Vermont Economic Resiliency Initiative

Woodstock Community Forum
Billings Farm and Museum Theater – RSVP with Pete Fellows, [email protected], (802) 457-3188

How will Woodstock businesses bounce back from the next storm?

We need your help identifying the risk to Woodstock’s business and infrastructure (road, water and sewer) related to flooding and severe weather.

• Why: We want to minimize rebuilding and recovery cost — and ensure our businesses stay open.
• Who should attend? Anyone who lives or works or owns a business in Woodstock

Moderator: Noelle MacKay, Commissioner, Department of Housing and Community Development
What you’ll hear from us:

• Project Overview
• Observations from River Scientists

What we need from you:

• Changes made since Irene to reduce risks
• Project ideas to reduce flood risks and speed recovery

What is VERI?
The Vermont Economic Recovery Initiative (VERI) is designed to help community leaders and stakeholders reduce threats to life, property, and employers that can result from flooding and severe weather. River scientists are currently walking the Ottauquechee collecting data. The information they collect will inform a local action plan with strategies to minimize losses and help businesses and communities recover quickly in the event of a flood and provide checklists to reduce risks to businesses farming, municipal operations, or tourism. The project is modeled on the success of a similar project in Bennington that reduced the flood impacts of Tropical Storm Irene and saved the town and businesses millions of dollars in avoided economic damages.

VERI is funded by the US Economic Development Administration (EDA), led by the Vermont Department of Housing and Community Development, in partnership with the Regional Planning Commissions, Agencies of Natural Resources and Transportation.

DHCD – Chris Cochran, Montpelier, VT, [email protected], (802) 828-5212
TRORC – Pete Fellows, Woodstock, VT, [email protected], (802) 457-3188