MONTPELIER, Vt., JULY 27, 2023 — What often only takes seconds to destroy can take months or years to rebuild. Every disaster is different and so are the needs of each affected community and family. The American Red Cross is working closely with local partners to create plans and coordinate recovery services to ensure Vermonters get the assistance they need to get back on their feet.

By working together, we can meet the most critical needs and ensure people are not overlooked. Much of our recovery work focuses on helping those who are most vulnerable and people who need extra help. This could include people whose homes were destroyed or heavily damaged, or who are ineligible for government assistance, have complex recovery needs or don’t have anywhere else to turn for help.

RED CROSS SERVICE DELIVERY

• Since shelters opened, the Red Cross and our partners have provided 907 overnight stays for more than 191 residents in two emergency shelters. 
• With the help of partners, a total of 25,411 meals and snacks have been provided.
• To date, 34,246 relief items, including comfort kits and other supplies have been provided to people in need and 2,720 total households have been served.
• This Red Cross disaster relief operation is supported by 255 trained Red Cross disaster workers, including 37 health and mental health services volunteers.

For more than two weeks, the Red Cross has worked closely with partners to provide emergency shelter, food, water, relief supplies, emotional support and health services to individuals and families affected by Vermont’s historic flooding. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, the Red Cross is now starting to get immediate financial assistance into the hands of residents whose homes were destroyed or have confirmed major damage.

This financial support is intended to be a bridge to cover emergency needs until flooding survivors can access other resources, such as insurance, community services or other forms of federal disaster assistance. It will allow people to make their own decisions and prioritize what their family needs most to start recovering. Funds can help families replace clothes or food, offset transportation costs, replace spiritual or religious items, and support other immediate needs such as verified, disaster-caused health and mental health needs. Spending these funds locally will also support local communities as they begin recovering.

To be eligible for Red Cross immediate financial assistance, households must apply for the program and must meet all the following requirements:
 

• Applicant’s pre-disaster primary residence (renter or homeowner) is located in a confirmed disaster-impacted geographic area.
• Applicant is the head of household and not listed on any other Red Cross assistance application related to the flooding in Vermont.
• Applicant’s primary residence was destroyed or suffered eligible structural damage.
  • Eligible damage is indicated by significant structural damage to a residence that requires extensive repairs. This may include substantial failure of the roof, walls, or foundation, or a water line above 18 inches.
  • A residence that is destroyed is one that is a total loss or with damage so extensive that repair is not feasible.
  • Primary applicant’s identity and proof of residence details were verified.

If your home was not visited by a Red Cross damage assessment representative after the disaster, please bring one of the acceptable damage qualification documents with you to a Red Cross enrollment center to apply for assistance.

To find the closest enrollment center, call 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767).

The Red Cross is part of nearly every community in the U.S., and that means our work before, during and after disasters is never finished. Every day, we’re helping people prepare for disasters — and that’s especially true in Vermont.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.