Town of Halifax, Vermont
MINUTES
September 3, 2011
Special Meeting
The meeting was called to order at 1:11 pm. Selectboard members in attendance were John LaFlamme, Lewis Sumner, and Edee Edwards. Others in attendance were Jerry Fairbanks, Alan Ashcraft, Joe Sarnie, Timothy Putnam, Carleton & Bernice Barnett, Laura Sumner, Shirley McNish, George Wheeler, Don & Carrie Perna, Barbara Brown, Amanda Ryan, Phyllis Evanuk, Ronald Gouin, Stephanie Aldrich, Karl Wright, Susan Kelly, Stephanie Pike, David Wright, Robert Martynowski, Raymond Combs, Ronald & Lisa Smith, Gretchen Becker, Sam & Bobby Groves, Pastor Mark & Leslie Monroe, Howard & Rose Alboum, Dawn & Brittany Perna, Holly Fox, Jeffery Glaser, William & Christina Moore, Malcolm & Monica Sumner, April Dupuis, Mike & Hope Ferzozo, Earl Holtz, Bill & Laura Hinrichs, Paul Taylor, Tristan Roberts, Larry & Muriel Higgins, Hunter & Judy Addis, Dora Green, Alan & Rhonda Ashcraft, William Dame, Davis Brown, L. Tefft, Douglas & Marilou Parkhurst, Lucas Shultz, Sandra Pentak-Cohen. Total Count 59.
3 deaths, 1 presumed dead & 1 presumed dead.
-State: 600-700 homes damaged, widespread infrastructure damage
-Goal is to get roads passable with at least 1 lane
-Tuesday 9/6/11 school begins, bus routes not established at this time
-Lewis Sumner speaking with weather on conference call at 2pm today
EOC open since Sunday Aug 28, 2011.
-9” rain
-Repairs began Monday 8/29/11
-125-150 people cut of from road & services
-Power outages
-Food and water available at fire station
-Status
-5 bridges inspected, all damaged
-14 houses cut off, 21 without power
-Road Issues
-Green River Rd, ½ mile damaged & bridge out
-Perry
-Stowe
-Amidon
-Personal Damage
-Photograph damages and keep receipts
-Call 211 to report damage
-Immediately call 800-621-3362 to get inspector to assess damages
-Can get up to $30,000.
-Businesses
-20k loan at 1% interest 802-828-5627
-SBA loan $250k 802-828-3211
-Next Steps
-Monitor weather- flash flood warning
-Keep roads open & improve them
-Emergency has been declared, so funding is cleared for long-term assistance
-FEMA funded work completed in 60 days
-Environmental rules relaxed
-State bonding possible
-Wilmington Food Pantry has a lot of food available for Deerfield Valley
-Cleaning supplies available in building near Wilmington School
-Red Cross Meal Services in Shaws parking lot
-Vermontrecovery.com
-Trying to get FEMA headquarters in Wilmington
-Medical Recommendations
-Keep 5-7 days medications available
-Don’t delay if you feel you need medical services
-Closest hospital is Franklin Medical
-If any issues with fowled septic or water, please contact EMS/town
-Inquiries regarding roads, call town clerk’s office
Questions:
-Canned & boxed food needed? OK for now here in Halifax
-Bridges- how long to fix? Not sure, but engineers are coming very soon
-FEMA payment
-72 hours after declaration towns reimbursed 100% of costs
-Sept 30 deadline for claims to FEMA
-When can we expect FEMA to knock on door? Not sure
-Green River Rd opening? Not sure, a lot of damage, possibly a long time.
-Bridges Out:
-Green River #10 east of Perry Rd
-Deer Park- bottom at intersection of GRR
-Reed Hill at intersection of Collins & Branch Rds
-Hale Rd at Guilford/Halifax town line
-Wineburg on Brook Rd
Meeting ended at 1:53pm with a slide show showing road damage at various locations.
Respectfully submitted,
Stephanie Pike