The days are getting longer and warmer, the snow is melting, and soon we will have April showers - all signs that spring is on the way.
But ice jams, snow melt, and showers also raise the level of our streams and rivers and turn our thoughts to the risk flooding and the damage that might result.
With funding from the U.S. Economic Development Administration, the Shumlin administration, led by the Department of Housing and Community Development, other state agencies, and the regional planning commissions is helping cities and towns analyze local flood risks and identify projects to help speed recovery in the event of a flood.
This Vermont Economic Resiliency Initiative (VERI) is modeled after a project in Bennington that helped the community and businesses quickly bounce back from Tropical Storm Irene and saved hundreds of thousands of dollars in recovery costs.
The team is working in five pilot areas - Barre City and Town, Brandon, Brattleboro, Enosburg Village and Town, and Woodstock - to assess risk and develop a list of projects that, if implemented, would help roads remain clear for traffic to move and businesses to continue to meet the needs of their customers after a flood.
We hosted a community meeting last fall and have worked directly with local leaders and businesses to determine the location of the greatest risk, identify potential projects, and highlight the work communities have accomplished to reduce the impact of floods.
The team is now wrapping up community-tailored vulnerability assessments and draft recommendations for projects designed to reduce threats to people, buildings, and infrastructure.
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Brattleboro's community meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 20, from 7 to 9 p.m., at Marlboro College Grad Center. We look forward to sharing what we've learned with residents and gathering input on the draft report and recommended projects.
In Brattleboro, the team identified a number of opportunities to improve local policies, as well as projects to reduce the economic impacts of floods. One such measure includes the conservation of a large parcel on Williams Street, which would allow for more water storage and decrease downtown flooding.
Other projects to help reduce damages to property and infrastructure include the alignment of the Route 9 bridge to slow upstream erosion, and moving the sewer line outside of the river channel.
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The draft recommendations and other resources will be available at the Department of Housing and Community Development's website at accd.vermont.gov/strong_communities/opportunities/planning/resiliency in the coming weeks.
We know everyone's schedules are busy, so if you can't join us at the meeting, you have until May 4 to review the report and send us your comments and suggestions.
While natural disasters are not preventable, the degree of destruction and devastation to our people and economy is.
Governor Shumlin, agencies across state government, and the regional planning commissions are committed to helping communities take steps to implement projects that will save lives and protect jobs and our economy from future storms and floods.