FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 3, 2024
MEDIA CONTACT: Chris Graff The Vermont Disaster Recovery Fund disasterrecovery@vdrf.org
Vermont Disaster Recovery Fund Approves $1 Million in Grants
MONTPELIER, Vermont – The Vermont Disaster Recovery Fund has approved $1 million in grants to help flood survivors. The money went to 71 cases in seven counties providing grants ranging from $151 to the maximum VDRF grant of $25,000.
“This is just the beginning,” said Chris Graff, the VDRF chair. “We know there are many more cases coming to us, both from last year’s flood and from this year’s multiple flooding.”
The Vermont Disaster Recovery Fund, created in 2011 following Tropical Storm Irene, provides help to disaster survivors after they have exhausted other sources of assistance, such as from FEMA, homeowner and flood insurance, and grants from local and regional disaster funds.
VDRF Treasurer Mike Yantachka said the money for the latest grants comes from both individual donations and from the Vermont Flood Response and Recovery Fund organized by the Vermont Community Foundation. In addition the Waterwheel Foundation, created by Phish in 1997 to oversee the band’s various charitable activities, has donated $600,000 to VDRF to provide direct assistance to flood survivors.
“Phish has been incredibly generous, both following Irene and last year, in holding benefit concerts to raise millions for flood relief,” said Neale Lunderville, a VDRF board member and former Irene Recovery Officer for the state of Vermont.
Patti Komline, the vice chair of the VDRF, said that she expects several hundred more requests for funding. “This is a slow process and is slower than what we saw following Irene,” she said. “In addition to the July 2023 cases we expect to see many from this year’s floods.” Komline said that many of the requests for funding involve flood-damaged mobile homes, which, unlike stick-built homes, usually can’t be rebuilt.
On Labor Day Yantachka and Komline delivered a $21,000 grant to the Alex and Addie Wheeler family for the loss of their Berlin mobile home in the July 2023 flooding. Flood waters reached the top of their kitchen counters, damaged all of their furniture, medical equipment, toys and appliances. The Wheelers had flood insurance but incurred thousands of dollars of out of pocket expenses as they bought a new mobile home and located it on a new site in East Montpelier.
Sofia Benito Alston, the mobile home program flood recovery assistance specialist for the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity, served as the case manager for the Wheelers.
The Vermont Disaster Recovery Fund delivered a $21,000 check on Labor Day to the Alex and Addie Wheeler family for the loss of their Berlin home in the July 2023 floods. The Wheelers have a new home in East Montpelier.
L-R: VDRF Vice Chair Patti Komline, VDRF Treasurer Mike Yantachka, Addie Wheeler, Alex Wheeler, CVOEO Case Manager Sofia Benito Alston.
Laurie Kozar, the Vermont Disaster Recovery Fund’s allocations director, said that many of the cases to date – 28 of the 71 – came from Addison County, with 21 coming from Washington County. Other cases were in Lamoille, Orange, Orleans, Rutland and Windsor.
“Our grants reflect the wide range of difficulties that people have struggled with,” said Kozar, listing some of the items the VDRF money has funded, including heating systems, roof repairs, foundation work, septic work, mold remediation, appliance replacement, new floors, and utility repairs.
Graff said that it has become apparent that with climate change disasters are coming faster and stronger, inflicting more damage on the state. “When we created the fund following Irene we were responding to the worst disaster to hit the state in 84 years,” said Graff. “Twelve years later we were hit again and now – a year later – we have been knocked flat again.”
He noted that the July flooding in St. Johnsbury exceeded what would be expected once every 1,000 years. “What stands out about that event is that the flooding was neither forecast nor expected,” Graff said.
Disaster survivors access the Vermont Disaster Recovery Fund working through case managers with the regional long-term recovery groups or community action agencies.
For more information email disasterrecovery@vdrf.org.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 1, 2024
MEDIA CONTACT: Molly Walsh The Vermont Community Foundation 802-388-3355 ext. 264 mwalsh@vermontcf.org
MEDIA CONTACT: Chris Graff The Vermont Disaster Recovery Fund disasterrecovery@vdrf.org
The Vermont Community Foundation and the Vermont Disaster Recovery Fund Announce Hiring of Allocations Director
Laurie Kozar has been named the director of allocations for the Vermont Disaster Recovery Fund as it gears up to provide grants to people affected by the 2023 floods.
The Vermont Disaster Recovery Fund (VDRF) was created following Tropical Storm Irene in 2011 to help individuals affected by disasters after they have exhausted all other sources of assistance, such as from FEMA, homeowner and flood insurance, and grants from local and regional disaster funds. Now, with Vermont still working to recover from flooding last summer that damaged homes, farms, and businesses, the VDRF is ramping up again, with support from partners including the Vermont
Community Foundation.
In her new role, Kozar will lead the effort to access grants from the VDRF. She will work with local and regional recovery groups as well as locally based case managers in analyzing cases, identifying potential resources, and, when all other funding sources have been exhausted, assisting in the application for funds from the VDRF.
“Laurie is exactly the right person to execute a people-first approach to allocating funds and aiding
survivors,” said Chris Graff, chair of the Vermont Disaster Recovery Fund.
Kozar’s position is financed by the Vermont Community Foundation through its VT Flood Response & Recovery Fund, which has raised $12.7 million and granted or committed $12.3 million of that total, so far.
“We know that some of the people who most need help after a disaster can’t get it, or get enough of it, from government or private insurance, and that this stalls long-term recovery,” said Dan Smith,
president & CEO of the Vermont Community Foundation. “Thanks to the incredible generosity of
everyone who has donated to our flood fund, we can help partners like VDRF as we strive to close
funding gaps, maximize available resources, and put hard-hit communities back together.”
For the past two and a half years Kozar has been serving as a financial coach and energy efficiency guide for a statewide program managed by Capstone Community Action. After last year’s flooding, she served on an ad hoc team to seek funding for impacted Vermonters by engaging and advocating with partners across sectors. Kozar also provided direct assistance to help survivors navigate the various funding opportunities available.
“The complexity of systems can be daunting,” said Kozar. “The funds available through VDRF offer a
lifeline to help close gaps and keep the recovery moving forward.”
Disaster survivors apply for funding at the VDRF either through local and regional long-term recovery groups or through case managers. The VDRF can provide grants of up to $25,000. Visit vdrf.org to learn more.
For additional information about how charitable giving through the Vermont Community Foundation is helping the state respond to the 2023 floods visit vtfloodresponse.org
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The Vermont Community Foundation was established in 1986 as an enduring source of philanthropic
support for Vermont communities. A family of more than 900 funds, foundations, and supporting
organizations, the Foundation makes it easy for the people who care about Vermont to find and fund
the causes they love. The Community Foundation and its partners put more than $60 million annually to work in Vermont communities and beyond. The heart of its work is closing the opportunity gap—the divide that leaves too many Vermonters struggling to get ahead, no matter how hard they work. The Community Foundation envisions Vermont at its best—where everyone can build a bright, secure future. Visit vermontcf.org or call 802-388-3355 for more information.
The Vermont Disaster Recovery Fund was created after Tropical Storm Irene in 2011 to be a source of last resort funding for the unmet long-term recovery needs of Vermont individuals and families
impacted by disaster. The fund was established and is managed by an independent, non-profit
organization called the Vermont Long-Term Recovery Group. It works closely with Vermont Emergency Management and the Vermont chapter of Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters. Visit vdrf.org for more information.
For Immediate Release January 15, 2024
For more information: info@vdrf.org
Chris Graff elected chair of Vermont Disaster Recovery Fund as non-profit
responds to 2023 floods
MONTPELIER – Chris Graff has been elected chair of the Vermont Long Term Disaster
Recovery Group, returning to a position he held following Tropical Storm Irene in 2011.
Patti Komline was elected vice chair of the non-profit, which oversees the Vermont
Disaster Recovery Fund and helps to coordinate disaster relief in the state.
Graff replaces Samara Coble who led the group since 2017. Coble will remain on the
board.
The group has added several new board members as it beefs up the organization in
response to the July and December flooding in the state. In addition to Graff and Komline new board members include:
Neale Lunderville, the CEO of Vermont Gas Systems and the former Irene
Recovery Officer for the state of Vermont. Lunderville also served as secretary of
Transportation and secretary of Administration in the Douglas administration.
Janet Ancel, a former state representative and chair of the House Ways and
Means Committee. Ancel also served as state tax commissioner and legal
counsel to the governor in the Dean administration.
Maxine Grad, a lawyer and former state representative who served 22 years in
the House and chaired the House Judiciary Committee.
Kitty Toll, a former teacher, who served 12 years in the House and chaired the
House Appropriations Committee.
Graff, a former journalist with The Associated Press and executive at National Life
Group, was a founding director of the Vermont Long Term Disaster Recovery Group in
2011 and served as its chair for two years following Irene.
Komline, the manager of government relations at Downs, Rachlin, Martin and a former
state representative, served as the disaster recovery director of the Stratton Foundation
in the Irene recovery, providing assistance to individuals in 16 towns.
The Vermont Long-Term Disaster Recovery Group is a non-profit corporation that was
created following Tropical Storm Irene to coordinate local, regional, and state recovery
efforts for Irene survivors and to raise money for – and allocate money from – the
Vermont Disaster Recovery Fund.
The Vermont Disaster Recovery Fund is set up to help individuals affected by disasters
after they have exhausted all other sources of assistance, such as from FEMA,
homeowner and flood insurance, and grants from local and regional disaster funds. The
fund is referred to as a “fund of last resort” and can provide grants of up to $25,000.
Disaster survivors apply for the funding either through local and regional long-term
recovery groups or through case managers.
For individual assistance grants stemming from the 2023 flooding the VDRF is
coordinating with the Vermont Community Foundation, which has spearheaded the
Vermont Flood Response and Recovery Fund 2023.