Council 93 Responds to Historic Flooding in Vermont

As flood water across Vermont continue to rise with no immediate end to the rainfall in sight, AFSCME Council 93 is thinking of our brothers and sisters in the ravaged state – especially our public works members who are working around the clock to protect lives and property in the most dangerous and severely impacted areas.  

AFSCME public works professionals from Locals 490, 1201, 1343, 1369, 2413, and 3797 continue to work closely with other emergency first responders and public sector workers to cope with statewide flash flood warnings in a perilous environment that is changing by the minute. 

“This is one of those moments where we all truly value the expertise, dedication and bravery of the men and women who serve in public works,” said AFSCME Council 93 Executive Director Mark Bernard. “As tens of thousands of Vermont residents head for higher ground and emergency shelters, these workers are placing their lives on the line. They are monitoring dams and bridges on the edge of breaking, closing roads, detouring traffic, and clearing debris from open roadways to provide safe passage for evacuating residents and EMS personnel. There is no doubt they would prefer to be taking care of their own families and property, but they don’t have that luxury. They have a job to do and they won’t return home until that job is done. We salute them and every single public-sector worker who is working to carry Vermont through this unprecedented crisis.” 

Council 93 wants all of our members in Vermont to know we are here to help in any way possible. We urge all members -especially our members working on the front lines of this disaster - to bring any concerns and questions to us by calling our Vermont office at 802-775-9577 or by emailing [email protected]

The following is a list of flood emergency resources and safety tips.

2-1-1: For help getting connected to resources and services such as shelter, disaster response, and more, call 2-1-1

• 9-1-1: For emergencies, always call 9-1-1.
• Vermont Emergency Management:
o Twitter: @vemvt
o Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vermontemergencymanagement
• VT-Alert: VT-ALERT is used by the state and local responders to notify the public of emergencies. Those include, but are not limited to, evacuation information, chemical spills, shelter-in-place alerts, severe weather advisories, boil water advisories, and roadway interruptions. NOTE: Residents can tailor the alerts to specific locations, types of alerts, and on which devices they will be notified. 
o Sign up to receive VT-Alerts, here: https://vem.vermont.gov/vtalert
o Follow VT-Alert on social media for quick updates:
▪ Twitter: https://twitter.com/vermontalert
▪ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VermontAlert


FLOOD SAFETY BEST PRACTICES

• Never drive or walk through floodwaters. Strong currents or unseen washouts can sweep you and your car away. 
• Turn off the circuit breaker in your home before you evacuate – if you can do so safely. 
• If rising water is approaching, leave. 
• If you need to evacuate, do so over high ground. Plan that route as soon as possible. 
• If your home floods, have a licensed electrician inspect your electrical system before you once again occupy your home. 
• If you are in a flood-prone area, or if you believe your home will be flooded, it is advisable to move valuables from your basement in case water enters your home. 
• Check your insurance coverage now, and then contact your insurance company if you have damage.