Flood update: Sun., July 30 — Waterbury Roundabout

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Flood recovery continues in Waterbury with a focus on treating flood-affected properties for mold prevention, assisting with ongoing cleanup and repairs, and directing anyone with damage to open an assistance claim with the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Sunday’s work crew efforts will focus on the Cross-Vermont Trail near the cornfield along the Winooski River. Shift is 9:30-12:30. Use the signup sheet. Check in at the town offices.

Flooding has damaged the Cross-Vermont Trail along the Winooski River near the State Office Complex. Photo by Gordon Miller

Photo by Gordon Miller

Photo by Gordon Miller

Photo by Gordon Miller

Photo by Gordon Miller

Photo by Gordon Miller

Photo by Gordon Miller

River water residue on vegetation. Photo by Gordon Miller

Photo by Gordon Miller

Photo by Gordon Miller

Photo by Gordon Miller

Nearby at the Winooski Street bridge and back entrance to Dac Rowe Park. Photo by Gordon Miller

Photo by Gordon Miller

Photo by Gordon Miller

FEMA center set up at the Waterbury Armory. Photo by Gordon Miller

FEMA has a center staffed at the Waterbury Armory, 294 Armory Drive, daily 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. No appointments are necessary. The town flood resource document on WaterburyVt.com has instructions for information needed to apply for FEMA aid. Other sources are online at DisasterAssistance.gov, or by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362), or by using the FEMA App.

The Waterbury town website WaterburyVt.com has a link at the top to the Emergency Response section where there is a resource document that’s updated frequently with new information. It has details on steps involved in the FEMA process, the signup for volunteer opportunities, and more helpful links.

Below are summaries of a variety of efforts underway, helpful resources and ways to help out.

Organizers of the volunteer teams continue to match eager helpers with tasks across the community. No large group efforts are planned at this time. Instead, an online signup us the best way to find out what tasks are needed such as hauling debris, delivering dehumidifiers, cleanup, repairs, chores and assembling materials to complete FEMA applications and insurance forms.

Anyone interested in volunteering should use the online signup form to check what help is needed, times, etc. Teams going out to assist property owners with mold prevention work can include individuals ages 16 and older.

Those needing a hand with any tasks should email or call the coordinators to put in a request: [email protected] or leave a message at 802-585-1152.

Waterbury volunteers are also encouraged to look to other nearby communities where help is needed. The online signup sheet may include assignments outside of Waterbury as well. Here are some contacts for volunteering in other towns:

Middlesex: HoniBean Barrett: [email protected] or (802) 249-7945

Barre: Town website to sign up

Montpelier: Signup and information is at Montpelier Flood Volunteer Info and Business Resources (montpelieralive.com)

Johnson, Marshfield, and Cabot: All Hearts and Hands; Contact is Kendra [email protected] 703-486-1149 (text or call)

The municipal building is the headquarters for volunteers and supplies that have been donated, particularly kits to help with mold remediation. Stopping and preventing the spread of mold is a critical part of flood-damage cleanup. The resource document online and the organizers have specific DIY instructions to share and can also assign volunteers to visit properties to help with that work.

That information is in a document linked to the resource document on the town website. The Vermont Department of Health also has much information regarding mold on its website. Volunteers are available to assist with doing this work. Anyone who would like assistance should contact the response team using the request form, email or phone listed above.

The Waterbury Recovery Team is made up of Select Board and Board of Civil Authority members and other and community volunteers.

The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation this week announced efforts to handle hazardous waste from flood-affected areas. Hazardous items from both residential and commercial sites can be taken to various collection centers. The nearest to Waterbury is in Middlesex at the former Middlesex Police Barracks, 1078 U.S. Route 2. There is information online list with a list of collection spots in other communities. Collections opened on Saturday, July 29.

Flood-related hazardous materials must be a part of a flood clean-out and commonly include cleaners, chemicals, paint, paint thinners/strippers, pesticides, gasoline, oil, propane and other gas cylinders, batteries, fluorescent bulbs, mercury thermostats, mercury thermometers, and other dangerous or toxic wastes. This does not include explosives, fireworks, flares, ammunition, sharps, electronics, and non-hazardous flood debris or solid waste. For flood-related explosives, fireworks, flares, and ammunition contact your local fire department or police.

Residents and businesses can call the DEC Solid Waste Management Program at 802-828-1138 with questions on flood-related hazardous materials.

Businesses with hazardous materials can bring up to ten 5-gallon containers of flood-related hazardous materials. Businesses that generate hazardous waste or that have larger amounts of flood-related hazardous materials should call the Department of Environmental Conservation Hazardous Materials Program at 802-828-1138 for assistance.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is working with the State of Vermont for a limited time. State officials encourage Vermonters to take advantage of these resources while they are available.

Some tips on handling potentially hazardous items: wear gloves, a mask, and eye protection; handle household chemicals with care; secure materials from children and pets; place any leaking items in a container such as a pail; do not mix chemicals or pour them down the drain or on the ground.

Other state information flood recovery resources from the Agency of Natural Resources, Department of Environmental Conservation, Fish and Wildlife Department, or the Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation is online at ANR.Vermont.gov/Flood.

A spot in the rear of the open lot at 51 South Main Street has been designated for Lost and Found items such as trash cans, lawn furniture, steps, etc. that may have been relocated during the flooding. Bring found items to 51 S. Main or visit here to find your lost items. Note: This is for larger household items, not for valuables!

Waterbury Area Good Neighbor Fund

Individual financial and food assistance is available from the Good Neighbor Fund. The fund can help with immediate needs such as rental assistance, temporary lodging costs, home repairs, replacement of personal property such as appliances, moving or storage expenses, cleaning, losses of personal medical equipment.

Call or text Rev. Peter Plagge at 802-560-4667 for inquiries and requests. See below for donation information.

Waterbury Sports on South Main Street is “openish” with inventory from the basement still filling the sales floor. Customers are welcome to return. Courtesy photo

In general, know that flood-impacted businesses may not be open or may not have regular hours as repairs are underway. Most business disruptions have been along Main Street. Some businesses are beginning to reopen in limited ways. Check before you go.

For businesses:

Waterbury Economic Development Director Mark Pomilio Jr. is collecting information to share with business owners as they respond and recover from this disaster. Updates will go in the Revitalizing Waterbury business newsletter that’s posted on the Revitalizing Waterbury website and emailed to anyone who signs up for the distribution list. Find recent editions of the newsletter and sign up for it here. Contact Pomilio at [email protected].

Grants for businesses are available from the Vermont Main Street Flood Recovery Fund.

Xfinity WiFi Hotspots are available for free for all Vermonters to use – even if they are not Xfinity Internet customers. Find locations on this map: Xfinity.com/wifi. To connect, look for “xfinitywifi” on a device list of available networks and launch a browser. Sign-in options will appear for both Xfinity customers and non-customers. Xfinity customers may sign in with their account info or download the Xfinity WiFi Hotspots app and sign in. Non-Xfinity Internet customers should look for the “Get Connected” section, agree to the Terms and Conditions, and get connected. Non-customers can renew their free sessions every two hours.

A monarch butterfly in the cornfield along the Winooski River. Photo by Gordon Miller

Waterbury Good Neighbor Fund is a local fund run by the parent nonprofit that also oversees the Waterbury Area Food Shelf. It can accept donations by check or online via PayPal to help community members in need after the flood. It is providing funds to individuals for a wide variety of emergency expenses such as storage units, replacing appliances, temporary housing expenses. Instructions on donating are online at waterburycast.org.

NEW! 2023 Waterbury Relief Fund

A new fund is just launched by Revitalizing Waterbury called the Waterbury Relief Fund. Details are still to be worked out regarding the process for distributing funds but RW Executive Director Karen Nevin said the goal is for it to assist both individuals and businesses in Waterbury whose homes and properties were impacted by the flood. This effort will aim to pick up from the Waterbury Good Neighbor Fund going forward, Nevin said.

The website to accept donations is now live. And because Revitalizing Waterbury is a nonprofit, contributions are tax-deductible. RW also is seeking volunteers to assist with this effort. Contact Nevin at [email protected] if you are interested.

In addition, Stowe Street Cafe has collected $18,000 so far and has passed along $5,000 each to Rotary, the Waterbury Area Food Shelf and the Good Neighbor Fund. The remainder will be used to cover meals for local residents in the coming weeks coordinated with the food shelf. These donations were collected through the cafe’s Pay It Forward program where customers donate in person at the cafe, on the cafe’s online ordering menu, or just via Venmo @stowestreetcafe. Read more about that here.

The Vermont Main Street Flood Recovery Fund has been created to raise money to provide grants to Vermont's small business owners impacted by the July 10 flooding. The fund has already begun to provide grants of $2,500-$10,000 to cover costs for equipment replacement, supplies and help with clean-up, etc. By partnering with Capstone Community Action, it ensures that donations are tax-deductible and are being distributed responsibly. Read more to apply or donate here.

From the Vermont Community Foundation: The VT Flood Response and Recovery Fund 2023 has been established to support Vermonters in responding to and recovering from the catastrophic rainfall across Vermont in 2023. When a disaster strikes, we all feel the impact and look for ways to offer help. The Vermont Community Foundation helps coordinate philanthropic response after disasters. These resources will be distributed statewide.