Joe Biden unlocks FEMA aid for January storm in Vermont

President Joe Biden has signed a major public assistance declaration for five Vermont counties to help people there recover from a severe winter storm in early January that caused thousands of homes and businesses to lose power. 

Local governments and utilities in Chittenden, Essex, Franklin, Lamoille and Orleans counties can now apply for Federal Emergency Management Agency reimbursement of 75% of their recovery costs stemming from the storm, officials said in a press release Friday.

Eligible costs include power restoration, debris removal, repairs to roads and public buildings, staff overtime pay for responding to the storm and assistance to contractors, according to the Vermont Emergency Management press release. 

State and federal officials estimated that the eligible costs total at least $2.3 million.
More information on the FEMA assistance program can be found online at fema.gov/assistance/public.