Myth: You can't buy flood insurance immediately before or during a flood.
Fact: You can purchase flood insurance at any time. There is a 30-day waiting period
after you’ve applied and paid the premium before the policy is effective.
Myth: Flood insurance is only available for homeowners, not renters.
Fact: Flood insurance can provide up to $100,000 of coverage for the contents of any
residential building, which includes the contents of a renter’s residence.
Myth: You can't buy flood insurance if your property has been flooded.
Fact: It doesn't matter if your home, apartment, or business has flooded before. You are
still eligible to purchase flood insurance for property anywhere in Vermont if your
community participates in the NFIP. But you won’t be covered until the flood insurance
goes into effect, 30 days after the premiums are paid.
Myth: Homeowners insurance will pay to repair and replace property that is damaged
by flooding.
Fact: Unfortunately, many homeowners do not find out until it is too late that their
standard homeowners policy excludes any coverage due to water damage from flooding.
Myth: Only residents of high risk flood zones need to insure their property.
Fact: One-third of NFIP insurance claims involve property not located in an area
identified as a high risk zone. Even if you live in an area which is not flood-prone, it's
advisable to have flood insurance. Flooding can be caused by snow melt, dam breach,
extremely heavy rainfall, new development which decreases ground absorption of water,
or a hurricane. The NFIP’s Preferred Risk Policy, available for as little as $80 per year, is
designed for residential properties located in low-to-moderate flood risk zones.
Myth: Federal disaster assistance will pay for flood damage.
Fact: Before a community is eligible for disaster assistance, it must receive a federal
disaster declaration. Declarations occur in less than 50 percent of flooding incidents.
Even if federal grants are available, not everyone is eligible; if there is a grant, the
amount may be less than needed to complete repairs and replace property. The annual
premium on an NFIP insurance policy will generally be far less expensive than repaying
a federal disaster loan.
Myth: If I take FEMA assistance, I have to buy flood insurance.
Fact: Yes and no. When uninsured property owners or renters receive financial
assistance from the federal government following a presidentially-declared disaster, they
will be required to purchase flood insurance if their damage occurred in a Special
Flood Hazard Area.
If you are a homeowner in a Special Flood Hazard Area and receive federal financial
assistance, either as a disaster assistance grant or loan, flood insurance coverage must be
purchased and maintained at the address of your home even if the damaged building is
replaced by a new one.
If you are a renter and receive federal financial assistance, flood insurance coverage must
be maintained on the contents for as long as you live at the flood-damaged rental
property. The requirement for flood insurance is lifted once you move from the building.
Homeowners or renters who fail to follow these requirements will NOT be eligible to
receive any FEMA assistance if the property is subsequently flooded again in the future.
Myth: I only have to buy flood insurance if I got the maximum grant.
Fact: No. Any grant or loan, from FEMA or the U.S. Small Business Administration,
which relates to damage to a structure located in a Special Flood Hazard Area triggers the
requirement to purchase flood insurance.
In addition, to protect you and the SBA, you may be required to purchase flood insurance
to obtain an SBA disaster assistance loan even if the property is not located in a
Special Flood Hazard Area.
Myth: If I have to get flood insurance from FEMA they will pay for it.
Fact: No. While FEMA may require that a recipient use part of their Other Needs
Assistance (ONA) grant to purchase flood insurance for the first three years, it is the
homeowner’s or renter’s responsibility to maintain coverage for the life of the property or
duration of the rental.
If you receive ONA assistance for flood damages in a Special Flood Hazard Area, a
portion of your grant money will be withheld and used to purchase flood insurance for
you for three years. The terms and coverage of that insurance is on a case by case basis
up to the maximum award allowed under the Individuals and Households Program, and is
reviewed in correspondence you will receive from the NFIP.
In the case of an SBA loan, the recipient will be required to maintain flood insurance for
the duration of the loan.
Myth: Flood insurance doesn’t cover flooding in basements.
Fact: Yes, it does. The NFIP defines a basement as any area of a building with a floor
which is sub-grade, or below ground level on all sides. An NFIP policy covers basement
cleanup expenses and items used to service the building, such as furnaces, hot water
heaters, washers and dryers, air conditioners, freezers, utility connections, circuit breaker
boxes, pumps, elevators and tanks used in solar energy systems. What the policy does
not cover is the contents of a finished basement and any improvements such as finished
walls, floors, and ceilings.
Myth: The NFIP does not cover flooding resulting from hurricanes, or the overflow of
rivers or tidal waters.
Fact: NFIP flood insurance covers many instances of flooding caused by hurricanes as
well as rivers overflowing or tidal surges. The NFIP defines flooding as a general and
temporary condition during which the surface of normally dry land is partially or
completely inundated. Two adjacent properties or two or more acres must be affected.
Flooding can be caused by any one of the following:




overflow of inland or tidal waters
unusual and rapid accumulation or runoff of surface waters from any source, such
as heavy rainfall
mudslides or mudflows
collapse or destabilization of land along the shore of a lake or other body of water,
resulting from erosion or the effect of waves, or water currents exceeding normal,
cyclical levels.
Myth: The NFIP encourages development in flood-prone areas.
Fact: The NFIP does not encourage irresponsible development. One of the NFIP’s
primary objectives is to minimize the impact of structures that are built in Special Flood
Hazard Areas by requiring them not to obstruct the natural flow of floodwaters. Also,
structures built within SFHAs must adhere to strict floodplain management regulations.
Myth: It’s impossible to find an insurance agent who sells flood insurance.
Fact: While it is true that not all insurance agents sell flood insurance, many agents do.
To find agents who sell flood insurance in any area, look on the www.FloodSmart.gov
website or call the FloodSmart toll-free phone number, 800-427-4661.
Myth: Flood insurance is too expensive. I can’t afford it.
Fact: As with any type of property insurance, the premium depends on the degree of risk
for the particular property and the amount of insurance coverage you need. The average
homeowner pays about $600 a year for flood insurance. To find out what your premium
for flood insurance would be, go to the www.FloodSmart.gov website and enter the
address of your property.