The document details the aftermath of Tropical Storm Irene, highlighting 6 fatalities, over 7,200 FEMA registrations, and substantial financial damage exceeding $20 million to farms. It outlines recovery efforts and initiatives in Vermont such as training programs, floodplain regulations, and community resilience planning. The document emphasizes the importance of hazard mitigation and partnerships for effective community recovery and future planning.

1. Noelle MacKay
Commissioner
Department of Housing &
Community Development
Why Community
Matters
Lessons Learned
After Tropical Storm Irene

2. IMPACTS
Fatalities: 6
FEMA Registrations: 7,252
Rental Assistance: 1,350
Households ‹ $10K Damage: 1,050
Mobile Homes Damaged: > 450
FEMA Grants: $22.7million
Financial Damage to Farms: > $20 M
State Roads Closed: 146
State Bridges Closed: 34
Local Roads Damaged: 2,260
Local Roads Closed: 175
Local Bridges Closed: 90
Covered Bridges Damaged 12
Historic Buildings Damaged > 700

3. RECOVERY

4. COMMUNITY RECOVERY PARTNERSHIP

5. VT ECONOMIC RESILIENCE INITIATIVE

6. WHAT VERMONT IS DOING…
 Rivers to Roads training program
 State floodplain rule in Development
 Rule to regulate stream alteration and
emergency stream work developed
 Statewide River Corridor map layer in
development
 Towns required to have resiliency element
in plans
 ERAF incentives in place
 New Flood Ready website

7. WHAT COMMUNITIES CAN DO…
 Combine Hazard Mitigation Plans with Town Plans
 Is the risk assessment tied to capability assessment and
implementation
 Do your plans address land use?
 Do your plans address climate adaptation?
 Partner with those that have the data!
 How do you protect existing communities and plan for
the future?

8. Map Courtesy of Tora Johnson, Director GIS Service Center & Laboratory University of Maine at Machais

9. OTHER LESSONS LEARNED

10. Do, or do not.
There is no try.

11. THANK YOU
Noelle MacKay
noelle.mackay@state.vt.us
802.828.5216