Disaster Aid Request For July 10 Northeast Kingdom Vermont Flood

Damage in Sutton, Vermont after the July 10, 2025. 
Gov Phil Scott this week has asked for a federal
disaster designation for Caledonia and Essex counties.

Vermont Gov. Phil Scott is asking for federal help for a July 10 flash flood that mostly affected the state's Northeast Kingdom. 

The request asks the Trump administration for a major disaster declaration in Caledonia and Essex counties. 

If the request is approved, the Federal Emergency Management Agency would reimburse towns and cities for 75 percent of the cost of debris removal, repairs to roads and public structures, staff overtime and other expenses associated with the flood. 

In a statement, Scott said, "The damage from last month's storm impacted small towns with limited financial resources..... Submitted this request is an important step in the process to bring FEMA funds to Vermont to help towns rebuild and recover."

 As Vermont Public reports: 

"In the tiny town of Sutton alone, the storm caused more than $1 million in damage, according to a press release from Scott's office. Total statewide damage surpassed $1.8 million." 

That total damage exceeded the minimum of $1.2 million needed for the state to qualify for a declaration. 

The July storm also caused some damage in Addison County, but the wind and water damage there appears not to have been enough to qualify for federal disaster assistance. 

President Trump will make the final decision on the disaster relief application. Given Trump's willingness to ignore disasters, especially in blue states, this might well not get approved. 

This was the third year in a row that a destructive flood struck Vermont on July 10. Though this one wasn't as bad or as widespread as the floods of 2023 and 2024, it still stung. 

Vermont is especially vulnerable to weather and climate disasters. Parts of the Green Mountain State have been declared federal disaster areas - mostly from floods - thirteen times since 2017.