Weston

While the town of Weston sustained significant damage to the roads, the majority of repairs were completed before winter.

According to Mark Falango, emergency management coordinator, Weston was lucky in that its location at the top of the West River lessened the damage in comparison with the surrounding towns.

But like the other towns in southern Vermont, Weston has also had some trying experiences with FEMA.

All in all, they have received about $400,000 in relief funds.

“FEMA has all but closed the books on Weston,” Falango says. “Our story is like many others. FEMA was disorganized, had excessive representative turnover, causing repeated delays and it was overall a frustrating and challenging process.”

The majority of damage was to the municipality, but the Weston Marketplace and the Weston Playhouse also were hard hit. Falango says it took nearly two months for the Marketplace to reopen after extensive structural repairs. He said the Playhouse had just completed a large renovation a few months prior to the flood, which wiped out most of the new construction.

Falango says he is optimistic that Weston will not have to increase the tax rate significantly. Pending any FEMA audits, which can take place anytime over the next three years, he says he remains cautious.