Greenfield, MA— The Connecticut River Watershed Council (CRC) and the State of Vermont have released six new videos to help communities prepare for flooding. Experts speak about and highlight examples of why rivers move and erode in the first place, how to build better culverts and stream crossings, how to stabilize streambanks more naturally, and how to use mitigation funding. The videos are posted on the new Flood Ready Vermont website: www.floodready.vermont.gov. Or they can be seen all together at: ctriver.org/projects/preparing-for-floods.

The videos, produced by the Connecticut River Watershed Council strengthen a collaborative effort to build effective tools and peer to peer communication for flood resilience. CRC was one of many organizations that collaborated in the design of Flood Ready Vermont.

The Flood Ready Vermont web site supports communities in their work to reduce flood damage and qualify for better post-disaster funding. Flood Ready Vermont is filled with expert information by and for community leaders about making infrastructure and communities more flood resilient. Flood Ready Vermont features stories, including these new videos, from communities making it happen.

Flood Ready Vermont compiles maps, data and tools communities need to:

  • Prepare for disaster: Emergency Relief and Assistance Fund (ERAF);
  • Identify flood hazards and take action to minimize future damage;
  • Find funding to reduce risk to existing buildings;
  • Update your community plans;
  • Find out what communities are doing to get flood ready.

CRC produced the six new videos with videographer Joe DeFelice of Riverbank Media and financial support from the High Meadow Fund at VT Community Foundation and Jane’s Trust. The website was designed with the guidance of municipal, regional, non-governmental and state agency participants including the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development, Vermont League of Cities and Towns, the Connecticut River Watershed Council, the Conservation Law Foundation, Vermont Natural Resources Council, regional planning commissions and community organizations from across the state. The planning of the site was facilitated by Tamarack Media Cooperative and WebSkillet Cooperative.

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