State Seeks Input From Flooded Towns

(Host)  In the wake of Tropical Storm Irene, Governor Peter Shumlin announced that a team of state officials would visit affected towns to learn how the state can help with the recovery effort -and better respond to future disasters. 

VPR's Steve Zind has this report on what's emerged from the meetings held so far.

(Mackay) "I'm going to introduce you to our inter-agency team that we've brought here today to hear from all of you."

(Zind) This meeting in Waterbury is the third in a program dubbed the ‘Community Recovery Partnership'. 

Representatives from a variety of state agencies and other groups have traveled here to meet with local officials. 

They're led by Commissioner of Economic, Housing and Community Development Noelle Mackay.  She says the meetings are designed to assess the state and local response to Irene and look at what the state can do to help communities continue to recover. 

(Mackay) "We're trying to figure out how some of our programs:  tax credits, community development block grants, transportation, historic preservation, how could we maybe reroute those for a short period of time or how can we get additional money."

(Zind) One earlier meeting was held with town officials in the Mad River Valley and another was in  Grafton with representatives of neighboring towns.   

Jackie LeBlanc is Grafton's town administrator. She says wasn't sure going in how helpful the meeting would be, but afterward she was glad she went.

(Leblanc) "The three hours went by rather quickly and there was definitely enough to be said.  I think it was a good thing.  I don't know in the end what's going to come from it."

(Zind) One theme that's come out from the meetings is the need for better communication between towns and the state. 

LeBlanc says in the days after the flood, it was hard to get in touch with people at state agencies.

(LeBlanc) "Because everybody was trying to get through to these state organizations, a lot of the phone mail boxes were full."

(Zind) Another recurring complaint is the time it's taking people to get payments not only from private insurers but from the federal government's National Flood Insurance Program. 

Neale Lunderville who's been serving as the state's Chief Recovery Officer told the Waterbury meeting that state banking and insurance officials have had some success speeding national flood insurance claims. 

(Lunderville) "I want to know every complaint we've got because we can build a case to say, ‘this has to work better'."

(Zind) More Community Recovery Partnership meetings are scheduled in January.   

Commissioner Noelle Mackay says beyond the detailed information she's gathering - there's a larger point she wants to get across.

(Mackay) "How do we make sure that the idea of preparedness is in individuals and businesses and towns and it's always on people's minds and not a plan that's sitting on the shelf."

(Zind)  Mackay says once the meetings are finished, the state will develop a plan for how to better assist communities in future disasters.

For VPR News, I'm Steve Zind.