Located in:
- Program-specific Requirements for Adult, Dislocated Worker, and Youth Activities under Title I-B
The Unified or Combined State Plan must include the following with respect to activities carried out under subtitle B—
a. 2. C. In addition, describe the State policies and procedures to provide Rapid Responses in cases of natural disasters including coordination with FEMA and other entities
Current Narrative:
Providing an effective rapid response following a disaster event (flood, fire, tornado, etc.) requires broad coordination with local and federal partners. Local partners in Vermont include municipal governments, local fire and rescue organizations, town health and transportation officials, local faith-based organizations, community action agencies, regional or town planning organizations, and others. The State agencies most involved in natural disaster relief efforts are the Department of Public Safety, which is the lead Vermont agency for statewide disaster response activities, the Agency of Transportation, the Agency of Human Services, the Agency of Natural Resources, and the Agency of Agriculture. Other statewide partners include the American Red Cross, the Green Mountain United Way, Vermont Air and National Guard (VTANG) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
The VDOL Rapid Response team coordinates with these partners through our WIOA One-Stop Center staff and State Rapid Response Coordinator to determine the needs of those affected and the resources available. When responding to a natural disaster, the VDOL engages with the full state response team to provide guidance and/or financial assistance to establish community transition teams. These teams work to assist the impacted community in organizing support for dislocated workers. Rapid response sessions are scheduled and held as soon as possible to assess the basic needs of families including heat, shelter, food, clothing and other necessities and services. As part of its outreach and coordination efforts, the VDOL provides the information regarding the services available, and the filing timelines for the following programs: disaster unemployment insurance; national disaster grant funding; and other programs administered by the VDOL.
Disaster dislocated worker grant funds are sought to provide funding to create temporary employment opportunities to assist with clean-up, recovery, and other humanitarian efforts in one of three situations. First, when an area impacted by disaster is declared eligible for public assistance by FEMA; second, when another federal agency with jurisdiction recognizes the disaster as one of national significance that could result in a potentially large loss of employment; and third, when a substantial number of individuals, defined as 50 or more, relocate to another area from a disaster area. The VDOL is the agency eligible to apply for a Disaster DWG in Vermont, because it is designated to receive Dislocated Worker formula funds. In addition, the VDOL is also the fiscal agent responsible for the appropriate allocation of funding to the affected areas. As such, the VDOL rapid response team carries out its disaster response within the parameters of the Disaster DWG guidelines, and in coordination with state and national entities such as FEMA.