Homeowner’s insurance covers damage to your home, property, personal belongings, and other assets in your home. Unfortunately, most standard homeowner’s insurance policies do not cover floods. Some homeowners’ policies cover damage done by rain falling from the sky (i.e., damage caused by rain falling into a home after a roof blows off) but will not cover flood water coming into the home via the ground. In order to avoid a denial, Vermonters should notify an insurer promptly of any loss and understand the requirements/time limits for filing a claim, document all damage, pay premiums on time, and take all reasonable steps to protect the property and mitigate the damage after the disaster. Homeowners should check their specific policy and contact their insurance company for full details. If you have concerns with your insurance company’s determination, please contact the Vermont Department of Financial Regulation.

According to Vermont insurance officials, most insurance claims for this disaster will be filed under flood insurance and car insurance, not homeowner’s insurance. Like homeowner’s insurance, Vermonters with car insurance or flood insurance should contact their insurance company as soon as possible to discuss coverage details and report damage.

Visit www.DisasterAssistance.gov and complete the application there. Alternatively, you can visit a shelter or supply distribution location and someone can assist you with your application.

The American Red Cross is offering immediate financial assistance for those who need help recovering and whose primary residences were destroyed or sustained eligible structural damage. 

To be eligible for Red Cross immediate financial assistance, households must apply for the program by August 18, 2023, and must meet all the following requirements: 

• Applicant’s pre-disaster primary residence (renter or homeowner) is located in a confirmed disaster impacted geographic area. 
• Applicant is the head of household and not listed on any other Red Cross assistance application related to the flooding in Vermont. 
• Applicant’s primary residence was destroyed or suffered eligible structural damage. 
• Eligible damage is indicated by significant structural damage to a residence that requires extensive repairs. This may include substantial failure of the roof, walls, or foundation, or a water line above 18 inches. 
• A residence that is destroyed is one that is a total loss or with damage so extensive that repair is not feasible. 
• Primary applicant’s identity and proof of residence details were verified. 

If your home was not visited by a Red Cross damage assessment representative after the disaster, please bring one of the acceptable damage qualification documents with you to a Red Cross enrollment center to apply for assistance. 

To find the closest enrollment center, call 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767) 

All Red Cross services, including financial assistance, are available to individuals regardless of citizenship status, nationality, race, sexual orientation, gender identity, religious beliefs, class or political opinions. The Red Cross is a charity, not a government agency and people do not need to be American citizens to receive our help. Red Cross financial assistance is not a loan and will never need to be repaid.  

• All businesses that have been impacted by severe weather should report disaster damage information to Vermont 2-1-1. This information will help secure FEMA Individual Assistance Program funding.
• Report Flood damage To Your Business: https://vermont211.org/business-form#Business%20Form
• Flood Recovery Resources: https://www.vtchamber.com/flood-recovery/
• Disaster Recovery Guide: https://www.vtsbdc.org/disaster-recovery/
• Donate To The Vermont Recovery Fund: https://www.classy.org/give/501142/#!/donation/checkout
• Donate To Main Street Flood Relief Fund: https://support.capstonevt.org/give/501979/#!/donation/checkout

FEMA Debris Removal Guidelines

Click here for tips about what to do before, during, and after a flood via the Vermont Health Department 

• Vermont Public has a live, up-to-date event tracker on their website.
• Follow state and local emergency management groups on social media
• Sign-up for VT Emergency Alerts

• Vermont State University (Formerly NVU) Johnson: SHAPE Facility, 337 College Hill, Johnson. 802-635-2611 to arrange. 
• Hyde Park fire station: 212 Centerville Rd, Hyde Park
• Wolcott Town Offices: 28 Railroad Street, Wolcott, 802-888-8557
• Hazen Union School: 78 Hazen Union Dr, Hardwick
• Cambridge Elementary School, 186 School Street, Jeffersonville, VT 05464

And here are some tips from the American Red Cross about what each person should bring to an emergency shelter:

• Prescription and emergency medications
• Foods that meet special dietary requirements
• Extra clothing, pillows, blankets, hygiene supplies and other comfort items
• Chargers for any electronic devices
• Books, games and other forms of entertainment

Households with 3Squares Benefits

3SVT households that lost food due to a "Household Misfoturen" --such as a food, fire, or power outage of more than 4 hours -- may qualify for replacement benefits of the value of lost food.  The household must report the loss within ten days of the misfortune.

There is more information about replacement benefits here, and a copy of Form 271 (Attestation of Loss and Request for Replacement 3SquaresVT)

WIC

For families receiving WIC benefits, July WIC food benefits that were lost due to flooding can be replaced by contacting your local WIC office.  Ready to Feed formula can also be issued to families under boil water notices.  Contact your local WIC office for more information.

• Contact Lamoille County Mental Health at (802) 888-5026, text 'VT' to 741741, or use the online contact form here
• If you or someone you know is having a hard time with the emotional impact of this crisis, you can also call or text the National Disaster Stress Hotline, 1-800-985-5990, or 9-8-8.

- We are thinking about our families and staff and urge everyone to utilize supports as needed.

• Current boil water notices from the State of Vermont can be found here.
• Pre, during, & post flood preparedness information can be found at Weather.gov and Ready.gov
• For road closure information, visit newengland511.org or @511VT on Twitter.
• More than 8,000 electric customers were out of power as of Tuesday morning night, with the most outages in Washington, Windham, and Windsor counties.  The town of Johnson disabled power to protect public safety Tuesday morning. Find more power outage information at vtoutages.org.
• School activities and childcare programs announced closures.
• Find flood-prone areas near you with the Vermont Flood Ready Atlas.
• Find the latest forecasts and water levels for specific rivers from the National Weather Service.
• To find more resources and other services, call Vermont 2-1-1 or visit vermont211.org.

Vermont Agency of Education Flood Recovery Resources