Audit finds Vermont failed to complete steps to reduce risk from natural disasters such as flooding

Vermont has failed to complete many actions in its five-year hazard mitigation plan aimed at reducing the risk from natural disasters such as flooding, according to a new report from the state auditor’s office.

The plan is developed by Vermont Emergency Management every five years to identify natural hazards facing the state, create steps to reduce risk and serve as a resource for state agencies and others to carry out those actions, the report released on Tuesday states. But just a third of the 96 actions, and half of the priority actions in the 2018 plan, had been completed by last year, according to the audit.

“The growing frequency and power of extreme weather events makes it clear -– Vermont needs to do more to proactively ready our communities to reduce the danger to Vermonters’ lives and property,” state auditor Doug Hoffer said in a statement.

Eric Forand, director of Vermont Emergency Management, said Friday that the hazard mitigation plan is more of an aspirational plan for goals for the future than the state emergency management plan, which has specific steps to take during an emergency response.

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