FEMA Said to be Backing Away from Vermont Funding Promise

Vermont officials are expressing frustration and alarm at the lack of certainty surrounding how much money the state will get from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help with recovery from Tropical Storm Irene.

Top Shumlin administration officials told lawmakers on Friday the state was expecting to get about 90 percent of the $120 million it needs to replace the Vermont State Hospital and rebuild the state office complex in Waterbury. Both were flooded during the storm.
Deputy Administration Secretary Michael Clasen told lawmakers new doubts are arising about how much money FEMA will provide, and the same problem appears to extend to FEMA funding for local recovery efforts. Bennington, where the Roaring Branch flooded the downtown during the storm, was told Thursday it won't get FEMA assistance.

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