Vermont Disaster Relief Fund

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1 1 Vermont Disaster Relief Fund Recovery is the time following a disaster after immediate response and relief efforts have been completed. Response agencies such as The American Red Cross and The Salvation Army, among others, provide for immediate lifesustaining needs following a disaster such as: shelter, food and clothing. We all know that direct financial support to these agencies is critical in allowing them to perform these operations to preserve life and property. However, just as critical, and often unknown, is the importance of financial support for Long Term Recovery efforts within a community. Long Term Recovery is unique to each disaster, and may last 18 to 28 months for individuals and families affected by Vermont s 2011 flooding and Tropical Storm Irene damage; long after the immediate life-sustaining needs have been met. The Vermont Disaster Relief Fund (VDRF) was created to support Vermont s Long Term Recovery process by providing relief to those individuals and families who have unmet disaster caused needs statewide. These funds are managed by the Vermont Long Term Disaster Recovery Group. It is the intent of the Vermont Long Term Disaster Recovery Group to utilize these funds after an individual or family has used personal insurance, FEMA assistance, local long term recovery funds and other grant programs. Personal assets and Small Business Administration eligibility will be reviewed in determining a person s grant request. Vermont Long Term Disaster Recovery Group - Funds Controls The Vermont Long Term Disaster Recovery Group will form an allocations group of at least three members who will be responsible for the disbursement of money. In most cases funds will be awarded to service providers or vendors on behalf of the survivor. The service provider may be a voluntary organization. Local Long term Recovery Committees Long Term Recovery Committees (LTRCs) organize post-disaster and consist of voluntary agencies, community based organizations, local government, and the private sector that have resources available for recovery assistance. The participating organizations agree to work together cooperatively according to their respective missions and guidelines.

2 2 LTRCs will provide a structure for professional case management and assist by advocating that clients exhaust personal insurance, Federal and State grants, local long term recovery funds and other community resources before using the fund. Through disaster case management, disaster-related unmet needs will be verified using coordination techniques to avoid duplication of benefits. When a LTRC has an unmet needs committee or allocations committee that hears a case from the case manager, the Vermont Long Term Recovery Group will have a member present to hear the need and make appropriate decisions regarding the VDRF portion of the award. Most long-term recovery cases will be prioritized by the following categories: Category 1 Survivor is displaced. Property is destroyed and cannot be repaired. Home is primary residence. Only home owned by affected party. Category 2 Displaced-out of home or significant portions of the home. Property heavily damaged but can be rebuilt. Home heating system, wells or septic systems are not functional. Survivor s only vehicle is destroyed. Category 3 Other Residential Repairs Siding, flooring, and other important but nonessential components. Essential furniture such as beds, kitchen tables and chairs, dressers Category 4 All other issues: Bedding, curtains and other items that will help restore quality of life. Clothing, winter coats for kids. Category 5 Home business loss. Mitigation and excessive out of pocket expense. Individuals may access the Vermont Long Term Recovery Fund by calling Vermont The individual will then be referred to a local long -term recovery group or other disaster case manager. This person may be an agent of the Agency of Human Services, area Community Action Programs, or a VOAD agency. If an LTRC is not available, the VLTDRG will assist in finding a caseworker.

3 3 Local Long Term Recovery Committees may also request a grant from the Vermont Disaster Relief Fund for special projects that will directly work towards meeting the unmet needs of individuals. I. The committee would need to provide: Slate of Officers, the identity of fiduciary, bylaws, mission statement, case management plan or structure, brief summary of monies use. II. All funds would need to be used for assisting individuals. A report of how monies were used and how many people were helped would need to be submitted at the close of operations or before more money could be requested. The LTRC would need to provide specific information on cases if requested. III. The Allocations team of the VT LTDRG would be responsible for approving and tracking these grants. The following flow chart on page 4 illustrates how survivors access and secure funding from the Vermont Disaster Relief Fund with the help of a caseworker.

4 4 VERMONT DISASTER RECOVERY FUND DELIVERY SYSTEM If no caseworker IRENE SURVIVOR IN NEED FEMA did not meet full need Insurance did not meet full need Vermont Survivor will be referred to the local LTRC or the VT Disaster Recovery Group CASEWORKER Caseworker calls Irene Survivor If no local ltrc: case will be presented to Completes detailed assessment of need VDRFAllocations Coordinates Unmet Needs Table UNMET NEEDS TABLE PRIVATE FUNDING SOURCES SERVICES GOODS VOLUNTEERS REGIONAL & LOCAL LONGTERM RECOVERY GROUPS VERMONT DISASTER RELIEF FUND CASEWORKER PRESENTS TO UNMET NEEDS TABLE VDRF awards are given based on recommendation of VDRF Allocations Member at the local unmet needs table VDRF AWARD VDRF award is paid to service provider or vendor at request of caseworker. VDRF is one piece of total award. If no local LTRC, Case will be presented to VDRF Allocations FOLLOW UP Caseworker submits report to VDRF on Survivors use of award

5 5 Accessing VDRF Funds through Allocations Committee Case Manager Survivor Disaster Recovery Plan Local Unmet Needs Table This group would include the following resources: Housing Volunteers Services Goods Local Funds VDRF If no local LTRC State Allocations Committee One VDRF member at each local LTRC 1. Gives final approval to each award identified at local LTRC. 2. Makes award to those without LTRC. Payment made to contractors, vendors, etc. Case manager records progress and notifies Allocations Committee when case is closed.

6 6!!!!!!!!!How!to!Present!a!Case! Disaster Case Manager Gather all information requested on form. Please provide: 1. Written list of assistance received 2. List of specific needs and estimates. 3. W-9s of vendors, Tax IDs of VOAD s Contact Bill Elwell Director of Allocations [email protected] to review case. Director of Allocations: Sets up call with Allocations Committee and s case to the committee. Disaster Case Manager: Presents case on conference call or in person. Allocations Committee reviews case Case Manager submits W-9, personal information and invoices to Director of Allocations. Director of Allocations submits copy of approved case management presentation form to Executive Director. Executive Director sends funds to vendor for service. Case Manager provides documentation when case is closed. Vermont(Disaster(Relief(Fund( ( Case Manager provides receipts to Director of Allocations (

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