Three new videos were released this week featuring communities working together toward flood resilience.  The videos feature three separate groups organized as the South Lake Watershed Partnership, the Mill Brook Watershed Group, and the Saxtons River Watershed Collaborative. 

These multi-town watershed-wide efforts were catalyzed by the High Meadows Fund and the March 2015 Leahy Environmental Summit at the Lake Champlain at the Echo Science Center.

On Earth Day 2016, ANR launched its new climate change website.  climatechange.vermont.gov  Check out the climate dashboard with information on how Vermont's climate is changing, and find out how you can take action on your land and in your communities.

Hazard Mitigation Assistance: Climate Resilient Mitigation Activities Updates

In September 2015, FEMA released three new activities eligible for the HMA programs: Aquifer Storage and Recovery, Floodplain and Stream Restoration, and Flood Diversion and Storage, known as the Climate Resilient Mitigation Activities (CRMA). FEMA has developed BCA tools to calculate benefits for drought mitigation and/or ecosystem services for mitigation projects

May 2, May 25 and Sept 7

3 FREE Workshops - Techniques to Flood Proof Buildings

The workshops will review the risks, regulations and insurance requirements for buildings in flood prone areas. Engineering strategies for protecting existing historic structures will be presented as well as several case studies. In addition, take away practical tips for flood proofing your building that won't break the bank.

The Board of the Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM) www.floods.org met this week in Wisconsin.  The agenda included a review of the proposed FEMA “disaster deductible”, and approval of the ASFPM Riverine Erosion Hazards White Paper (Feb. 2016).  

FEMA Pre Disaster Mitigation (PDM) funding  has been announced for Federal Fiscal Year ’16, with applications due by June 15.  There is a set-aside of $575,000 for Vermont, so this should generate some good mitigation projects!

The State of Vermont contact person for PDM is Hazard Mitigation Planner Lauren Oates lauren.oates@vermont.gov

Notice of Funding Opportunity: FY 2016 Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grants

The VT Division of Emergency Management & Homeland Security (DEMHS) is pleased to announce the availability of FEMA mitigation grant funds. The State of Vermont received a federal disaster declaration (DR 4232-VT) for damages resulting from flooding, which occurred on June 9, 2015. In addition to FEMA’s Public Assistance program, there are federal mitigation funds available to all Vermont towns through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP). 

The International Joint Commission (IJC) is requesting comments from the public on a draft report to enhance flood preparedness and warnings for Lake Champlain and the Richelieu River by December 10, 2015.  Specifically the IJC asks if the report’s recommendations are sound and whether the recommendations address real needs for enhanced flood preparedness and warnings for Lake Champlain and the Richelieu River.