Flood recovery info meeting on Sept. 26
WILMINGTON - The town will host a flood damage and rebuilding informational meeting on Monday, Sept. 26, at 7 p.m., at Twin Valley High School.
At this meeting will be representatives from the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, FEMA, the Selectboard, Zoning and DRB, the Planning Commission and the Chamber of Commerce.
This meeting is your opportunity to ask questions of town, state and federal officials concerning the renovation and rebuilding of your property.
Business owners, homeowners, renters and other people with flood damage would like to renovate and rebuild as soon as they can. The town of Wilmington is taking steps to make the paperwork process as swift, easy and efficient as possible. However, FEMA and other government agencies have requirements that must be met.
Permits must be applied for from Wilmington's Zoning Administrator in almost every instance, but the amount and type of information needed depends upon where the affected property is located.
If your repair work is underway already and you need assistance, call Alice Herrick, Flood Hazard Administrator, at 802-464-8592.
Artists pull together in the wake of destruction
BRATTLEBORO - New England Youth Theatre (NEYT) on Flat Street, in collaboration with Scott Ainslie and Michael Hanish, presents Get Up 8: A Flood Relief Festival.
The title of this festival pulls its inspiration from an old Japanese proverb, “Fall down seven times, get up eight.”
As the floodwaters receded and New England Youth Theatre staff began mucking out the front door, Scott Ainslie, a local musician, tromped through the mud up to the front door and announced he wanted to organize a fundraiser.
“Three weeks later, we're still mucking out, we just had our carpets replaced, but we're really excited to open our doors for this inspiring community event,” says NEYT's Sandy Klein.
There will be two concerts at NEYTon Saturday, Oct. 1, and Sunday, Oct. 2, at 7 p.m. Performers for these evening concerts include: Becky Graber and Pentavoc, Scott Ainslie, Lisa McCormick, Sandglass Theater, Alki Steriopoulos, Samirah Evans, the Buzzards Brass Band of Brattleboro, Keith Murphy and Becky Tracy, The Stockwell Brothers, and The As Yet Quartet. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door.
There will also be a cabaret on Sunday, Oct. 2, at 1 p.m., produced by the NEYT mentors and featuring a variety of community performers. Performers in the cabaret include: Brattleboro Music Center, Brattleboro School of Dance, Flow Yoga, New England Center for Circus Arts, NEYT Mentors, Vermont Theater Company, NEYT's IMP-Rovers, Tony Duncan, and Vermont's Clown Jewels - Gould & Stearns. Tickets for this family-centered event are all $10.
Advance tickets may be purchased on the NEYT website. If available, tickets will be sold at the door, but we recommend audiences purchase tickets in advance.
Proceeds of will benefit the Vermont Irene Flood Relief Fund, which targets small businesses; and the United Way of Windham County's flood relief effort to benefit local individuals and families. They will also be partnering with the Vermont Food Bank, encouraging the folks who attend these events to bring nonperishable food donations, as well.
FEMA urges residents to keep track of disaster info
BURLINGTON - Disaster recovery officials urge Vermonters who have registered with FEMA to contact them if they have questions or need to provide a change in application information, such as a new contact address or phone number.
Statistics show that three out of every 10 applicants forget to let FEMA know when they have moved or changed phone numbers. This can possibly delay payments to individuals.
Within 10 business days of registering with FEMA, an applicant should receive a packet containing details of the disaster assistance program, a copy of the application and referrals to other potential assistance. If applicants have questions about any letter from FEMA, they should call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 (TTY at 800-462-7585). Phone lines are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week until further notice.
They can use this same phone number to find the nearest disaster recovery center or check online. The centers are staffed with recovery specialists from various federal, state and local agencies and organizations who can answer questions about disaster assistance programs.
Those who register online or at FEMA's mobile website can update their contact information and check the progress of their application online. The website also helps to reduce the number of forms you have to fill out and shortens the time it takes to apply for aid.
Vermonters may receive a letter from FEMA if they missed an appointment with an inspector, need to submit additional documentation or failed to return paperwork.
Certain paperwork must be completed, such as a loan application from the U.S. Small Business Administration. SBA loans are not just for small businesses – they also offer low-interest disaster loans for homeowners and renters.
3SquaresVT recipients granted extension to claim extra benefits
WATERBURY - Vermont households that received 3SquaresVT benefits (food stamps) during August 2011 and then lost food during Tropical Storm Irene - either because their homes were flooded or they lost power for four or more hours - have been granted an extension to request extra benefits to help replenish their food supplies.
The deadline for requesting a replacement benefit has been extended to Sept. 23. Call the Vermont Department for Children and Families (DCF) at 800-479-6151 to make a request. Calls will be routed to the nearest district office, based on the phone number they are calling from.
Households in counties that have been declared a federal disaster area, including Windham County, can make a verbal declaration about the loss of food purchased with their August benefits. Vermonters interested in learning more about 3SquaresVT can visit the department's website at dcf.vermont.gov/mybenefits or www.vermontfoodhelp.com. Seniors can also call the Senior Helpline at 800-642-5119.
Vermont posts 'Open for Business' road map
MONTPELIER - As more roads and bridges are reopened across Vermont, an integrated, online map showing road status, attractions, resorts, and the state's information center locations has been prepared by the Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing in collaboration with partner organizations, Vermont Agency of Transportation (AOT), Ski Vermont, the Vermont Attractions Association, and the Vermont Information Centers Division.
The “Open for Business” map is based on the frequently updated Google map prepared by the Vermont AOT. It includes overlays provided by the Vermont Attractions Association, Ski Vermont, and the Information Centers. The map is interactive, allowing users to select the information to be displayed. It also provides links to other travel planning resources.
An overlay about the condition of town roads is being developed, but does not yet include reports from all of the affected towns.