Vermont Adds 2 Counties to Disaster Aid Request

Gov. Peter Shumlin says he’s adding two Vermont counties to a previously-submitted request for federal disaster aid.

Shumlin said Monday he has asked President Barack Obama to add flood-ravaged Washington and Caledonia counties to his request for a “Major Disaster Declaration.”

In a letter dated Friday, Shumlin told the White House that severe storms and flooding that have hit Vermont since April 23 have left so much damage it’s beyond the capability of state and local governments to address.

The request includes Washington County for significant damage to homes and other private property and Caledonia County for infrastructure damage.

Shumlin originally sought a disaster declaration on May 27 for flooding — including record-high water levels on Lake Champlain — from storms that began in April.