Vermont Wants Federal Aid for Storm Damage Repairs

Gov. Peter Shumlin is asking the federal government for help paying for repairs to public infrastructure and the power grid that were damaged in a snowstorm last month.

The request, filed Friday, seeks federal disaster relief to help 10 of Vermont’s 14 counties pay for repairs to the power grid and other public infrastructure.

If granted, a public assistance disaster declaration would allow communities and public utilities in covered counties to be reimbursed for 75 percent of the storm response and recovery costs.

The costs can include debris removal and repairs to the power grid, public roads, bridges, and other infrastructure that was damaged during the storm.

More than 130,000 electric customers lost power in the Dec. 9-12 storm in which heavy, wet snow fell across the state.