President Joe Biden has approved a federal disaster declaration for eight Vermont and six Maine counties hit by a December storm that left tens of thousands of people without power during the Christmas holiday week.
On Tuesday, Vermont Gov. Phil Scott and the three members of the state’s congressional delegation said a preliminary damage assessment by the Federal Emergency Management Agency identified nearly $3 million in eligible costs from public and non-profit utilities in communities recovering from the storm.
“This storm was particularly difficult, occurring in the heart of the holiday season, and I’m so grateful to all our public servants, first responders, utility crews and more for their hard work to keep Vermonters safe,” Scott said in a statement.
Maine Gov. Janet Mills and the state's congressional delegation cheered the announcement, saying the "funding will go a long way to help communities that were hard hit by December’s storm to rebuild and repair important infrastructure without local taxpayers having to bear the burdens of the significant costs associated with it."
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The storm was part of a monster system that stretched from the Great Lakes to the Rio Grande along the border with Mexico and buried Buffalo, New York, claiming more than 40 lives in western New York.
With a federal disaster declaration, municipal and nonprofit utilities can be eligible to be reimbursed for 75% of eligible restoration costs and municipalities for 75% of what’s been spent on storm-related debris removal, road repairs, and staff overtime.
