BARRE, VT – Following a roundtable held today with local leaders, community business leaders, and housing advocates, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), joined Barre City leadership on a walking tour of Barre to discuss strategies for flood mitigation, recovery, and resiliency.  

“Nine months after brutal floods ravaged Vermont, Barre is still fighting to help homeowners, small businesses, and farmers recover. And Barre isn’t alone – so many Vermonters are still coping with the aftermath of the devastating floods last summer,” said Senator Welch. “I was thankful to get a firsthand look at the recovery efforts underway, hear more about what’s working, and how Washington can help Barre build back stronger than before the flood. I’ll bring the voices of Barre with me to the Capitol and fight to get folks the resources they need.” 

Senator Welch was joined by Nicolas Storellicastro, City Manager of Barre, Vermont and Tess Taylor, Homelessness and Housing Liaison for Barre City. 

Senator Welch has visited and met with municipal, state, and federal leaders across Vermont in the aftermath of the damaging floods in Vermont last summer to survey the impacts firsthand. 

Welch has championed efforts to address flood recovery in the Senate, including leading the Vermont and New Hampshire Congressional Delegations in sending a letter to USDA urging the agency address staffing shortages in the Rural Development Office as both states continue their flood recovery efforts. Senator Welch has also introduced legislation to protect Vermonters impacted by extreme weather and help communities increase climate resiliency, including the WEATHER Act, which makes crop insurance more responsive to farmers following natural disasters. The Senator delivered remarks on the Senate floor in the fall on the need to support Vermont small businesses and communities following the July floods, and urged Congress to support disaster aid for Vermont farmers impacted by natural disasters.  

Welch has also spoken at Senate Agriculture Committee hearings regarding bolstering conservation and climate resiliency funding and supporting farmers with more technical assistance in times of disaster. The Senator also delivered testimony at a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing urging Congress to advance an appropriations package that includes Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery funds, which are critical to helping communities like Vermont recover from natural disasters like this summer’s catastrophic flooding. 

View photos from the event below:

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