Storm Briefs

By Eagle Times Staff
Short Term Rental Alliance Offers Emergency Program

Members of the Vermont Short Term Rental Alliance are opening their homes to neighbors and others who need temporary housing due to catastrophic flood damage.

The alliance has launched an Emergency Short-Term Accommodations Program connecting those who need shelter with available vacation rentals. The program is open to both accommodation-seekers and accommodation-providers.

Vacation rental owners and managers with available space who wish to offer their homes for emergency accommodations can sign up to participate here: www.vtstra.org/flood2023

Families and individuals in need of shelter can sign up to be contacted regarding housing here: www.vtstra.org/flood2023/findahome.

Guidance for Flooded Septic Systems

High water levels can flood septic systems on waterfront properties, resulting in sewage seepage into homes or water bodies, advises the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services.

If your tank and leach field is flooded:

• Stop using the system immediately.

• Leave the structure vacant if it is not a primary residence

• Use the sanitary facilities at another location

• Rent a port-a-potty until waters recede

If the leach field is flooded but not the tank:

• You can plug the outlet and continue to use the septic tank as a holding tank but must hire a septic hauler to pump out tank regularly to prevent discharges to the leach field. Depending on the size of the home and number of occupants, pump-outs may have to occur anywhere from once daily to once weekly.

• Contact a licensed septic system designer to develop a replacement plan for the damaged system. Flood insurance or homeowner insurance may pay for repairs to damaged systems.

Once flood waters recede:

• Avoid using the system util it drys out. State-approved systems should dry out in about two weeks.

• Have the system evaluated by a licensed designer if it is not state-approved, old or grandfathered.

Unemployment Assistance Available for Flood Victims

Disaster Unemployment Assistance may be available for Vermonters impacted by the recent floods.

The federally funded program provides temporary unemployment insurance benefits to individuals whose employment or self-employment has been lost or interrupted as a direct result of a major disaster. This program is specifically tailored to individuals who are not eligible for traditional unemployment insurance benefits.

Information about the program can be found online at https://labor.vermont.gov/disaster-unemployment-assistance, which will be updated as more information becomes available.

The Department of Labor will be issuing a formal announcement this week, as required by the U.S. Department of Labor. This announcement will mark the official start of the program and will outline the various requirements for eligibility.

Before an individual can apply for DUA, they must first apply for regular unemployment insurance benefits and be denied. Beginning Wednesday, the Department intends to release a public facing online unemployment insurance initial claims application, so that the public can open new unemployment claims via the web.

Fooding Creates High Risk of Landslides

Recent flooding has increased the likelihood of landslide hazards.

Landslide can be difficult to predict. Unlike flood hazards, they do not depend on river levels, said Vermont State Geologist Ben DeJong.

A large body of work in Vermont suggests that a three- to five-inch precipitation event can trigger failures that lead to landslides, particularly when the ground is already saturated, DeJong said. With over six inches of rainfall in most of the Green Mountains and more rain on the way, there is a high risk of landslide hazards.

Anyone can report a landslide online at https://tinyurl.com/22zdpfs2. The online report is for simple observations, not emergencies. Dial 911 to report a life-threatening situation or other emergency.

For Vermonters with concerns that a landslide might impact your home, leave the structure and contact State Geologist and Director DeJong at 802-461-5235 or [email protected].

Alert Issued for Polluted Water

As a result of the widespread flooding across Vermont, many municipal wastewater treatment plants and private septic systems have become inundated with high flows of water and wastewater resulting in partially treated or untreated discharges of sewage into the environment.

As a result, rivers and flood waters could contain pathogens such as viruses and bacteria that may cause illness, warns the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation. Though these areas may not be posted with notices to avoid contact, recreation, wading, boating, swimming, or fishing should be avoided for several days until flows return to normal levels.

Once flows return to normal levels and many treatment plants are able to resume full treatment, the standard procedure for public notice and posting temporary signage downstream of public access points will resume for those areas requiring longer term repairs.

For more information on flood recovery resources from the Agency of Natural Resources, Department of Environmental Conservation, Fish and Wildlife Department, or the Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation, visit https://ANR.Vermont.gov/Flood. This page will include boil water notices, park closure information, road and river restoration guidelines, well and septic system information, and more.