>> HEAVY RAINS AND SIGNIFICANT SNOWMELT CAUSED WIDESPREAD FLOODING.

TOO SOON FOR MANY AFTER THE DISASTER IN JULY.

>> IT'S HEAVY AND IT'S SAD AND IT'S ANXIOUS.

I HAVE BEEN THROUGH RAINSTORMS, THROUGH FLOODS, BUT JULY REALLY KIND OF LIKE HAS LEFT A REALLY BIG MARK IN MY BRAIN.

SO NOW IMMEDIATELY ONCE IT STARTS RAINING I'M ALREADY LIKE, OKAY, DO WE HAVE EVAC PACKS?

>> I CAN BE THANKFUL THAT I CAN ACTUALLY HAVE A CHRISTMAS WITH MY FAMILY HERE.

NOT BE WORRIED ABOUT WHERE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE CHRISTMAS.

>> THE STATE'S UNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM GOES ON THE FRITZ AGAIN.

LAWMAKERS PREPARE TO RETURN TO THE STATEHOUSE AFTER THE FIRST OF THE YEAR.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT SOME OF THEIR PRIORITIES 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 MILNEP-Z TRAVEL.

>> THANKS FOR BEING WITH US.

I'M MARK JOHNSON, IT'S FRIDAY, DECEMBER 22.

JOINING US ON THE PANEL TONIGHT ANNE WALLACE ALLEN, THE BUSINESS REPORTER WITH SEVEN DAYS.

CALVIN CUTLER COVERS 308 TICKS FOR WCAX, AND I WILLSYA SCAGLIOTTI IS THE EDITOR OF THE WATERBURY ROUNDABOUT.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

DID IT DID FEEL MORE LIKE DEJA VU ALL OVER AGAIN.

ANNE, START US OFF.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE PHYSICAL PART ABOUT THIS, WHERE THE DAMAGE WAS, WAS IT AS BAD AS JULY, AND WOULD DO WE KNOW ABOUT THAT?

>> WELL, THE FLOODING IS DIFFERENT THIS TIME AROUND BECAUSE IN JULY IT WAS QUITE LOCALIZED IN SOME AREAS IN SOUTHERN VERMONT AND CENTRAL VERMONT.

SO A FEW TOWNS WERE HIT VERY, VERY BADLY, A FEW REGIONS WERE IN JULY.

THIS TIME AROUND IT WAS MUCH MORE WIDESPREAD, ALL OVER -- MANY, MANY AREAS OF THE STATE.

LAKE CHAMPLAIN ROSE BY A FOOT AS A RESULT OF THE RAIN WE GOT.

WE JUST GOT A DUMPING OF RAIN IN ONE DAY ALTHOUGH IT WAS TWO INCHES, NOT NINE OR TEN INCHES AS WE HEARD ABOUT IN JULY.

BUT WE ACTUALLY DID NOT EXPERIENCE THE KIND OF DAMAGE WE DID LAST TIME AROUND.

PART OF THAT IS BECAUSE WHILE PEOPLE IN MONTPELIER HAD FLOODED PWAEURPLTSZ DOWNTOWN THIS TIME AROUND THEY DIDN'T HAVE ALL THAT INVENTORY STORED IN THE BASEMENT OF THEIR STORES.

ALSO A LOT OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS AND OTHER UTILITIES HAD BEEN MOVED UP SINCE THEN.

I GUESS YOU COULD SIGH WE WERE MORE READY.

BUT AGAIN THERE WAS THE RUNOFF THAT FLOODED PEOPLE'S BASEMENTS.

ONE SORT OF SCARY AND STARTLING THING LIKE THE YOUNG WOMAN SAID IN THAT VOICEOVER THERE WAS A SENSE OF PTSD ABOUT THIS HAPPENING AGAIN, HAVING THE ROADS CLOSED AGAIN, WONDERING HOW YOU'LL GET HOME.

IF YOU HAD TO GO HOME -- DETOUR AROUND RODE 2 THAT WAS CLOSED YOU'RE ON A DIRT ROAD AND IT'S BEEN THAWING AND RANGE ALL DAY AND THE ROADS WERE SORT OF IMPASSABLE.

THERE WERE SCARY AND UNPREDICTABLE THINGS ABOUT THIS.

THERE WAS LOCALIZED DAMAGE TO THINGS LIKE YARDS BUT YOU DIDN'T SEE BRIDGES WASHED OUT, CARS BEING WASHED DOWN THE RIVER LIKE BEFORE.

A LOT OF FIELDS ARE FLOODED.

>> WATERBURY GOT HIT HARD IN JULY.

WHAT HAPPENED THIS TIME AROUND?

>> A LOT OF THE SAME BUSINESSES, SAME PROPERTIES GOT HIT THIS TIME AROUND JUST LIKE IN JULY ALONG MAIN STREET.

A LOT OF THE NEWS OUTLETS CARRIED PICTURES OF OUR ENTRY INTO MAIN STREET DOWNTOWN NEAR THE ROUNDABOUT, OFFICES WHERE CARS GOT STUCK WHEN PEOPLE DECIDED TO GO TOO FAR INTO THE WATER AND THEY GOT STUCK THERE.

IT WAS HARD GETTING THROUGH WATERBURY.

LOT OF PEOPLE WHO DON'T LIVE THERE STILL TRAVEL THROUGH WATERBURY.

MAIN STREET WAS CLOSED IN SPOTS BECAUSE OF FLOODING TO KNOW WHERE TO GO AROUND.

IT WAS THE SORT OF MOVING SITUATION ALL DAY LONG TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S OPEN, WHAT'S CLOSED AND HOW TO GET THROUGH.

AT THIS POINT, YOU KNOW, SAME SITUATION WHERE A LOT OF THE BUSINESSES AND EVEN HOMES DIDN'T HAVE AS MUCH STUFF IN THEIR BASEMENTS AS BEFORE SO THEY ARE PUMPING OUT AND CLEANING BUT OUR TOWN ORDERED ONE BIG DUMPSTER FOR THE RANDALL STREET NEIGHBORHOOD.

THERE WERE FIVE THIS SUMMER.

THEY THINK THEY CAN WORK OUT OF ONE NOW.

THERE'S NOT ENOUGH STUFF LEFT TO TRASH IN PEOPLE'S PWAEUFPBTS.

IT'S STILL A LOT OF CLEANUP AND THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH THAT WHOLE PROCESS AGAIN.

>> CALVIN, YOU SEEM TO BE EVERYWHERE ALL THE TIME AROUND THE STATE.

WHAT DID YOU NOTICE THIS TIME AROUND?

>> I WAS MOSTLY DOWN IN THE MAD RIVER VALLEY IN WAITSFIELD AND UP IN MORETOWN.

A LOT OF TIME IN BARRE, MONTPELIER.

ANNE HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD ABOUT THE TRAUMA LOT OF PEOPLE WENT THROUGH DURING THE PAST STORM.

I WAS ON BERLIN STREET IN BARRE WITH A COUPLE OF PEOPLE THAT WERE JUST WATCHING THE STEPHENS PWRAFP -FRPBL PWRA *FRPBLG OF THE WINOOSKI RIVER RISING AND EVERYONE HAD THIS 1,000 YARD STARE, OH, MY GOSH, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN JUST FIVE MONTHS WE HAVE HAD -- GRANTED BASEMENTS FLOODED.

WE DIDN'T SEE THE SAME TYPE OF DAMAGE, BUT THIS IS THE SECOND REALLY HIGH WATER EVENT WE HAVE HAD IN THE PAST FIVE MONTHS.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE STILL CONCERNED ABOUT THE SPRING THAW, SORT OF WHAT MUD SEASON WILL BRING.

WHAT IS THAT GOING TO LOOK LIKE?

FOR A LOT OF HOMEOWNERS AND RENTERS I WAS TALKING TO THERE WAS A LOT OF TRAUMA, PTSD, A LOT OF BIG QUESTIONS ABOUT WILL WE BE ABLE TO STAY IN OUR HOUSE YEAR OVER YEAR IF WE FLOOD TWO, THREE, FOUR TIMES A YEAR MAYBE.

THAT WAS ONE OF MY BIG TAKE-AWAYS.

IT WAS GOOD TO SEE UTILITIES, INVENTORY, A LITTLE MORE PREPARED, RESILIENT FOR THIS TYPE OF FLOOD BUT IT RAISES QUESTIONS FOR PLACES LIKE MONTPELIER, BARRE, THE MAD RIVER VALLEY.

HOW DO WE MAKE OUR COMMUNITIES MORE RESILIENT.

>> ASHLEY REEVES CAPTURED IT QUITE WELL.

>> TO WATCH IT KEEP CREEPING UP WHEN YOU NOT IT WAS GOING TO STOP MAKES YOUR HEART STOP.

YOU THINK ABOUT EVERYTHING YOU'VE ALREADY LOST.

IT'S OUR WHOLE LIFE IN THAT HOUSE.

WE HAVE ALREADY LOST IT ONCE.

LESS THAN SIX-MONTHS AGO.

LET'S NOT, YOU KNOW?

>> CALVIN, IS THIS JUST THE WAY IT'S GOING TO BE IN VERMONT FROM NOW ON?

>> THAT'S THE MILLION DOLLAR QUESTION.

THERE IS DEFINITELY THIS COMING SESSION A BIG FOCUS ON FLOOD MITIGATION, RESILIENCY, TRYING TO RESTORE FLOODPLAINS AND FORESTS AND WET HRAPDZ TO TRY TO -- FROM THE GOVERNOR'S WAY OF THINKING ABOUT THIS TO LET WATER FLOW AND TO BUILD MORE CAPACITY FOR WATER.

BUT THESE ARE REALLY EXPENSIVE PROJECTS THAT ARE GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF FEDERAL MONEY AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF TIME.

I THINK UNTIL THAT HAPPENS THAT MIGHT BE THE CASE FOR SOME PEOPLE BUT IT IS REALLY CHALLENGING TO HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THIS GOING THROUGH THIS ONCE, TWICE, THREE TIMES, MAYBE MORE.

SO I WISH I HAD A BETTER ANSWER BUT IT'S A REAL CHALLENGING SITUATION THAT VERMONT FINDS ITSELF IN.

I THINK WE'LL HAVE TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

>> HOW WOULD YOU RESPOND TO THAT?

>> WELL, IT'S REALLY THOSE ARE BIG PROJECTS WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT FLOODING.

IT'S A GLOBAL PROBLEM.

BUT I THINK THEY HAVE LEARNED A FEW LESSONS FROM WHAT HAPPENED IN JULY, SO ONE OF THE THINGS LAWMAKERS ARE LOOKING AT IS BETTER REGULATION OF DAMS.

BECAUSE OF COURSE WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE MORE THAN 1,000 DAMS IN THE STATE AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE ALL IN GOOD CONDITION AND THAT THEY ARE BEING MONITORED PROPERLY, THERE ARE PROCEDURES IN PLACE WHEN THE WATER IS RISING SO FAR YOU HAVE TO LET OUT SOME OF THE WATER.

IF A DAM FAILS THAT COULD BE REALLY, REALLY DEVASTATING TO SOME COMMUNITIES DOWNSTREAM.

ANOTHER AREA THAT I KNOW THAT REPRESENTATIVE KATHARINE SIMS OF CROSS BURY IS TALKING ABOUT IS STREAMLINING EMERGENCY SERVICES, WHICH THAT'S NOT A PERFECT -- IT'S A PUZZLE THAT DOESN'T ALWAYS FIT PERFECTLY TOGETHER.

THESE ARE THINGS THAT HAVE GROWN UP ORGANICALLY.

HAVING THE RIGHT POINTS OF CONTACT APPEARED JUST HAVING A PROCESS WHICH THEY COULD START IN THE LEGISLATURE GETTING THAT TO WORK MORE SMOOTHLY IS ANOTHER THING THAT COULD COME OUT OF THIS.

>> YOU MENTIONED THE DAMS.

I THINK SOME OF THAT REQUIRES BETTER IDEA OF INFORMATION GOING INTO A STORM AND THE FORECASTING.

ONE THING WE NOTICED WITH THIS STORM, THERE WAS A LITTLE OF THIS IN JULY, IT WAS REALLY MIND-BOGGLING.

OUR SELECT BOARD MET MONDAY TO TRY TO GET A GAME PLAN AND THEY ARE LOOKING AT THE CHARTS THAT SHOW THE RIVER GAUGE ON THE WINOOSKI AND WHAT THE FORECAST IS AND EVERY HOUR THERE'S A REAL TIME OBSERVATION.

HOW BAD IS IT GOING TO BE?

THEY ARE TRYING TO PREPARE BUT WE'RE WATCHING THE OBSERVATIONS CLIMB IN A STRAIGHT LINE AND THE OBSERVATIONS ARE SURPASSING THE FORECAST SO AT THAT POINT YOU'RE IN UNCHARTED TERRITORY.

WONDERING HOW LONG WILL THIS CONTINUE TO BE A STRAIGHT LINE UP?

WHEN IS IT GOING TO LEVEL OFF AND COME DOWN.

THE FORECASTS WERE NOT KEEPING UP WITH THE REAL TIME OBSERVATIONS SO I FEEL THERE NEEDS TO BE MAYBE A TECHNOLOGY DISCUSSION IN THAT AS WELL.

THEY TALK ABOUT GAUGES AND WHETHER THE GAUGES ARE THE BEST TECHNOLOGY WE COULD HAVE, HOW OLD ARE THESE THINGS, SHOULD THEYING DIFFERENT TECHNOLOGY GIVING US BETTER INFORM ACHES SO THE EMERGENCY PEOPLE COULD PREPARE FOR THAT, THINGS LIKE DAM DECISIONS COULD BE MADE WITH SOME FORESIGHT.

>> SPEAKING OF TECHNOLOGY, PEOPLE WERE CONCERNED BACK IN JULY ABOUT THE 211 SYSTEM WHERE YOU CALL IN TO GET INFORMATION.

HOW WELL DID THAT WORK THIS TIME AROUND?

>> FROM WHAT WE UNDERSTAND THERE REALLY DIDN'T SEEM TO BE ANY ISSUES WITH 211 THIS TIME AROUND BECAUSE NUMBER ONE WE DIDN'T SEE THE LEVEL OF DAMAGE AND CATASTROPHIC FLOODING LIKE BACK IN THE SUMMER.

CERTAINLY 211 STILL HAS ITS LIMITED TIMES THAT THEY ARE OPEN.

YOU CAN ONLY CALL DURING A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF HOURS.

SO IT DIDN'T SEEM LIKE THERE WERE ISSUES WITH 211.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE WITH THIS STORM STATE LEADERS ARE STILL ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO REPORT ANY AND ALL DAMAGE TO 211.

THAT'S STILL AN IMPORTANT FACTOR HERE.

TO A *UP'S POINTS BASEMENTS FLOODED, THERE WAS STILL SOME DAMAGE AND SO IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING OR IMPORTANT VERMONTERS TO REPORT THAT DAMAGE TO SEE IF WE GET SOME SORT OF DECLARATION FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

FROM 2911 SIDE OF THINGS IT SEEMS TO HAVE GONE PRETTY SMOOTHLY.

THAT SAID THERE ARE STILL ACTIVE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT WHAT ROLE 211 SHOULD PLAY.

SHOULD WE GIVE MORE RESOURCES TO 211 AND HAVE THAT THE END ALL BE ALL OR HAVE MORE REGIONALIZED EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS OR OTHERS.

MOVING CONVERSATION.

>> DID THIS REACH THE FEMA LEVEL STAGE OF DAMAGE AND CONCERN?

>> THE GOVERNOR HELD A PRESS CONFERENCE THE DAY AFTER THIS FLOODING AND HE SAID THAT HE IS COMMUNICATING WITH THE FEDS ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS GOING TO EARN VERMONT ANOTHER DISASTER DECLARATION.

IT'S NOT GOING TO BE LIKE IN JULY BECAUSE THERE WON'T BE AS MANY RUINED APPLIANCES AND HOME REPAIRS AND THINGS THAT NEED THAT KIND OF FEMA PRESENCE.

NOT LIKE WE HAD BEFORE.

BUT THAT'S STILL AN OPEN QUESTION.

>> THE GOVERNOR WAS USING THE TERM CLIMATE CHANGE.

>> CLIMATE CHANGE IS REAL.

WE'RE GOING TO SEE MORE OF THESE INTENSE STORMS.

>> THERE'S A COMMON THEME HERE, IT'S IN THE LOW-LYING AREAS WITH SUBSTANTIAL VOLUMES OF WATER IN THOSE STREAMS.

>> THIS IS A REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR USING THE TERM CLIMATE CHANGE.

SURPRISE YOU?

>> NOT AT ALL BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THERE'S THAT MANY PEOPLE -- I DON'T HEAR THAT MANY PEOPLE DENYING CLIMATE CHANGE AT THIS POINT AND HE'S ALWAYS BEEN FARRYL PRAGMATIC.

HE WILL SAY WHAT HE THINKS IS HAPPENING MORE THAN ADHERE TO WHATEVER HIS PARTY IS TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO SAY THINKS IS HAPPENING.

THIS IS JUST A BLITZ.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR HIM TO SHOW THAT LEADERSHIP.

THEN WE CAN ALL PLAN TOGETHER ON HOW TO NOT ONLY TO RESPOND TO WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR CLIMATE BUT ALSO TO LOOK FOR WAYS TO PREVENT THE PROBLEM FROM GETTING WORSE.

>> WHAT HAPPENED IN MORETOWN?

WITH THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL?

>> MORETOWN WE HAD A BAD TRACK RECRD OF THREE MONDAYS IN A ROW WITH STORMS.

POWER OUTAGES, THAT SORT OF THING.

THIS MONDAY CAME, RAIN HAD BEEN FALLING SINCE SUNDAY AFTERNOON.

KIDS GOT TO SCHOOL MONDAY MORNING AROUND 7:30 OR SO.

WITHIN A FEW MINUTES BEFORE 8:00 THE PRINCIPAL AT MORETOWN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ON THE PHONE WITH THE PRINCIPAL SAYING THERE'S WATER IN OUR GYM.

WATER WAS COMING UP ON THE SCHOOL PROPERTY.

IT'S THE LOWEST SPOT ON THE PROPERTY.

THERE'S A STREAM THAT RUNS BY THAT GOES INTO THE MAD RIVER, WHICH IS NEARBY AND THAT STREAM WAS FILLING UP.

BY 8:30 CHILDREN IN MORETOWN WERE BEING DISMISSED.

THE WATER THEN PROCEEDED TO ENTER THE BUILDING.

IT GOT ABOUT TWO TO THREE FEET DEEP IN THE BASEMENT WHERE THEY HAVE THE BOILERS FOR THE SCHOOL.

THEN IT FILLED THE FIRST FLOOR.

NOT TOO DEEP BUT ENOUGH TO HIT ALL THE CLASSROOMS, HALLWAYS, THAT'S MUDDY, GROSS WATER, ENOUGH TO MAKE A MESS.

BUT THEY DID MANAGE TO IN THE 20 OR SO MINUTES THEY HAD TO SORT OF SCOOP UP THE TEACHERS WERE ABLE TO -- PICTURE LITTLE CHILDREN PICKING THINGS UP.

PICTURES OF ALL THE STUFF IN THE CLASSROOMS ON TABLES.

SO THEY MANAGED TO GET AS MUCH OFF THE FLOOR AS POSSIBLE TO MINIMIZE THE DAMAGE.

RIGHT NOW THEY HAVE TO FIGURE OUT FIXING THE BOILERS, CLEANING IT OUT, DRYING IT OUT THEN FIGURING OUT WHAT THE ETA IS TO GET KIDS BACK IN THE BUILDING.

>> SPEAKING OF FEMA THEY HAVE ABANDONED PLANS TO SET UP TEMPORARY HOUSING IN MONTPELIER.

WHY?

>> THAT'S BEEN SORT OF A SLOW BURNING CONVERSATION AS YOU KNOW.

OF COURSE FROM THE SUMMER'S FLOODS THERE WAS OVER 600 MILLION IN DAMAGE.

WE GOT THAT FINAL NUMBER.

THAT'S HOW MUCH IT COST PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE.

ABOUT $25 MILLION PAID OUT TO HIT BY THE FLOODS.

MOBILE HOMES OF COURSE WERE SLAMMED AS WELL.

THE STATE AND FEMA HAVE BEEN SCRAMBLING TO TRY TO PLACE PEOPLE IN TEMPORARY FEMA TRAILERS.

THEY HAVES BEEN A DEAL, INK ON PAPER WITH THE CITY OF MONTPELIER APPEARED FEMA TO PLACE THESE TRAILERS UP AT THE GOLF COURSE UP TOP, BUT OR AT AT THE ELKS CLUB IN MONTPELIER BUT AT THE VERY BEGINNING WHEN THEY TRIED TO FIND HOUSING FOR PEOPLE, FEMA HAS CERTAIN PROGRAMS THEY CAN DO FEMA TRAILERS, THEY CAN SUBSIDIZE APARTMENTS, GIVE PEOPLE MONEY TO FIX UP.

SO THERE ARE A NUMBER OF LEVERS THAT THEY CALL THEM AND GENERAL ROY SAID THIS WEEK AT THE VERY BEGINNING BECAUSE OUR HOUSING CRISIS WAS SO BAD THEY PULLED EVERY LEVER THEY COULD.

EARLIER THIS WEEK OR LATE LAST WEEK LAST FRIDAY FEMA GOT WORD FROM SEVERAL OWNERS OF MOBILE HOME PARKS THAT ACTUALLY HAD CAPACITY THAT COULD TAKE THESE -- THAT COULD CITE 19 TRAILERS.

THAT SHOULD BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE FOR ALL OF THE FAMILIES THAT ARE STILL IN NEED OF HOUSING.

BUT I THINK THERE'S STILL AN OPEN QUESTION, THOUGH, WHY DID IT STILL TAKE FIVE MONTHS FOR THEM NOT TO BREAK GROUND ON THE ELKS CLUB.

PART OF THAT IS BECAUSE THIS IS THE FIRST MAJOR, MAJOR FLOODING INVOLVED WITH HERE IN VERMONT THAT HAS REQUIRED POTENTIALLY THESE FEMA TRAILERS.

SO LINING UP CONTRACTORS, LABOR, LOGISTICS, IT'S BEEN A LEARNING CURVE FOR EVERYBODY.

AT THE END OF THE DAY MONTPELIER WILL BE PAID OUT ABOUT HALF A MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE ELKS CLUB.

>> THE TERM MIGHT BE BUREAUCRACY.

LET'S STICK ON THAT TOPIC FOR A MOMENT.

THE STATE'S UNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM LAST WEEK WE WERE REASSURING PEOPLE IT WAS ALL OKAY.

ANOTHER PROBLEM THIS WEEK.

>> THIS IS A PERENNIAL CHALLENGE.

IT'S NOT JUST FORT LABOR DEPARTMENT.

A A LOT OF STATE I.T.

SYSTEMS, ISSUES OF DEFERRED MAINTENANCE.

PEOPLE WERE STRUGGLING FILE FOR UNEMPLOYMENT.

THERE WAS A CERTAIN POPULATION OF PEOPLE THAT WERE RUNNING INTO AN ERROR MESSAGE.

THEY FIXED IT FOR SOME PEOPLE BUT THEN THAT CREATED WHAT COMMISSIONER HARRINGTON DESCRIBED AS A CASS INDICATING EFFECT WHERE CERTAIN POPULATIONS OF PEOPLE WITH OTHER STIPULATIONS ON THEIR ACCOUNT WERE HAVING TROUBLE APPLYING.

REALLY WHAT IT GETS BACK TO IS CHANGES THAT THE STATE MADE DURING THE PANDEMIC TO TRY TO EXPEDITE SOME OF THE U.I.

PAYMENTS TO CLAIMANTS.

THOSE CHANGES MADE A MARK SO BASICALLY THEY ARE STILL WORKING TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY CAN FILE THEIR UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIM BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY IT DOES GET BACK TO THE BIGGER QUESTION OF HOW DO WE FUND I.T.

PROJECTS ONIN' ANNUAL BASIS LIKE WE DO ROADS AND BRIDGES MOVING FORWARD.

PEOPLE RELY ON THESE PAYMENTS.

>> WHAT A FASCINATING STORY OUT OF NEWBURY THIS WEEK, ANNE, TRYING TO SITE A JUVENILE DEFENSE CENTER.

>> WHAT TO DO WITH YOUNG OFFENDERS OR YOUNG PEOPLE IN NEED OF A SAFE PLACE WHEN IN A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS OR ANOTHER CRISIS IS A LONG RUNNING PROBLEM IN VERMONT AS WE KNOW.

WE HAVE SEEN SOME REALLY SAD STORIES ABOUT HOW THERE JUST ISN'T A PLACE FOR THESE KIDS SINCE THE WOODSIDE CENTER CLOSED.

SO THE STATE WAS LOOKING AT A STRUCTURE IN NEWBURY THEY THOUGHT WOULD WORK OUT WELCOME FOR THEM.

THEY HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT IT FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS.

THE OPPOSITION IN WOODBURY HAS BEEN FIERCE.

THEY SAY THEY DON'T THINK THEY HAVE A POLICE FORCE THAT'S ADEQUATE WHICH I THINK WOULD HOLD UP JUST LIKE A DOZEN OR FEWER YOUNG PEOPLE JUST THE NEIGHBORS HAVE BEEN FIGHTING IT TOOTH AND NAIL.

NOW IT ENDED UP IN FRONT OF THE VERMONT SUPREME COURT WHICH SAID THE STATE DOES HAVE A RITE RIGHT SO SITE THIS IN IN YOUR BURY.

IT DOESN'T SOUND AS IF NOBODY THINKS THE FIGHT IS OVER YET.

>> THEY ARE THINKING ABOUT POTENTIALLY REARGUING IN FRONT OF THE SUPREME COURT.

THIS HAS BEEN IN LIMBO.

THE STATE IS MOVING FORWARD WITH A TEMPORARY FACILITY IN MIDDLESEX AFTER TROPICAL STORM IRENE.

THE WATERBURY STATE HOSPITAL THAT'S BEEN A MENTAL FACILITY OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS SO NOW THEY ARE GOING TO BE SITING I BELIEVE FOUR BEDS AT THAT FACILITY.

SO YEAH, MORE ON THIS TO COME.

>> WE HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH A LOT OF BAD NEWS THIS WEEK, IN THE PAST FEW WEEKS, PAST FEW MONTHS.

LET'S TRY TO FIND SOMETHING POSITIVE TO TALK ABOUT HERE PARTICULARLY GIVEN THE SEASON.

WE ASKED ALL THREE OF YOU TO THINK BACK, OF COURSE OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR AND COME UP WITH A STORY THAT MAYBE WARMED YOUR HEART, MADE YOU LAUGH.

LISA, LET'S START WITH YOU.

>> THE UPLIFTING THING IN WOODBURY IS ALL THE PUBLIC ART THAT'S POPPED UP IN OUR TOWN.

WE HAVE HAD A BUNCH OF NEW NEURALS, CHILDREN HAVE BEEN INVOLVED.

IT'S BEEN THIS SORT OF MOVEMENT THAT'S SPREADING NOW TO ADD MORE SORT OF COLOR AND PERSONALITY AND JUST JOY I GUESS.

SO THERE'S A WHOLE BUNCH OF NEW THINGS LIKE THAT HAPPENING IN OUR TOWN AND THEY START TO BUILD ON EACH OTHER AND I THINK IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

IT'S INVOLVED A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE PROCESS.

>> I THINK FOR ME IT WOULD BE NOT TO HARP ON THE FLOODING BUT EACH COUNTY HAS SORT OF A LONG-TERM RECOVERY COALITION THEY HAVE BEEN PUTTING TOGETHER.

IN WASHINGTON COUNTY THEY HAVE THE HOPE COALITION, WHICH IS A GROUP OF BASICALLY FAITH BASED ORGANIZATIONS AND VOLUNTEERS COMING TOGETHER AND A LOT OF OUT OF STATE FAITH GROUPS THAT STILL HAVE A PRESENCE AND ARE STILL WORKING.

FEMA HAS STEPPED BACK FOR THE MOST PART FROM THE IMMEDIATE RESPONSE BUT YET RECOVERY FOR EACH HOUSEHOLD TAKES A REALLY LONG TIME.

SO IT'S JUST BEEN REALLY -- I DID THAT STORY A FEW WEEKS AGO, MAYBE A MONTH OR TWO AGO AT THIS POINT.

IT WAS REALLY INSPIRING TO SEE THAT RECOVERY WORK CONTINUE AND JUST THE EMPATHY OF THESE GROUPS SAYING, WE UNDERSTAND THIS IS GOING TO TAKE A LONG, LONG TIME SO I THINK TO SEE ORGANIZATIONS AND NONPROFITS LIKE THEM REACHING OUT TO HOMEOWNERS AND RENTERS AND OTHERS, THAT WAS A BRIGHTER SPOT.

>> FIRST I HAVE TO ECHO WHAT YOU SAID, THE FLOOD REALLY SHOWED -- IT WAS JUST REALLY UNBELIEVABLE TO ME LIVING IN MY FIELD HOW MANY PEOPLE TRYING TO HELP, HOW MANY CALLED FROM OUT OF STATE OR OUT OF TOWN SAYING CAN I HELP WITH THE DIRTY AND HARD WORK OF FIXING THINGS UP.

IT WAS REALLY NICE.

MUCH MORE PRIVILEGE LOUISLY, WE FRIVOLOUSLY, THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE JUDGING BIKE THE FACEBOOK LIKES AND SHARES, ROD STEWART WAS THOUGHT TO HAVE BEEN SIGHTED WEARING LEATHER PANTS AND PLATFORM HEEL BOOTS WITH A WOMAN WHO PEOPLE THOUGHT WAS HIS WIFE.

SO FOR A WHILE, MAYBE LIKE SEVERAL HOURS OR EVEN A DAY, THAT WAS BELIEVED THAT WE WROTE A STORY SAYING ROD STEWART HAD VISITED AND BOUGHT A JACKET FROM THE SECONDHAND STORE.

THEN IT TURNS OUT HE WAS PRAY NOT GUILTY A CONCERT IN MADRID AT THE TIME, IT WAS NOT ROD STEWART.

IT WAS A MYSTERIOUS DIMINUTIVE SPIKY HAIRED MAN THAT LOOKED LIKE HIM.

YOU HAVE TO BE A CERTAIN AGE TO HAVE AN INKLING OF RECORD STEWART.

ALTHOUGH IT TURNED OUT NOT TO BE HIM IT BROUGHT A LOT OF EXCITEMENT AND FUN TO EVERYBODY WHO WAS WONDERING WHY HE WOULD BE THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE.

ROLL GREATNESS HAD VISITED OUR LITTLE STATE.

>> I THOUGHT YOUR COLLEAGUE CHELSEA EGGERS' STORY WAS A FANTASTIC PIECE TOO.

LET'S TALK ABOUT A STORY YOU THOUGHT REALLY HAD A LOT OF IMPACT.

ANNE?

>> I THINK DEREK BROWER HAS WRITTEN A LOT OF STORIES ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THE HOUSING CRISIS.

HE WENT AROUND BURLINGTON WITH A SHERIFF WHOSE JOB IS TO EVICT PEOPLE WHO HAVE FALLEN BEHIND ON THEIR RENT.

HE DID AN AMAZING JOB.

HUMANIZING ALL OF THE BUREAUCRATS AND THE FUNCTIONARIES AND THE SHERIFF WHOSE JOB IT IS TO ASK PEOPLE TO LEAVE BUT ESPECIALLY THE PEOPLE WHO WE FIND OUT THE VARIOUS CASCADE OF UNFORTUNATE REASONS WHY THEY END UP HAVING TO MOVE OUT AND WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO THEM.

IT WAS SNOWING WHEN HE WAS TOURING AROUND WITH THE SHERIFF.

PEOPLE WERE LEAVING WITH THEIR BELONGINGS IN BAGS.

I THOUGHT IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT WAY FOR EVERYBODY HEADING INTO THE STATE HOUSE TO TALK ABOUT THE HOUSING CRISIS TO SEE WHO IT'S AFFECTING AND HOW INCLUDING THEIR KIDS.

>> CALVIN, BRIEFLY?

>> I WOULD JUST SAY NOT TO GET BACK TO FLOODING, BUT JUST FOR EVERYBODY IN THE PRESS CORPS NO MATTER YOUR MEDIUM, TV, PRINT, WEB, THAT WAS SOME OF THE GREATEST REPORTING AND PUBLIC SERVICE THAT I HAD EVER SEEN IN MY TIME IN NEWS OF JUST GETTING REAL TIME INFORMATION OUT TO PEOPLE.

HERE'S WHAT ROADS ARE CLOSED.

HERE'S WHERE THE WATER IS FLOWING.

TRYING TO DISSEMINATE INFORMATION IN REAL TIME LIKE THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC.

>> I FEEL LIKE I'M DOING THIS OFTEN LARGELY BY MYSELF WITH LOTS OF HELP FROM PEOPLE IN MY COMMUNITY N. JULY ESPECIALLY WE WERE PUTTING OUT SO MANY PICTURES AND SO MUCH INFORMATION THAT PEOPLE JUST VOLUNTEERED TO SEND.

WE WERE TRIAGING ALL THAT INFORMATION.

TO BE THAT HUB AND TO BE COLLECTING ALL THAT AND PUTTING IT OUT WE HAD SO MUCH, SO MANY PEOPLE ON OUR WEBSITE NEEDING TO KNOW WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN REAL TIME.

I WAS REALLY GRATEFUL FOR HOW MANY PEOPLE WITHOUT EVEN ASKING WERE JUST SAYING THIS IS WHERE I SEE WHERE I AM.

THIS IS WHAT I SEE WHERE I AM AND WE WERE ABLE TO PUT THAT OUT THERE AND IT HELPED PEOPLE GET AROUND AND HELPED PEOPLE KNOW WHERE TO GO TO START TO HELP AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

>> NICE TO END ON A POSITIVE NOTE.

ANNE WALLACE ALLEN, CALVIN CUTLER, LISA SCAGLIOTTI, THANKS FOR JOINING US.

NEXT WEEK JEAN LIMB HOME WILL HOST A PROGRAM TALKING ABOUT THE TEN TOP STORIES OF THE YEAR.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FOR ALL OF YOU.