BURLINGTON, VT – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Rep. Becca Balint (VT-At-Large) wrote this weekend to President Biden urging him to quickly approve the Major Disaster Declaration request issued formally by Governor Phil Scott. This disaster declaration would bring critical federal resources to Vermont to help individuals and communities recover after devastating flooding this summer. 
 
As too many Vermonters are still struggling to recover from the historic floods of July 2023, the Delegation’s letter also calls on Biden to expedite all outstanding Public Assistance reimbursements, Hazard Mitigation projects, and buyouts from 2023 disasters. 
 
“We write in strong support of Governor Scott’s Major Disaster Declaration request to address the severe flooding caused by the remnants of Hurricane Beryl that occurred July 9–11, 2024 — exactly one year after the most catastrophic flooding Vermont has seen in nearly a century,” wrote Sanders, Welch, and Balint.  
 
“Vermont has experienced 15 federally declared natural disasters since 2014, including three floods in 2023 alone,” the Delegation concluded. “These extreme weather events have devastated Vermont communities, who have not been able to recover from previous disasters before the next one hits…We ask that you act swiftly and bring all available federal resources to bear — including immediately expediting reimbursements from 2023 — to enable Vermont to fully recover from the devastation wrought over the last 12 months.” 
 
The declaration requests Public Assistance (PA) and Individual Assistance (IA) for Addison, Orleans, Washington, Caledonia, Chittenden, Lamoille, and Essex counties. It also includes a request for Public Assistance in Orange County. If approved, a PA disaster declaration would allow communities in declared counties to receive 75% reimbursement for storm response and recovery. An IA approval would help Vermonters seek reimbursement for damages to personal property, emergency expenses, and other serious needs, including rental assistance, home repair, home replacement, and lodging. 
 
Today’s disaster declaration request comes after an initial damage assessment of impacted communities was completed – a required step in determining what federal funding the state could qualify for. This request is only for the flooding that occurred between July 9-11, as a separate request is needed for the more recent flooding. Individuals and towns should continue to document and report their flood damage and losses to Vermont 211. 
 
In July, the Delegation also called on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to quickly approve Scott’s USDA disaster declaration request to support Vermont farms that were impacted by the floods. 
 
Read the full letter to President Biden here. 

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