In the charming town of Johnson, Vermont, located a short distance from the Canadian border, a resilient family continues to call a tent home outside their damaged mobile home. Unfortunately, the only nearby food market has been completely destroyed. Even the U.S. Post Office has been affected by the floods, now operating out of a small van with an awning in a parking lot.
According to a town official interviewed by CBS News, the town’s wastewater treatment plant and pump station will need to be relocated in order to avoid future failures and ensure the well-being of the town’s 3,000 residents. This essential project is estimated to cost a staggering $25 million. Similarly, about 20 miles away in Hardwick, the community has also experienced significant damage, including a submerged wastewater treatment plant and 80 miles of roads that urgently need repair to withstand the upcoming winter weather. Additionally, city leaders are concerned about the number of homeowners who lost their furnaces, leaving them vulnerable to Vermont’s harsh winter conditions.
In the capital city of Montpelier, a children’s clothing store was flooded and is in need of assistance to reopen its doors. Six weeks ago, Vermont was hit by torrential rain and catastrophic flooding, with approximately two months’ worth of rain falling in just two days. Over 100 people had to be rescued during the emergency. While the rescue operations have concluded, the task of rebuilding and recovering from the devastating aftermath continues. However, progress has been slow, partly due to the state’s smaller towns, roads, and limited availability of contractors and supplies.
So, what has been the federal response to this disaster? As expected, it is the Congressional delegation from Vermont that is raising concerns about a potential shortage of emergency disaster funds, which could lead to a temporary, yet significant, interruption in the federal response to the flood. In a letter to the White House, the two U.S. senators from Vermont urged President Biden to request emergency funding from Congress to assist with the expensive and painstaking rebuilding efforts. They emphasized the importance of including assistance for New England in the supplemental appropriations request.
Responding to these urgent appeals, the White House has recently requested $12 billion in emergency disaster relief funding from Congress. This funding aims to support federal recovery programs and aid the growing number of states and communities across the country that have experienced natural disasters this year. However, the fate of this funding remains uncertain due to the highly polarized and unpredictable nature of Congress, which must formally approve any new spending.
Senator Peter Welch of Vermont expressed concerns about the potential political obstacles, stating, “The fear all of us have is that we will get caught in the buzzsaw of shutdown politics.” This scenario would be perilous for the constituents affected by the flood.
Adding to the complexity, Congress is approaching a September 30 deadline to approve new spending for the entire federal government and prevent a government shutdown. Consequently, Congress might face an even tighter deadline to secure the emergency disaster relief funds requested by the president. With Republicans holding a narrow majority in the House and Democrats having a narrow majority in the Senate, there is a growing possibility of an impasse, especially after the contentious debate earlier this year to avoid a debt ceiling crisis.
One crucial question arises: Can the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) cover the cost? The agency’s administrator, Deanna Criswell, informed CBS News that FEMA’s disaster relief fund is projected to run out of funding in September, as the fiscal year concludes. If Congress fails to approve new spending to replenish the funds, FEMA may be forced to suspend certain long-term rebuilding and recovery programs across the nation, including in Vermont. According to former FEMA official Elizabeth Zimmerman, in the event of funding shortages, FEMA would prioritize the most urgent and time-sensitive needs while placing recovery projects on hold until supplemental funds become available.
As Congress reconvenes after the summer recess, the timeline for considering an emergency disaster funding bill will become clearer. However, as of now, a spokesperson for Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin has stated that the details will be determined after Senators return to Washington in September. While the House majority leader’s office did not respond to inquiries from CBS News regarding the timing of the debate on the proposal, members of Congress from Vermont have already begun advocating for support for the emergency funding. They understand that addressing the current crisis is crucial, as climate change affects not only their district but also the constituents of their colleagues nationwide.
Senator Chuck Schumer, the Senate Democratic Leader from New York, has vowed to champion the legislation. He recently declared, “Americans can’t fail to answer the call when our fellow Americans are suffering from disaster.” He affirmed his complete support for the emergency relief funding, emphasizing the importance of aiding hurricane-affected regions in the south and east, flood-stricken areas in the Midwest, and fire-ravaged zones in the West.
Meanwhile, the arduous repair work continues in upstate Vermont. Local officials acknowledge that the rebuilding process will be time-consuming and will likely require ongoing federal support. Beth Foy, a board member of the Town of Johnson, shared heartbreaking insights, saying, “We have people who are living in homes that are gutted. But they’re still living in those homes. We have people without electricity. We have people who are living with friends, not necessarily in town. We have people who are relying on aid from organizations like the Red Cross and FEMA to stay in hotels.” Amidst this tragedy, a few Good Samaritans managed to save the books from the Johnson town library before it was flooded and destroyed.
In conclusion, as Congress engages in debates regarding spending and funding, the people of Vermont face an uphill battle in their recovery efforts. The challenges they face are not unique to their state alone, but rather a reflection of the increasing frequency and intensity of natural disasters across the country. It is crucial that federal funding is secured to support the affected communities and provide them with the necessary resources for rebuilding and recovery. Only through timely and comprehensive assistance can these resilient communities rise above the devastation and rebuild stronger than before.
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