Powerful storms led to major flooding and damage across Vermont in July. The floods destroyed homes and businesses, damaged roads and bridges, and left several communities wading through feet of water. Thousands of Vermonters have been displaced. Efficiency Vermont is available to help homeowners and businesses repair or rebuild as energy-efficiently and safely as possible after the recent flooding disaster.
Get started with FEMA and State Resources for Homes and Businesses
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has declared a disaster in nine Vermont counties (more could be added later). Residential property owners and renters can apply for FEMA’s individual assistance—and get help to cover expenses like repairing damage to your home and loss of personal property—if you live in:
Caledonia, Chittenden, Lamoille, Orange, Orleans, Rutland, Washington, Windham, Windsor
First, if you have insurance, get in touch with your insurer. Whether it’s insurance for flooding, homeowner’s or renter’s insurance, or car insurance, you’ll need documentation of what your insurance will cover—and what it won’t. It’s important to document the damage to your home or business before you begin cleaning up.
Next, apply for FEMA assistance online or call 1-800-621-3362. It's important to complete the FEMA process first, including the application, inspection, and any appeals you make after receiving FEMA's decision. You could jeopardize your FEMA application if you receive additional funding before completing the full process. The deadline to apply for FEMA help has been extedned an extra month to Thursday, October 12, 2023. Appeals of any FEMA deicison must be made within 60 days of the date on the decision letter.
If you live outside of the nine counties where FEMA is offering assistance, state officials encourage you to report damage to Vermont211 or dial 2-1-1. FEMA has several disaster recovery centers open in Vermont to help answer questions and offer in-person assistance with your application. You can also see FEMA's guide for navigating its Individual Assistance program. State officials are also operating several locations with flooding assistance. Need more information? Check out this Vermont Public/VT Digger guide to the FEMA aid process.
If your business was damaged by flooding, the Small Business Administration offers low-interest disaster recovery loans for businesses. These loans are also offered for homes and personal property, even if you don’t own a business. SBA loans are available in all Vermont counties. Contact the Vermont SBA office at 802-828-4422, call the SBA at 800-659-2955, or visit the SBA's disaster loan site.
Grants and low-interest loans from the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) are also available for low-income homeowners in rural areas.
You can also visit the state’s website for flooding resources and referrals. Legal advice is available from Vermont Legal Aid online or by calling 1-800-889-2047. Homeowners, renters and businesses can also recevie legal assistance from the Vermont Bar Association, while Vermont Law and Graduate School's Entrepreneurial Legal Laboratory is offering legal assistance for flood-affected businesses.
My home was damaged by the flood
Rebates for replacing flood-damaged products
Income-eligible Vermont homeowners and renters can get additional assistance from Efficiency Vermont to replace home heating systems, water heating systems, and other appliances damaged or destroyed by the floods.
Learn more and apply for Efficiency Vermont’s flood recovery rebates for homeowners and renters.
Additional incentives are available from the State of Vermont residents whose cars have been damaged by flooding. Learn more at DriveElectricVT.com.
Help with financing
Help is avaiable for efficiency projects and upgrades for flood-impacted homes.
Energy efficient resources to help repair and rebuild your home
After initial actions and cleanup from flood damage, there will be repairs and rebuilding. Efficiency Vermont can help advise on energy-efficient options while you navigate this process. We also have rebates that can help you save energy and make your home safer. We’ve compiled a short list of these resources:
- Are you trying to dry your basement? Remove any liquid water and wet items and get a dehumidifier. When using a dehumidifier in the summer, keep the doors and windows closed. Heating the basement while dehumidifying can also help dry the basement faster.
- Do you have mold after water damage? Follow CDC recommendations for mold cleanup.
- Do you need to replace appliances? Research the most energy-efficient options on the Marketplace. Look for the orange rebate flag to find products eligible for rebates.
- Many Vermonters impacted by flooding had their heating systems damaged. If you need a new furnace or boiler, learn more about your options.
- Was your water heater damaged? Learn about water heater heating options.
- Looking for heating, cooling, and ventilation rebates? See all available HVAC rebates.
- Do you need to reinsulate damaged walls? Find an Efficiency Excellence Network contractor who can help weatherize your home.
- Looking for a professional? Find an Efficiency Excellence Network contractor who can help.
- Do you have specific questions about whether you can replace equipment with more energy efficient options? Get clear answers and objective advice from an Efficiency Vermont energy expert.
- Watch Efficiency Vermont's August 10 webinar about rebuilding after the flood.
- Watch Efficiency Vermont's September 20 webinar about our flood recovery offers.
My business or nonprofit was damaged by the flood
Rebates for replacing flood-damaged products
Vemont businesses, nonprofits, and rental property owners can receive additional assistance from Efficiency Vermont to replace home heating systems, water heating systems, and other appliances damaged or destroyed by the floods.
Learn more and apply for Efficiency Vermont’s flood recovery rebates for businesses.
Learn more and apply for Efficiency Vermont’s flood recovery rebates for rental property owners.
Financing information
There are currently no FEMA grants for flood recovery. But the Small Business Administration offers federal disaster recovery loans for businesses and nonprofits. SBA disaster loans can be used to repair or replace items damaged or destroyed in a declared disaster, including real estate, personal property, machinery, equipment, inventory, and other business assets.
Efficiency Vermont can help with low-interest Business Energy Loans and Farm and Agricultural Energy Loans. Vermont’s Department of Economic Development is also administering the Business Emergency Gap Assistance Program, to provide $20 million to impacted businesses and nonprofits dealing with physical damage from flooding.
Business-oriented grassroots recovery funds are another source of help, including the Vermont Main Street Flood Recovery Fund, the Montpelier Strong Recover Fund, the Barre Community Fund, and the Farm to Plate Network offers resources to Vermont’s farming communities. The Vermont Professionals of Color Network has started a BIPOC Relief Fund for small businesses operated by Vermonters who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC).
Energy efficient resources to help repair and rebuild your small business
After initial actions and cleanup from flood damage, there will be repairs and rebuilding. Efficiency Vermont is here to advise on energy-efficient options while you navigate this process. We also have rebates that can help you save energy and make your business flood resilient. We’ve compiled a short list of these resources. If you don’t see what you need listed, contact us as we may be able to offer custom incentives depending on the needs of your business.
- Are you trying to get your business dry? Remove any liquid water and wet items and get a dehumidifier rebate.
- Do you have mold after water damage? Follow CDC recommendations for mold cleanup.
- Need to replace commercial kitchen equipment? Find current offers for commercial refrigeration, dishwashers, and cooking equipment.
- Do you need to replace clothes dryers or air conditioners? We have rebates for business owners.
- Was your business’s heating system damaged by flooding? Learn about your options and resources for heating your business.
- Was your business’s water heater damaged? Learn about heat pump water heaters.
- Looking for other heating, cooling, and ventilation rebates? See all available HVAC business rebates.
- Do you need to reinsulate damaged walls during repairs? Find an Efficiency Excellence Network contractor who can help your business.
- Rebuilding your business after flood damage? You can make repairs that can save money by lowering your energy bills. Sign up for an in-person energy expert visit for guidance.
- Do you have specific questions about whether you can replace equipment with more energy efficient options? Get clear answers and objective advice from an Efficiency Vermont energy expert.
I need more resources for my farm or business
Resources available for your flood-impacted farm or business:
- Flood Recovery Guide for Businesses from Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility
- Contact USDA’s Rural Development program in New Hampshire at 603-223-6035 (their Montpelier office was flooded)
- USDA Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool
- USDA's Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program
- Department of Labor Disaster Unemployment Assistance
- SBA economic injury disaster loans
- SBA Business Recovery Centers
- Vermont Tax Relief deadline extension