Vermont Towns Awarded Mitigation Funding 

Release Date: May 5, 2000
Release Number: R1-00-29

Boston, MA -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Governor Howard Dean today announced the release of $36,000 and $10,581 in hazard mitigation funds to the Towns of Orwell, VT and Warren, VT, respectively. The funds will be used in projects to upgrade Young Road in the Town of Orwell and to upgrade the culvert under Roxbury Mountain Road in the Town of Warren.

The drainage ditch along Young Road in the Town of Orwell has eroded over time from heavy rains, large storm events, and significant snowmelts. This erosion has adversely affected the adjacent road and farmland and has become a safety hazard for motorists using the road. The proposed project consists of stone lining a drainage ditch along Young Road to prevent recurrent road shoulder and roadway erosion.

Again, due to heavy rains and large snowmelts, the culvert on Roxbury Mountain Road in the Town of Warren has partially collapsed, threatening the integrity of the road and significantly affecting the culvert's capacity. The intended project involves upgrading the culvert to improve the flow of the unnamed brook under Roxbury Mountain Road. This will eliminate future flooding and washouts of the roadway.

As a result of riverine flooding, a Presidential disaster was declared which made Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funding available to the Towns of Orwell and Warren. The purpose of this program is to provide funding, up to 75% of the total cost, for the implementation of cost-effective measures that reduce or eliminate damage and risk from the effects of natural disasters.

"These projects are examples of how communities in the State of Vermont are working to mitigate against natural disasters and working towards becoming disaster-resistant," said Setti D. Warren, Regional Director of FEMA Region I. "These sustained actions will reduce long-term risks to people and property," added Warren.

"Helping our communities become more damage resistant is one of our highest priorities in Vermont. I have witnessed to often the pain and suffering associated with disasters," said Governor Dean. "These grants will help to strengthen our communities and ensure that in the future the cost and impact of disasters is lessened for federal, state, and local governments. I agree with Director Witt that Mitigation and prevention need to be the cornerstone of our disaster preparedness strategy and am grateful our communities are benefiting so much from this initiative."

Last Modified: Thursday, 13-Nov-2003 12:55:38