NOTICE to those with damage from the 5/26-27 storms

EMERGENCY WATERSHED PROTECTION FUNDS:

There is a one-time possibility for federal financial assistance for relieving imminent hazards caused by natural disasters such as repairing blocked streams, unstable streambanks, jeopardized dams, etc.  It is through the Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) program with the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture’s Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS).  The Town of Peacham has its foot in the door to sponsor private projects if they qualify -- however time is short.

If you are interested, a NRCS engineer needs to talk with you and assess the property with a site visit PRIOR TO JULY 26, 2011.  This assessment and meeting with you does not cost anything and does not obligate you to anything.  However it is absolutely necessary if you have any hope of accessing these EWP emergency funds. 

To begin the EWP process with the necessary (but no-obligation) assessment, please contact:

Michel Lapointe, P.E., Civil Engineer with the USDA-NRCS
1193 South Brownell Road, Suite 35, Williston, VT 05495-7416
(802) 865-7895 Ext. 118 TEL   (802) 324-0377 Cell    (802) 865-7947 FAX

FEMA FUNDING:

Two Disaster Recovery Centers (DRC) have opened (Barre and Newport, VT) to assist individuals, households and businesses with disaster-related damage caused by the storms and flooding.  The DRC is staffed with disaster recovery specialists from various federal, state and local agencies and organizations who can provide information and answer questions about storm-related assistance.

- Barre Municipal Auditorium, 16 Auditorium Hill, Barre, VT 05641.  8 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week. 

- Newport, VT (may be less busy), Newport City Hall Gymnasium, 222 Main Street, Newport, VT 05855.  8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday – Saturday, and noon to 6 p.m. on Sundays.

Disaster officials also encourage those affected by the storms to register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency before visiting a DRC.  See former posts about FEMA below.