HALIFAX — While crews pave miles of Green River Road that were destroyed during Tropical Storm Irene last August, Halifax town administrators learned that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the state of Vermont have released the funding for most of Halifax's recovery work.
“As miles of dirt road turn black, our accounts will finally move from red to black,” said Halifax Town Clerk/Treasurer Patty Dow.
The town recently received $307,000 for repairs and, by the end of June, the town anticipates more than $2 million in payments.
Irene destroyed four bridges and miles of roads in Halifax. Recovery costs now exceed $4.5 million - devastating numbers to a community that has an annual town budget of approximately $800,000.
During the initial days after the storm, the Selectboard and volunteer members of the town's emergency operations center spent two weeks coordinating aspects of disaster management. Work continued for months as crews rebuilt roads.
The town paid every contractor and every vendor weekly, rapidly depleting town funds. The town eventually opened a line of credit for $2 million with People's United Bank. As the invoices came in, they were paid promptly. By Thanksgiving, all 75 miles of roads in the town were open.
Money was going out, but very little was coming in. In a massive effort by FEMA and town staff, all recovery expenses were documented during the month of April. These documents, submitted and approved by FEMA, triggered the reimbursement process.
Last week, the town learned that its $2 million Green River Project was “obligated” by FEMA. “Obligation” is the process of having the money move from federal accounts to state accounts. It is at this point, that the town may request payments from the state.
“I have a binder, three-inches thick, filled with receipts and checks that I will hand over to the state,” said Christina Moore, the town's recovery project manager. “The state is amazing in their ability to generate payment after FEMA provides them the money.”
Moore said these reimbursements will permit the town to continue its recovery work.
“We've still got three bridges to build,” said Moore, “and we now have the cash to proceed. Hopefully, people will be able to drive to our village post office without a 1.5 mile detour over narrow dirt roads.”