Tropical Storm Irene relief is still available

by Billy Canfield Some 1,130 citizens of Rutland and Addison Counties applied for FEMA assistance last year after Tropical Storm Irene devastated the state of Vermont. The Disaster Case managers at BROC have worked with the Rutland County Long-Term Recovery Committee (RCLTRC) and made attempts to reach out to these citizens to try to help them fulfill their unmet needs that resulted from the storm. The Disaster Case Managers have had verbal conversations or face to face visits with 573 of those victims; that leaves 557 victims that have not responded to the outreach work that has been done.

Whether it is “Vermont Pride” or a simple lack of information; roughly half of the citizens affected by Tropical Storm Irene have not responded to voice messages or e-mails sent through outreach done by BROC and the RCLTRC. Help is here in Rutland and Addison Counties as various projects have been completed through volunteer efforts and donations of equipment and materials. Families have been referred to BROC’s fuel assistance program, weatherization department and food shelf as well as other agencies in Rutland County. BROC’s Disaster Case managers have presented 25 cases to the RCLTRC and their allocations committee has awarded $ 8,143.00 to victims of the storm. The Vermont Disaster Relief Fund (VDRF) has awarded $132,049.00 to these victims and to date has not turned down a case that has been presented by the Disaster Case Managers. It typically takes two weeks upon initial contact with a client to gather information, write the case, present the case to both allocations committees, and get a decision.

There are people in our communities that desperately need help. These are family members, friends, and neighbors that are either uninformed or too proud to accept the help that is available. In Rutland and Addison Counties we see cases still to this day that involve mold remediation, furnace and hot water heater repair or replacement and general construction needs. Anyone with questions or concerns relating to unmet needs as a result of Tropical Storm Irene can contact the Disaster Case Managers at BROC Monday through Friday from 8 am to 4:30 pm. 

Billy Canfield, BROC, (802) 665-1756 wcanfield@broc.org   

John Miller, BROC, (802) 665-1710 jmiller@broc.org