ST. JOHNSBURY and LYNDONVILLE, VT – During National Health Center Week, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) joined Assistant Secretary for Health for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Admiral Rachel L. Levine, MD, local health care and community leaders, and flood-impacted Vermonters to discuss the impacts of climate change and flooding on physical, mental and environmental health. They first met at Northern Express Care in St. Johnsbury, a Federally Qualified Health Center, to discuss the mental health and wellbeing impacts of successive flooding in Vermont. After, the delegation traveled to Lyndonville, which suffered catastrophic damage after heavy rains caused more flash flooding and destroyed homes, roads and utilities like power lines.
“This flooding has set back our recovery efforts and caused immense damage – to Vermonters’ homes and our infrastructure, but also folks’ physical and mental health too. This constant destruction is traumatizing. As we work to rebuild from the impacts of climate change and flooding, it’s crucial we also ensure folks can access the health care and mental health services they need to recover from these brutal floods,” said Senator Welch.
Admiral Rachel L. Levine serves as the 17th Assistant Secretary for Health for U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and was confirmed in 2021. In this role, she fights to improve the health and well-being of all Americans. She is also the head of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, one of eight uniformed services.
Senator Welch was joined by Admiral Rachel Levine, MD; Michael Costa, CEO, Northern Counties Health Care; Christopher Towne, COO, Northern Counties Health Care; Treny Burgess, Director, Home Health and Hospice, Northern Counties Health Care; Jeri Wohlberg, FNP, Northern Counties Health Care; Shawn Tester, CEO, Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital; Kelsey Stavseth, Executive Director, Northeast Kingdom Human Services; and Jarrett Devine, Regional Deputy Administrator, FEMA.
View photos from the event below:
In recent weeks, Senator Welch toured flood damage from the July 2023 and 2024 floods to homes and infrastructure in Hardwick, Moretown, Plainfield, Barre, Barnet, St. Johnsbury, Peacham, and Lyndonville.
Senator Welch’s website has flood safety, recovery and preparedness resources available. Read more here.
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