After the Flood: Vermont Families Struggle with Recovery and Bureaucracy

A year after catastrophic flooding devastated Montpelier, Vermont, many residents, including Lisa Edson Neveu and her two teenage sons, are still grappling with unrepaired damage to their homes. Neveu’s house remains in disrepair, with missing walls, floors, and ceilings, forcing the family to cook meals on outdoor equipment. The flooding has led to prolonged battles with insurance companies, state and federal agencies, and the city over recovery and rebuilding efforts.
The city of Montpelier is deliberating which homes to elevate above flood risk or buy out with allocated funds, but many residents, like Neveu and her neighbor Ed Haggett, remain in limbo. Haggett, who lost his home of 47 years, has been living with his daughter while awaiting a decision on a buyout. The bureaucratic delays and uncertainty have taken a toll on residents’ mental and physical health.
Vermont made headlines in May by becoming the first state to pass a law requiring fossil fuel companies to pay for climate-change-related damages, a move that may lead to legal battles with oil companies.
Montpelier’s Mayor Jack McCullough acknowledged the city still bears scars from the flooding, but noted that many businesses and homes have reopened. However, the recovery process is ongoing and will take more time. The city’s planning director, Mike Miller, said Neveu’s home is a priority for elevation if feasible.
Statewide, over 3,160 homes have qualified for FEMA repair assistance, with many homeowners still assessing damage and considering buyouts. Residents in nearby cities like Barre and Berlin are also affected, with some living in overcrowded temporary arrangements.
While some families, like Sara Morris’s, have managed to secure new housing, many others feel left behind in the recovery efforts. Neveu expressed frustration at the lack of progress and planning a year after the disaster, despite the community’s resilience and efforts to rebuild.