HARDWICK – U.S. Senator Peter Welch stopped by Front Seat Coffee Monday, July 14, as he traveled across Vermont discussing flood recovery and his new bill aiming to fix the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Sen. Welch addressed a variety of concerns regarding FEMA and flood resiliency during his visit. Notable topics of discussion included updating flood maps and burdensome application processes, as well as streamlining funding distribution.
Several town officials were on hand and contributed to the discussion, along with others from neighboring areas like Wolcott and Elmore.
Hardwick Zoning and Floodplain Administrator Kristen Leahy updated Welch on flood recovery and resiliency projects in the area.
Select board Chair Eric Remick was present, as well as Town Manager David Upson and board member Tim Ricardello. Police Chief Mike Henry was also in attendance.
Sen. Welch began by reflecting, saying even now it’s shocking to see the remnants of the past two floods such as massive displaced trees spotted on his commute to Hardwick that morning. “Reminiscing about seeing the devastation, you guys did an amazing job,” he remarked.
The Senator is visiting nine towns and cities throughout the state: Hardwick, Lyndon, Barton, Burke, Killington, Ludlow, Weston, Barre and Montpelier, meeting with community leaders and flood-impacted Vermonters.
The tour also serves to introduce Welch’s new Disaster AID Act, which aims to restructure FEMA with the goal of cutting red tape, thus empowering state and local governments. The bill will support hazard mitigation efforts, make the delivery of disaster aid more efficient and effective, and provide technical assistance to small towns and communities impacted by natural disasters.
photo by Raymonda Parchment.
He first spoke to the power of local involvement, “Local response is intense, immediate, more helpful than anything else, but they need to get back to their lives.” The senator was referring to the often long, rigorous process of applying for FEMA assistance.
According to Sen. Welch, the bill preserves FEMA funding with the intention to provide local governments with decision-making authority. “We want to take advantage of local leadership,” he said.
“The experience you had here in Hardwick, it’s universal,” said Sen. Welch. Continuing, he emphasized that natural disasters should not be a partisan issue. “There are things we can do in D.C., to empower local people to make decisions, to act.”
The bill also aims to prevent the current and future administrations from withholding funding for natural disasters. Senator Welch voiced concerns specifically regarding the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, whose alleged mismanagement of FEMA has garnered national attention. Sen. Welch remarked,“I don’t have much confidence in her ability to lead.” In combination with the current administration’s budget slashing fervor, Noem’s recent comments on the concept of eliminating FEMA have left many wondering if the institution will survive the next four years. Senator Welch outlined what getting rid of FEMA means for individual states, “No state has the fiscal capacity to respond to a hundred year weather event, every year. It’s not possible, it’s gotta be a ‘we’re all in this together’ mindset with natural disasters.” To summarize, states would have to fund disaster relief efforts by themselves via taxation or other means, a nearly impossible feat, warned Welch..
The Disaster Aid Act boasts simplified procedures for projects costing less than $1 million, with cost overruns that were previously unavailable. Advances on public assistance would be available, in an effort to prevent towns from borrowing large sums while waiting for FEMA funding to come through. Overall, the bill aims to make the delivery of disaster aid more efficient and less arduous to obtain. Town Manager Upson attested to often onerous procedures, “We’re still waiting on money from 2023 projects. It’s turned into a negotiation, a chess game,” he said.
Sen. Welch noted that inconsistency at the federal level has been a key frustration for local authorities working with program managers assigned by FEMA to towns applying for disaster aid, with the purpose of providing technical and logistical support. “I heard from many towns, there’s a turnover rate every three months. Some towns have had 12 to 13 managers,” said Welch. Attendees agreed, explaining that the sudden reassignments often cause delays in the already exhaustive application process, with sometimes having to begin steps anew. “There are some practical things we can do to make Hardwick’s situation more manageable,” concluded Sen. Welch.
The introduction of the Disaster Aid Act coincides with the anniversary of the 2023 and 2024 floods. More information can be found via welch.senate.gov
Raymonda Parchment is a Hardwick Gazette reporter. She recently graduated from Vermont State University - Castleton with a Bachelor’s Degree in English. She is a strong supporter of freedom of speech, and the right to publish information, opinions, and ideas without censorship or restraint. She is a lifelong lover of the written word, and is excited to join the team as a staff member.
