Recovering from a Disaster

The best way to recover from a disaster is to avoid it in the first place if possible, and if you can’t, lessen its effects through prudent mitigation and preparedness measures.  Click on the following links for preparedness tips for individuals and families, communities, and business.  Individuals seeking recovery assistance should contact their towns.  Businesses can get help from the VT Small Business Development Centers.  None of these programs will return you to your pre-disaster state; adequate insurance is the best means for that.  Remember, only flood insurance covers flood damage, and everyone can buy flood insurance, no matter where you live.

Towns seeking assistance with recovery, especially from a large event should contact the VT Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security.  They have a 24/7 Duty Officer available at 800-347-0488.  TRORC and the Vermont Agency of Transportation district offices also assist towns in recovery.  Any recovery work in or next to streams needs to be coordinated with your respective river engineer.  

REMEMBER, document damage through photos and copies of all receipts, and report damage promptly.  If there is an active disaster in the region, we will make information regarding such disaster available on our home page.

If you think you might need help, please fill out our intake form by clicking on this link.   You can also print and fill out this form and mail it back to us at:
Upper Valley Strong
Post Office Box 973
Wilder, Vermont  05088

Vermont Municipal Flood Guide

This document is meant to assist all types of Vermont town officials, boards, staff, volunteers and others, with considerations and resources related to flooding disasters.  The Flood Guide shares actions and steps to be taken by each role at each stage: from proactive and smart advance preparations, to advance preparations to do when a major storm is forecast, and on to actions to be taken during the storm, as well as during recovery.  This comprehensive guide is meant to be an active tool that is kept both electronically and in hard copy with your Local Emergency Management Plan.  Numerous state and federal agencies had input into the creation of the Flood Guide.  Our goal is that towns will share this guide both internally and with their neighboring towns, to foster resiliency throughout Vermont.

View the document here: Vermont Municipal Flood Guide