The following excerpt is from the FEMA website:
"ESSEX JUNCTION, Vt. – Federal authorities have provided more than $72 million in financial assistance to Vermonters who were impacted by this spring’s floods and Tropical Storm Irene in August.
According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, that figure includes $23.1 million in FEMA aid to individuals and families, $31.2 million in U.S. Small Business Administration low-interest disaster loans, and another $18 million in FEMA aid to the state, towns, and other entities for infrastructure repair.
“FEMA and its state, federal, and local partners will continue to support Vermonters in 2012,” said FEMA’s Federal Coordinating Officer James N. Russo. “We know that a lot of people are still hurting despite all that we’ve done, and we are going to be here as long as it takes to finish the job.”
The combined totals for the spring floods and Tropical Storm Irene are:
- 8,418 registrations have been received.
- Approximately $23.1 million in grants approved for individuals and families
- $21.4 million for home repairs or replacement and rental assistance
- $1.7 million for other needs
- 157 individuals received the maximum possible housing grant of $30,200
- 4,035 individuals and families have been approved for housing assistance
- More than $18 million has been obligated in Public Assistance funding for the four declared disasters, which includes both spring flooding and Tropical Storm Irene.
- More than $31.2 million has been approved by U.S. Small Business Administration in low-interest disaster loans
- $18.8 million in home loans
- $12.4 million in loans to businesses
FEMA’s Public Assistance Program provides local governments and eligible private non-profit organizations in designated counties to apply for federal funds to pay at least 75 percent of the approved cost of debris removal, emergency services related to the disaster, and for repairing or replacing damaged public facilities such as roads, buildings and utilities.
Currently, FEMA estimates that there will be nearly 4,300 projects with a total cost of more than $168 million eligible to receive Public Assistance funding.
“Virtually every corner of Vermont has been affected, and we know there is still much work to be done in 2012,” said Vermont Emergency Management Interim Director Peter Coffey. “As we move into the long-term recovery phase, the state will not only continue to work with federal, local and private partners in repairing the damage caused by Irene but plan for how to mitigate it in future disasters.”
