As Flooding Increases and Federal Aid Shrinks, Vermont Is Not Prepared To Manage Disaster Recovery
Across Vermont, repeated floods are leaving residents and towns facing a precarious future. BARRE CITY, VT — Shayd Pecor loves his home, but he wants to leave. For good. On July 10, 2023, up to nine inches of rain pummeled Vermont. Pecor and his wife, Laurie, evacuated as the water overtook their front porch. That night, floodwaters inundated more than 130 towns across the state, killing two people, tearing through thousands of homes and destroying roads and bridges. The storm left an estimated $600 million in damage. The next morning, the Pecors found that their kitchen appliances had floated into the living room. Their furniture, pictures and family heirlooms were ruined. During the four months it took to repair their home, the Pecors slept on their daughter’s couch, then moved into a camper. One year to the day later, another flood came. Another four feet of water in their basement.…