News

Chelsea Needs Your Help

ByJesse Kay

Why?

For Chelsea residents to receive reimbursement for storm-related expenses, Orange County must be included in the Presidential major disaster declaration for Vermont. Orange County has not yet been included.

IT IS CRITICAL that you report damage to 2-1-1 to help get Orange County included in the disaster declaration for Vermont. The more forms filled out, the greater chance that we will have enough to qualify for FEMA assistance.

Reporting DOES NOT obligate the property owner to take any further action.

WHAT?

•          Any structural damage

•          Internal damage- wet sheetrock, water-damaged belongings, etc.

•          Property damage to fencing, vehicles, appliances, etc.

•          Washed-out driveway

HOW?

Individuals:

Report all damage to Vermont 211 by dialing 2-1-1 or visiting www.vermont211.org

Businesses:

If your business or non-profit has sustained damage from the flood, please file a report here: https://vermont211.org/business-form#Business%20Form

If you need assistance reporting, please reach out the jessekselectboard@gmail.com. We are happy to help you navigate the reporting process!

Debris Management

ByJesse Kay

Two large dumpsters have been obtained to help aid our residents that have been impacted by last week’s flood.   

The transfer station will be open on Thursday night, 7/20 from 4-8 PM ONLY FOR FLOOD DAMAGE MATERIAL.  

In order for us to potentially be reimbursed by FEMA for removal of this debris, the following are the rules for Thursday night:

1. The dumpsters can only be used by those impacted by the flood.   To that end, here are requirements to help us meet the FEMA requirements.  

  • The property owner has to be present at the transfer station
  • We need to take pictures of the material being disposed of
  • We will need your street address

2. At this time, the dumpsters are only for household debris.  Carpets, sheetrock, basic household material that was damaged by the flood

  • No appliances, furnaces, hot water heaters, hazardous debris, large furniture, etc…
  • No rocks, trees, fences, etc..

3. There is likely to be a line coming into the transfer station.  Please be patient, pull to the side of the road and be safe.  

We recognize that there will be needs beyond what this Thursday nights hours will provide.  We will be providing additional guidance in the next day or two as it relates to debris management beyond these two dumpsters.

We appreciate your patience and recognize how difficult this is for so many in our community.  If you need help, please let the Selectboard and your neighbors know, we will do our best to help find you assistance.

Lastly, 2-1-1 is an important resource to help residents, the Town and County.  We strongly encourage anyone that has had damage to their property to call this number and report your damage.  Reporting does not obligate the property owner to take any further action.
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Chelsea Selectboard Emergency Meeting, Sunday, July 16, 2023

ByPatty Swahn

Chelsea Selectboard Meeting
Sunday, July 16, 2023, 5:00 pm
Chelsea Town Hall
Emergency Meeting

Kevin Marshia – Chair, Kelly Lyford – Vice Chair, Tracy Simon – Emergency Management Director, Jesse Kay, Leyna Hoyt, Kasey Peterson, Rick Ackerman, Gayle Durkee, Tracy Simon, Mike Whipple – Water/Sewer Contractor

Call meeting to order at 5:05 pm
Debris Management ~ Jesse Kay and Billy Lyon, will be working with Kasey Peterson to review regulations and work with the state on the program that is being set up to assist Vermont Towns in helping to manage the various types of debris.

Water Update ~ The Boil Water notice was lifted on 07/16/2023. Two of our wells were unaffected. We’re waiting to receive the results of the DW4, well, which was offline at the time of flood. The Pump house at that location has been damaged.

Sewer plant ~ flow has reduced and is almost back to typical capacity.

Road Updates ~ Upper Village Road Landslide – Will install markers as a form of tracking.

State Geologist will be meeting with Rick and Tracy on July 17, 2023, to review all locations of landslides for assessments.

Kevin will connect with Rita Seto to discuss next steps in moving forward.

East Randolph Road is a federal aid road. Rick will contact Chris Bump tomorrow to discuss that damage.

Photos – Need to download and label all photos to Google Drive.

The basement of the town hall flooded. Debris has been removed today. All furnaces were damaged along with pellet hopper. Kasey will work with Lyme Green to evaluate. Fans have been installed and are running. Karen will be asked to purchase an air conditioner for the town clerk’s office and to get it installed.

The Pedestrian Bridge located over the First Branch that crosses to Riverside Cemetery was lost during the flooding on July 10, 2023. It was located a short distance downstream, lodged across the river with debris caught behind it. We were advised by the SEOC to remove these things prior to Sunday night’s storm. This was removed Friday morning.

Insurance – The admin assistant is working with the insurance company to start a claim for our properties.

Federal Emergency Management Assistance – The initial property assessment team arrived in town yesterday and quickly reviewed the outside areas of several properties on Maple Avenue and Main Street.

We have many citizens that will need assistance with navigating the FEMA and state systems.

Multi Agency Response C. 9 – 5 Tracy will begin the coordination with this,
Request list from Fire Dept. of those basements that were pumped. 211 maps – Kelly will pursue the AHS aspect to see what support can be provided to citizens.

Gayle has secured a $200,000 line of credit and will oversee contracts. Kasey will assist Gayle with FEMA documentation. We will be adding a FEMA line item to the highway and general funds.

Kevin Marshia will work with Jesse Kay and Gayle Durkee on File naming for the documentation for each site.

Selectboard members, Emergency Services and the Emergency Management Director must document all hours be worked as responded. This information needs to be submitted to Gayle for tracking.

Leyna Hoyt made a motion to adjourn. Jesse Brinkman seconded. The meeting adjourned at 6:59 Pm.

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Chelsea Selectboard Agenda, July 20, 2023

ByPatty Swahn

Chelsea Selectboard Meeting
Tuesday, July 18, 2023, 6:30pm
Chelsea Town Hall

  1. Call meeting to order.
  2. Conflict of interest disclosure
  3. Additions to the agenda
  4. Approve Minutes – June 20, 2023
  5. Flood Recovery
  6. Credit Card, Online Payments, Short Term Note; General Fund – Treasurer
  7. Approve Orders
  8. Future Agenda – for August
  9. Executive Session – (as necessary)
  10. Adjourn

Links to join the Selectboard Meeting
https://meet.google.com/fwf-ayyb-acq

Boil Water Notice Lifted.

ByPatty Swahn

WHAT TO DO AFTER A BOIL WATER NOTICE IS LIFTED

Residents are advised to “flush” their water following the lifting of a boil water notice in order to clear plumbing of potentially contaminated water. Flushing your household and building water lines includes interior and exterior faucets; showers; water and ice dispensers; water treatment units, etc. Please use the following guidance:

Cold Water Faucets:

Run tap water until the water feels cold, one minute or more, before drinking, brushing teeth, or using for food preparation. If you have a single-lever faucet, set it to run the cold water first.

Hot Water Faucets:

To clear hot-water pipes and water heater of untreated water, flush the hot water line for a minimum of 15 minutes for a typical household 40-gallon hot-water tank, 30 minutes for an 80-gallon hot water tank or larger. Hot water is then safe to use for hand-washing of dishes, pots and pans, etc. Never use water from the “hot” faucet for drinking, cooking, or other internal consumption purposes.

Dishwashers:

After flushing hot water pipes and water heater, run dishwasher empty one time.

Humidifiers:

Discard any water used in humidifiers, Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP), oral, medical, or health care devices, and rinse the device with clean water.

Food and Baby Formula:

Discard baby formula and any other food and drink prepared with tap water during the boil water notice. If unsure of the exact dates, contact your water department.

Refrigerator Water-Dispensing Machine:

Water dispensers from refrigerators should be flushed by at least one quart of water. If unsure of your dispenser’s capacity, refer to manufacturer specifications.

Ice Cubes:

Automatic ice dispensers should be emptied of ice made during the boil water order and run through a 24-hour cycle, discarding the ice to assure purging of the icemaker water supply line.

For medical, dental, and food-service establishments, please refer to the guidance from the Vermont Department of Health: https://www.healthvermont.gov/sites/default/files/documents/pdf/ENV FL boil-water­ notice-guidance.pdf