>> ALMOST A MONTH AFTER RIVERS CRESTED THE FALLOUT FROM AT THE SUMMER FLOOD CONTINUES.

EXPERTS ARE WARNING WATER FROM WELLS MAY NOT BE SAFE AND ACKNOWLEDGED THE 211 HEALTH SYSTEM IS WORSE.

>> OUR HOPE WAS A LOT OF IT COULD BE SAVED THAT WAS UNDER WATER AND MAYBE IT WOULD COME BACK.

ING IT'S GONE THE OTHER WAY.

THERE'S A LOT OF CORNWALL FOR LIVESTOCK FEED IS NOT DOING AS WELL AS WE HAD HOPED IT WOULD.

>> WE HAVE UPDATES ON SOUTHEASTERNING CHANGES IN BURLINGTON AND A TRIBUTE TO A BELOVED PET IN WINOOSKI.

ALL THAT AND MORE AHEAD ON "VERMONT THIS WEEK."

>> FROM THE VERMONT PUBLIC STUDIO IN WINOOSKI, THIS IS "VERMONT THIS WEEK" MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE LINTILHAC FOUNDATION AND MILNE TRAVEL.

>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I'M MARK DAVIS.

IT'S FRIDAY, AUGUST 4.

ANOTHER BUSY WEEK.

WE HAVE TIM MCQUISTON, EDITOR OF VERMONT BUSINESS MAGAZINE, AND KEVIN MCCALLUM WITH SEVEN DAYS AND KATHARINE HUNTLEY WITH WCAX.

WE NEED TO TAKE A SECOND TO TALK ABOUT BREAKING NEWS WE'RE MONITORING DOWN IN ADDISON COUNTY.

THE MIDDLEBURY AREA RECEIVED ABOUT SIX INCHES OF RAIN IN JUST A FEW HOURS LATE YESTERDAY.

AS WE RECORD THIS ROUTES 125 AND 116 HAVE SUSTAINED MAJOR DAMAGES.

THERE HAVE BEEN AT LEAST THREE SWIFT WATER RESCUES SO FAR AND THERE'S CONCERN ABOUT MORE MUDSLIDES.

WE'RE HOPING FORT BEST FOR EVERYTHING DOWN THERE AS WE TAPE THIS.

>> BACK TO THE EVENTS OF THIS PAST WEEK WHERE THE DOMINOES JUST CONTINUED TO KEEP FALLING FROM THE HIS FORI HISTORIC FLOOE RECEIVED.

WE GOT BAD NEWS FOR FARMERS, FOR OWNERS OF PRIVATE WELLS.

BEFORE THAT, THIS IS BRIDGET O'BRIEN WITH THE VERMONT HEALTH DEPARTMENT CAUTIONING PEOPLE ABOUT THE POTENTIAL CONTAMINATION.

>> BACTERIA CAN MAKE YOU SICK.

WE WANT PEOPLE ON PRIVATE DRINKING WATER SYSTEMS ASSUMING THEIR SYSTEM IS CONTAMINATED IF FLOODWATERS REACH THEIR LOWER SPRING.

NOT USING IT FOR MAKING BABY BOTTLES OR OTHER USE WHERE THE WATER GETS INTO YOUR MOUTH.

>> TIM, THE HEADLINES SEEM ROUGH THIS WEEK.

WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE RECOVERING BUT SOME TOUGH THINGS.

>> YOU MENTIONED THE ADDISON COUNTY THING.

WE ASSUMED WHAT'S HAPPENING WOULD NOT COUNT TOWARD THE FEMA DESIGNATION, WHICH THE GOVERNOR HAS BEEN URGING PEOPLE TO CALL 211 TO GET THAT DESIGNATION.

TO THE POINT ABOUT THE WELLS AND THE FARMLAND, THE INITIAL WHEN THEY DID THE INITIAL TESTING ON THE PRIVATE WELLS THEY FOUND HALF WERE CONTAMINATED.

JUST HEARD THE REPORT.

YOU SHOULD ASSUME THAT IF YOU HAVE A PRIVATE WELL THAT IT'S GOING TO BE CONTAMINATED.

WAIT UNTIL AFTER YOU GET IT TESTED AND WAIT UNTIL AFTER IT GETS TESTED.

WE HEARD FROM AGRICULTURE SECRETARY TEBBETTS.

ALSO ABOUT THE FARMLAND.

IT'S REALLY COMMON IN THE SPRING FOR FARMLAND TO GET FLOODED, RIGHT 1234 IT USUALLY DOESN'T MATTER TOO MUCH UNLESS THERE'S A LOT OF EROSION BUT BECAUSE IT HAPPENED WHEN THE CORNWALL WAS ALREADY UP AND THE OTHER PRODUCE WAS ALREADY UP, IT NOT ONLY COVERED IT, BUT IT BEAT IT DOWN.

SO IT'S NOT HAVING TIME TO RECOVER.

THE OTHER PART OF THAT IS YOU'RE FACING CONTAMINATION JUST AS THE WELLS ARE BEING CONTAMINATED AND A LOT OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH TIMING.

THIS HAPPENS IN THE WINTER THE WATER FRANKLY IS CLEANER.

NOW WE'RE GETTING THE WHOLE MIX OF WHATEVER MIGHT BE IN.

WE KNOW A LOT OF THE SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANTS HAVE BEEN INUNDATED.

THEY ARE DESIGNED TO OVERFLOW, WHICH MEANS THAT YOU GET RAW SEWAGE.

THERE'S A LOT OF THAT STUFF AROUND.

THE PEOPLE IN DOWNTOWN MONTPELIER ARE FACING THE SAME THING.

IF FLOODWATERS GOT INTO THEIR OFFICES AND RETAIL OPERATIONS, BASICALLY EVERYTHING IT TOUCHED IS GONE.

THE FLOODWATERS, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE AMOUNT IS GOING TO BE.

OBVIOUSLY IN THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR ALL THOSE THINGS SEPARATELY.

BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE AND THE RAIN -- IT'S RAINING NOW AS WE SPEAK.

REALLY DIFFICULT SITUATION.

>> THE WELL CONTAMINATION I WAS MOST STRUCK BY THE STATE SENT OUT 3,000 TEST KITS AROUND THE STATE.

HARDLY ANY HAVE COME BACK YET.

I THINK THEY SAID ABOUT 300 OF THE 3,000 THEY SENT OUT HAVE BEEN RETURNED.

>> YEAH.

>> THOSE 300 SHOWED HALF -- >> HALF OF THE ONES THAT GOT BACK N. DON'T DRINK THE WATER WHATEVER YOU DO.

GET THOSE TEST KITS BACK.

THEY HAVE TO KNOW WHERE THE PROBLEMS ARE.

THEY HAVE TO KNOW THAT THE WATER IS SAFE SO THEY ARE SEEING AS WE SAW IN THE VIDEO, DO NOT DRINK IT, DO NOT USE IT FOR ANY PURPOSES, ESPECIALLY CONSUMING IT.

>> ON THE TOPIC OF DIFFICULT FOLLOW-UP NEWS FROM THE FLOOD WE GOT THE WORST KIND THIS WEEK.

WE WANTED TO NOTE THAT THE STATE HAS ANNOUNCED THE SECOND DEATH TIED TO THE STORM.

67-YEAR-OLD ROBERT KIRKER OF NEW YORK STATE WAS IN VERMONT HIKING THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL WHEN THE STORM HIT.

HE DROWNED IN THE STONYBROOK NEAR STOCKBRIDGE.

WE CERTAINLY EXTEND OUR DEEPEST CONDOLENCES TO HIS FAMILY.

>> NOW, KEVIN, THROUGHOUT THE FLOODING EMERGENCY WE HEARD STATE OFFICIALS URGE VERMONTERS TO CALL 211, RESOURCES TO HELP.

THEY HAMMERED 211 RELENTLESSLY.

YOU DENIES REPORTING THIS WEEK THAT SUGGESTED THAT SYSTEM WAS STRUGGLING MAYBE A LOT MORE THAN WE REALIZED TO KEEP UP WITH THE VOLUME.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

IT SHOULDN'T COME AS A SURPRISE TO ANYONE THAT CALL VOLUMES TO 211 SPIKED IMMEDIATELY AS THE FLOOD WAS HITTING.

THE GOVERNOR AND OTHER STATE OFFICIALS WERE URGING PEOPLE TO CALL FOR ASSISTANCE WITH LOOKING FOR HELP WITH VOLUNTEERS TO HEL% THEM OR TO REPORT THE DAMAGE THAT THEY WERE SUFFERING TO THEIR HOMES AND BUSINESSES SO THAT'S TOTALLY NATURAL AND UNDERSTANDABLE BUT WHAT WAS MORE SURPRISING WAS THE FACT THAT 211 IS NOT ABLE TO KEEP UP IN ANY WAY WITH THE COME VOLUMES.

LAWMAKERS ARE STARTING TO HEAR BACK FROM CONSTITUENTS, STARTING TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT WHY 211 WAS AS DELAYED AS IT WAS.

SO THERE'S JUST A LOT OF OPEN QUESTIONS.

WHAT WE LEARNED WAS AT THE WORST OF IT THERE WERE 300 UNANSWERED CALLS TO 211.

THATS MEANS CALLED IN TRYING TO GET AN ANSWER TO A FLOOD RELATED QUESTION AND JUST GOT A MESSAGE.

LEAVE A MESSAGE.

THEY WOULD LEAVE A MESSAGE THEN THE CALL CENTER WOULD NEED TO GET BACK TO THAT PERSON.

WITH 300 PEOPLE TO GET BACK TO EVERY DAY IT WAS MULTIPLE DAYS BEFORE PEOPLE GOT CALLS RETURNED.

LAWMAKERS ARE SAYING THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE.

THERE SEEMS TO BE A DEBATE RAGING REALLY ABOUT WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT.

WAS 211 NOT SET UP FOR THAT?

WERE THEY NOT STAFFED SUFFICIENTLY?

THEY SAY THEY HAD TO CUT BACK STAFF A FEW DAYS BEFORE THE STORM HIT.

THE GOVERNOR, HOWEVER, THE OTHER DAY REJECTED THAT SAIDING IT'S NOT THE STAFFING IT'S WE DIDN'T KNOW HOW BAD THE BACKLOG WAS.

THEY NEEDED TO TELL US WHEN THEY WERE THAT FAR BEHIND.

WHEN THEY FINALLY DID WE CORRECTED IT.

BUT IT'S CLEAR THAT THEY ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING CLOSELY AT THE 211 SYSTEM AND WHY IT OPERATED AS IT DID.

>> NOT JUST THAT BUT AN APP AND WEBSITE DESIGNED TO HELP COORDINATE VOLUNTEERS AND THERE WERE PROBLEMS THERE?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THE OTHER HALF OF THE STORY WAS NOT JUST THAT YOU COULDN'T GET THROUGH BUT WHEN 211 GATHERED YOUR INFORMATION, THE THINGS YOU WERE TELLING THEM ABOUT THE PROBLEMS IN YOUR HOME, THE DAMAGE, OR YOU WERE ASKING FOR HELP FROM A VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION, I NEED SOMEONE TO HELP WITH MAY BASEMENT.

IT'S FULL OF MUD.

THAT INFORMATION WAS NOT DISSEMINATED SMOOTHLY TO THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT COULD HELP THEM SO TOWNS AROUND THE STATE WERE ENCOURAGED TO USE A PRIVATE PARTY'S APP CALLED CRISIS CLEANUP, AND NOT ALL OF THEM USED IT SO THE INFORMATION WAS GOING THROUGH THIS THIRD PARTY APP IN AN EFFORT TO HELP COORDINATE THE VOLUNTEER SERVICES.

YOU DON'T WANT FIVE DIFFERENT AID ORGANIZATIONS DESCENDING ON A NEIGHBORHOOD.

THIS WAS DESIGNED TO COORDINATE YOU GO THERE, YOU GO THERE, BUT NOT EVERY TOWN WAS USING IT.

>> EVEN WATERBURY, THEY DIDN'T KNOW -- >> THEY NEVER HEARD OF THE THING.

THEN THEY WERE BASICALLY GETTING THE INFORMATION I THINK THE FIRST MAJOR BATCH OF INFORMATION ABOUT THE CALLS FOR ASSISTANCE WERE TEN DAYS AFTER THE FLOOD AND THEN EVEN THEN IT WAS COMING BY EMAIL AND THERE WAS SUCH A FLOAT OF EMAIL TOWN OFFICIALS WERE NOT MONITORING THEIR IN BOXES FOR EVERY THING SO THEY MISSED T. THEY ARE WORRIED PEOPLE WERE LEFT HANG NOT GUILTY THE MIDDLE OF THE WORST OF T. >> THE BACKLOG IS NOW CLEARED.

>> CORRECT.

>> I HAVE A HUNCH THE LEGISLATURE MIGHT BE TALKING QUITE A BIT MORE AS WE GO FORWARD FROM THE STORM.

KATHARINE, NO SURPRISE PERHAPS THE MOST PREDICTABLE HEADLINE THIS SUMMER THAT VERMONT OFFICIALLY MADE WEATHER HISTORY IN JULY, RIGHT?

>> SO THE INTERESTING THING I ORIGINALLY DID THE STORY BECAUSE IT FELT SO HOT.

IT WAS ONLY THE 8th HOTTEST JULY BUT IT WAS THE RAINFALL THAT WAS THE EXTREME WEATHER WE EXPERIENCED.

MONTPELIER SAW 12-INCHES OF RAIN IN JULY, WHICH IS THE MOST MONTPELIER HAS EVER SEEN IN A MONTH EVER.

THAT'S A LOT OF RAIN THAT THEY HAD TO DEAL WITH.

OBVIOUSLY WE SAW THE EXTREME FLOODING.

I SPOKE TO CLIMATOLOGISTS AND IT POINTS TOWARDS MORE EXTREME WEATHER.

WE ALSO SAW?

JULY ALL OF THE SMOKE FROM THE CANADIAN WILDFIRES.

PEOPLE WEREN'T EXPECTING THAT.

IT'S BEEN -- IT'S SCARY TO KNOW WHAT'S NEXT I GUESS.

PEOPLE THOUGHT AFTER IRENE, IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN AND 12 YEARS LATER IT HAPPENED.

>> LIKE A CLIMATE APOCALYPSE.

THE 8th HOTTEST MONTH IS NOT SOMETHING TO BE CELEBRATING EITHER.

>> THE REASON IT FELT REALLY HOT TO PEOPLE WAS BECAUSE OF THE HUMIDITY.

THE REASON IT'S SO HUMID IS BECAUSE THE NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN IS REALLY, REALLY HOT RIGHT NOW, WHICH IS UNCHARACTERISTIC.

IT'S NOT SLOWING DOWN ANY TIME SOON.

>> SPEAKING OF THOSE SORTS OF PHENOMENA UP AND DOWN HOW WE MIGHT LIVE WITH IT, KEVIN, YOU REPORTED ABOUT DAMS, WHICH IS SOMETHING A LOT OF US PROBABLY DON'T GIVE TOO MUCH THOUGHT TO BUT HAVE HAD FOREMOST OFTEN OUR MINDS RECENTLY TO A BIG EMERGENCY.

WHAT DID YOU LEARN?

>> WELL, AS EVERYONE PROBABLY REMEMBERS THE WRIGHTSVILLE DAM NORTH OF MONTPELIER WAS WATCHED VERY, VERY CLOSELY BY THAT COMMUNITY.

THEY GOT NOTICES SAYING THAT THE DAM WAS WITHIN SIX INCHES OF THE WATER COMING OVER THE SPILLWAY.

THAT IF THAT HAPPENED THERE WAS GOING TO AB TORRENT OF ADDITIONAL WATER INTO THE NORTH BRANCH DOWNTOWN MONTPELIER WOULD GET EVEN WORSE FLOODED THAN IT DID.

WE SAID WE NEED TO TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT THE DAMS IN THE STATE.

IF WE HAVE BIG MARQUEE DAMS RIGHT TO THE BRINK WE LEARNED THOSE ARE NOT THE ONLY DAMS EXPERIENCING STRESS AND STRAIN RIGHT TO THE BREAKING POINT.

THERE WERE DAMS ALL OVER THE STATE THAT WERE PUSHED AND SOME ACTUALLY COMPLETELY BREACHED.

COMPLETELY DESTROYED.

ONE IN CABOT, ONE IN CALLAS WAS ALMOST DESTROYED IF IT WEREN'T FOR THE NEIGHBORS RUSHING TO HELP WITH PUMPS AND TARPS AND CINDER BLOCKS TO SAVE IT THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN DESTROYED.

WE WANTED TO LOOK AT THE LANDSCAPE AND THE NETWORK OF DAMS IN THE STATE.

THERE ARE SOME THAT ARE MORE THAN 100 YEARS OLD AND THEY ARE SMALL AND JUST CREATE A LITTLE POND FOR A LITTLE COMMUNITY.

THERE ARE SOME AT SKI RESORTS TAKE ARE DESIGNED FOR SNOW MAKING.

THERE'S SOME ON FARMS.

THERE ARE ALL DIFFERENT SIZES AND SHAPES BUT ALL CAME UNDER TREMENDOUS STRESS IN THIS STORM.

THE DAM INSPECTORS WENT OWE.

THEY HAD HELP FROM FOLKS IN NEW YORK AND MASSACHUSETTS CAME UP HERE, SPREAD OUT ACROSS THE STATE TRYING TO INSPECT THE DAMS.

GOT NEW NUMBERS ABOUT THIS THIS MORNING.

SO FAR THEY HAVE INSPECTED 400 DAMS IN THE STATE.

AND THEY HAVE FOUND THAT A QUARTER OF THEM TO A THIRD OF THEM, THAT'S 100 TO 130 DAMS IN STATE OF VERMONT, HAVE SOME KIND OF PROBLEM WITH THEM.

MOST OF THOSE ARE MOSTLY MINOR BUT WITH THAT MANY PROBLEMATIC DAMS I THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE A REAL RECKONING IN COMING YEARS A. I WOULD SAY ALMOST BILLIONS OF DOLLARS PROBABLY SPENT ON THE DAMS IN THE STATE OF VERMONT TO MAKE THEM SAFE.

>> I WILL REHRUBGT AND I WILL QUESTIONS I HAVE BEEN A JOURNALIST IN THE STATE FOR TWO DECADES.

I WILL NEVER FORGET THE TUESDAY MORNING WHEN AN URGENT ALERT WENT OUT THAT THE DAM MAY SOON OVERFLOW AND RESIDENTS WANT TO GET TO THE UPPER LEVELS OF THEIR HOMES.

WE WERE ONLY A COUPLE OF INCHES AWAY FROM CATASTROPHE IN A PIECE OF INFRASTRUCTURE WHERE MOST SECONDS OF THEIR LIVES BEFORE.

>> THAT NEWS BLAST WAS VERY SCARY.

THE TERMINOLOGY ABOUT HOW DAMS WORK WAS CONFUSING.

IF YOU READ AN EMERGENCY ALERT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT TELLING YOU THERE'S AN ISSUE WITH THE DAM JUST UP RIVER YOU THINK THE WORST.

THEY SAID THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY IT WOULD GO DOWN THE SPILLWAY.

THAT'S WHAT IT'S DESIGNED TO DO BUT SOME READ THAT AS BREACH, OH, MY GOD, THEY IMAGINED FLOOD MAPS SHOWING MASSIVE INUNDATION.

THAT WAS NOT EVER A RISK APPARENTLY AT WRIGHTSVILLE.

IF THE DAM HAD REACHED ITS CAPACITY IT COULDN'T HOLD BACK ANY WATER, ANY EXTRA WOULD COME POURING OVER IT AND DOWN INTO THE CITY.

THAT WAS GOING TO BE REALLY BAD.

>> SPEAKING OF RIVERS, KAT RIPE, THERE'S A LOT OF EXPERTS WHO ARE KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON WHAT THOSE RIVERS ARE CURRENTLY DUMPING INTO LAKE CHAMPLAIN.

>> YES.

EVERY PERSON I SPEAK TO WHO ARE ADMIRING LAKE HEALTH ARE VERY NERVOUS.

THE LAKE ROSE THREE FEET DURING THE FLOODWATERS, SO THE LAKE IS REALLY HIGH RIGHT NOW, BUT IT'S NOT THE HEIGHT OF THE LAKE THAT'S THE PROBLEM, IT'S ALL THE STUFF THAT'S GOING IN IT.

ALL THE BACKYARDS, ALL THE FARMS.

THE KEY PROBLEM IS PHOSPHORUS.

THERE'S SY AN OBACTERIA.

IT'S CAUSED BY PHOSPHORUS.

THEY BELIEVE YOU GOT AT LEAST A YEAR'S WORTH OF PHOSPHORUS JUST IN THIS ONE EVENT.

THEY ARE VERY CONCERNED THAT SET THE LAKE BACK SIGNIFICANTLY WITH ALL THE GOALS AND THEY ARE TRYING TO MONITOR ALL THE CHEMICALS THAT ARE IN THERE.

I WAS ON THE MOUTH OF THE WINOOSKI TWO DAYS AFTER THE FLOOD AND I SAW JUST FULL TRASH BAGS FLOATING DOWN THE RIVER.

EVERYTHING YOU CAN IMAGINE.

IT MAKES SENSE.

PROPANE TANKS.

ANYTHING THAT FLOATED AWAY COULD HAVE GONE INTO LAKE CHAMPLAIN.

I TALKED TO BEACH GOERS, I DO NOT WANT TO SWIM RIGHT NOW.

EE.COLI LEVELS HAVE NOT BEEN LARGE.

IT'S NOT JUST THE CHEMICALS.

YOU HAVE MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF GALLONS OF WATER GOING IN AS WELL.

>> I BELIEVE THE NUMBER WAS 4 BILLION GALLONS AN HOUR.

THIS LAKE HAD BEEN STRUGGLING WITH PHOSPHORUS AND SY AN OBACTERIA FOR A WHILE.

>> USUALLY WE GET THESE PROBLEMS WHEN THE LAKE LEVELS ARE LOW.

YOU SAID THE DILUTION FACTOR IS MAYBE HELPING WITH THAT JUNK GOING INTO THERE.

>> THEY SAID THE REAL EFFECT MAY NOT BE KNOWN FOR YEARS.

IT'S GETTING INTO LITTLE FISH.

LITTLE FISH ARE EATING THE PLANTS.

IT MAY NOT BE SEEN INTO BIG FISH FOR YEARS TO CO- >> WHAT A HAPPY SHOW WE HAVE GOING TODAY.

TIM, AT THE GOVERNOR'S PRESS CON FREES WE HEARD A FAMILIAR RALLYING CRY THAT PEOPLE REMEMBER AND WE GOT NEWS ABOUT AID PROGRAMS FOR VICTIMS?

>> AS EVERYONE HAS HEARD THERE'S $20 MILLION SET ASIDE FOR BUSINESS RECOVERY FROM THE FLOOD.

THAT PORTAL OPENED ON THE COMMERCE AGENCY WEBSITE THURSDAY, THIS PAST THURSDAY, JUST YESTERDAY.

SO THAT IS READY TO GO.

IT'S NOT FOR ECONOMIC RECOVERY IT'S FOR PHYSICAL DAMAGE.

INVENTORY, BUILDING STRUCTURES, LANDLORDS AND RETAILERS COULD BOTH BENEFIT FROM IT.

IT'S LIMITED.

THE GOVERNOR KEPT SAYING 20 MILLION IS NOT GOING TO GET ANYWHERE NEAR FULL RECOVERY MAKING BUSINESSES WHOLE BUT THAT'S WHY IT'S CALLED THE GAP EMERGENCY TO GET FROM HERE TO THERE.

THERE'S ANOTHER PROGRAM THAT WAS JUST ANNOUNCED MONDAY THAT THEY DON'T HAVE ALL THE DETAILS READY TO GO.

THAT'S FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY.

IF YOU LOST APPLIANCES, FURNACES, SOMETHING LIKE THAT, IN THE FLOOD, THEY WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE 10 MILLION, WHICH IS PRETTY SIGNIFICANT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT EVEN EXPENSIVE APPLIANCES, AND GIVE TO THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE LOST IT BECAUSE OF THE FLOOD.

SO THE DETAILS ARE NOT QUITE READY TO GO.

I THINK WE HAVE TO WAIT A LITTLE BIT ON HOW THAT WORKS OUT BUT IT'S GOING TO BE THROUGH EFFICIENCY VERMONT, WHICH ALREADY HAS THESE PROGRAMS.

FROM ONE OF THE INTERESTING THINGS IS IF YOU GET A FEDERAL REBATE TO REPLACE AN ITEM AND THERE'S A LOT OF FEDERAL REBATES OUT THERE, SOME STATE REBATES, YOU CAN STILL USE THIS MONEY IN ADDITION TO THAT.

THOSE REBATES NEVER COVER THE WHOLE COST OF ANYTHING.

WHAT THEY CALL STACKABLE.

THE OTHER THING IS LIKE, $30 MILLION, 10 MILLION HERE, 20 MILLION THERE.

AS THE GOVERNOR SAID WE'RE ROBBING PETER TO SAVE PAUL.

IT'S COMING OUT OF THE BROADBAND FUND.

THIS CONSTRUCTION MONEY IS JUST SITTING THERE.

THEY ARE GOING TO TAP INTO IT BECAUSE THE CONSTRUCTION IS NOT READY TO GO.

WITH THE 10 MILLION THEY ARE USING IT OUT OF THE WEATHERIZATION FUND.

THEY GOT TO PAY IT BACK AT SOME POINT AND APPARENTLY THEY WILL HAVE A LOT MORE MONEY, MARK, AS YOU KNOW, WITH THE REVENUES COMING NHL THE WAY THEY ARE EVENTUALLY BUT NOT NOW.

>> WE ALSO GOT WORD THE VERMONT STRONG LICENSE PLATES ARE BACK.

WE'LL REMEMBER THOSE FROM POST IRENE RECOVERY.

WE HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT.

WE DON'T HAVE A PRICE TAG YET BUT THOSE ARE COMING BACK.

AND A NEW RECOVERY CZAR.

DOUG FARNUM, A DEPUTY AT THE AGENCY ADMINISTRATION.

SEEMS TO LIKE LOW STRESS JOBS.

LIKE DOUG.

SPEAKING OF BUSINESS RECOVERY AND WHAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE, A LOT MORE THAN 20 MILLION, FOLKS IN OUR NEWSROOM HAVE BEEN SPENDING TIME IN DOWNTOWN MONTPELIER SPEAKING WITH BUSINESS OWNERS AND DOCUMENTING THEIR RECOVERY.

THEY HAVE PRODUCED A VIDEO AND WE'RE GOING TO SHOW AN EXCERPT OF IT NOW.

>> I HATE COMING DOWN HERE AMONGST THIS PRETTY MUCH EVERY DAY.

IT'S A COMPLETE DISASTER AREA.

BUT TO SEE THE FRIENDS OF THE SHOP, FAMILY AND STAFF ON A DAILY BASIS AND JUST DEAL WITH BEING IN THIS SPACE TOGETHER, LAUGH AND HAVE THEM HELPING US, THAT DOES MAKE IT ALL WORTHWHILE.

>> I'M NOT SURE WHETHER OR NOT WE WILL BE REBUILDING THIS BASEMENT.

IN THIS DAY AND AGE IT SEEMS RIDICULOUS TO BUILD ANYTHING THAT'S UNDER THE FLOOD LINE.

>> HARD TO THROW AWAY A LOT OF THIS.

THE ARMY OF VOLUNTEERS WE HAVE HAD OVER THE PAST WEEK PLUS HERE NOW HAS HELPED US CLEAN, SEPARATE, SORT ALL THIS.

YESTERDAY WAS OUR BIG MOVE OUT OF OUR INVENTORY IN PREPARATION FOR DEMOLITION AND RENOVATION EVENTUALLY IN THIS SPACE.

>> I THINK THAT PROBABLY HAS SOLIDIFIED ANY DOUBTS THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN THERE ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE COULD COME BACK.

I THINK WE KNOW THAT THE COMMUNITY WILL SUPPORT US COMING BACK AND THEY ARE SUPPORTING.

THEY ARE SHOWING US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN DO IT.

THAT WE CAN GET OUT OF HERE, SAVE WHAT WE CAN SAVE, RESTART AGAIN.

>> I AM PERSONALLY OVERWHELMED.

I HAVE LIVED IN MONTPELIER FOR 22 YEARS.

I HAVE JUST NEVER SEEN A RESPONSE LIKE THIS.

THANKING PEOPLE PROFUSELY.

THEO BLOW ME OFF, HEY, NEVER MIND, OF COURSE THIS IS WHAT WE'RE DOING.

WE HAVE HAD PEOPLE COME FROM SOUTH, FROM MIDDLEBURY.

IT'S BEEN OVERWHELMING.

>> FEMA DOES NOT DO ANYTHING FOR BUSINESSES.

MOST OF US DON'T HAVE FLOOD INSURANCE DOWNTOWN BECAUSE IT'S PROHIBITIVELY EXPENSIVE, HIGH INTEREST SMALL BUSINESS LOANS ARE NOT REALLY GOING TO DO US ANY GOOD.

WE DON'T NEED TO GO INTO THAT FOR THIS.

>> TO PUT ALL THE TIME, NEW JERSEY, MONEY INTO REOPENING IN THE BACK OF YOUR MIND IS PART OF MY GOODNESS, THIS COULD HAPPEN AGAIN?

>> I'M NOT SAYING IT'S THE SAME DECISION BUT IT WAS DEFINITELY THE DECISION THAT WE ARE FIRM IN.

YOU KNOW, WE DO HAVE MOMENTS OF WONDERING IS THIS LIKE IT IS BUT THERE'S NO CHOICE FOR US.

IT HAS TO REOPEN.

THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE.

>> I JUST WENT TO THIS PLACE OF PEACE AND I SAID WE'RE GOING TO REDO IT.

IF IT MEANS BUILDING THE ONLINE WEBSITE STRONGER TO HELP SUPPORT THIS, PERFECT.

I LOVE MY STORE, I LOVE MY CUSTOMERS.

NO, I'M NOT READY TO QUIT.

>> I THINK MONDAY NIGHT WHEN THE FLOODING WAS HAPPENING I WAS UP ALL NIGHT WORRYING THAT WOULD WE PULL IT OFF, BE ABLE TO RESTART?

I THINK THAT WAS THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT ANXIETY.

I THINK SINCE THEN THERE REALLY HAS NOT BEEN ANY QUESTION IN MY MIND THAT WE'LL REOPEN.

WE JUST HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHERE, WHEN AND HOW.

IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE DOWNTOWN COMING BACK.

HARD TO IMAGINE ALL OF THESE STORES REBUILDING AND REOPENING.

I'M SURE THAT PROBABLY WON'T HAPPEN.

I DON'T KNOW.

HARD TO KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN.

>> THANKS TO EVERYONE IN OUR NEWSROOM WHO WORKED ON THAT.

YOU CAN SEE THE FULL LENGTH VERSION OF THAT VIDEO ON OUR WEBSITE, VERMONTPUBLIC.ORG.

KATHARINE, SHIFTING AWAY FROM FLOODING WE KNOW THERE'S NOTHING PEOPLE LOVE MORE THAN A GOOD LOCAL ZONING STORY.

BURLINGTON HAS MADE SOME IMPORTANT CHANGES RECENTLY TO TRY TO ADDRESS THE HOUSING CRUNCH.

>> SEVERAL PEOPLE CALLED IT THE MOST SIGNIFICANT ZONING CHANGE IN AREA HISTORY.

IT'S PRETTY INDUSTRIAL AND THEY HAVE REZONED MUCH OF IT TO BE HOUSING AND THERE'S PLANS ALREADY FOR 700 UNITS AND THEY EXPECT TO ADD MORE THAN 1,000 UNITS WHICH BURLINGTON NEEDS.

>> TARGETING THE SOUTH END.

WEALTHIER AREA, AN AIR 'YAYA THAT HAS STRUGGLED.

>> ART, A LOT OF THE BREWERIES ARE DOWN THERE.

GOOD WALKING DISTANCE FOR PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE.

>> GOOD FOR BURLINGTON.

>> WE'RE GOING TO END TODAY'S SHOW WITH A REMEMBRANCE.

WE ARE COMING TO YOU NOW FROM DOWNTOWN WINOOSKI A FEW BLOCKS FROM THE STUDIO IS A TERRIFIC LITTLE BAR.

IT'S CALLED LAST STOP.

BACK WHEN I WAS LIVING IN TOWN IT WAS CALLED C.K.s AND I SPENT MANY HAPPY THRAOEPBGS WITH GOOD FRIENDS.

THE BEST PART OF THE THE EXPERIENCE WAS A CAT, KITTY KITTY.

SHE INITIALLY LIVED IN THE APARTMENT UPSTAIRS BUT BEFORE LONG SHE STARTED SHOWING UP AT THE BAR EVENTUALLY MOVING IN FULL-TIME AROUND A DOZEN YEARS AGO.

SHE WAS THE ONLY REGULAR ALLOWED TO WALK OR SLEEP ON THE BAR, FROM ONE OF THE FRIENDLIEST CREATURES I HAVE EVER MET.

KITTY KITTY PASSED AWAY.

SHE WAS 16 OR 17.

HER HER ASHES NOW SIT BEHIND THE BAR.

WE OFFER OUR CON COALENSES TO THE FOLKS AT LAST STOP.

MY THANKS TO TIM MCQUISTON, KEVIN MCCALLUM, KATHARINE HUNTLEY.

THANK YOU AT HOME FOR BEING WITH US.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.