Emergency Management

There are two main categories of disasters: natural, such flooding, severe storms, and health pandemics; and human-caused, such as chemical spills, active shooters, train derailments, structure fires, and water main breaks.

NVDA focuses primarily on mitigation and preparedness, but we also provide assistance during response and recovery in larger-scale events. NVDA staff work with member communities to identify vulnerabilities and prioritize actions to eliminate or lessen the risk. This entails arming people with information and training – and creating opportunities to test and practice emergency plans.

For more information about any of these services below, please email Bruce Melendy, the Emergency Management Specialist at NVDA, or call 802-424-1420.

Local Emergency Management Plan (LEMP):

Also known as the "pocket plan", the LEMP is a portable, efficient guide for use in the early stages of disaster response. You must update this plan every year. NVDA can assist.
As of 2019, Towns are required to use the new state template when updating the Local Emergency Management Plan.

Local Emergency Management Plan (LEMP) Short Form
Local Emergency Management Plan (LEMP) Long Form

Local Emergency Management Director or Coordinator (EMD/EMC):

The EMD (or EMCs plays an important role in the community by overseeing and spearheading planning and preparedness activities, usually in tandem with the town manager or select board. They serve as a critical link between the town and the outside world in an emergency. State law requires each municipality to have an EMD or EMC.

Most EMDs and EMCs are volunteers with day-job responsibilities and obligations. NVDA staff will work with your EMDs and EMCs and other community leaders to identify and prioritize actions that make sense for your town.

Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP):

This plan addresses how your community will continue to operate under a broad range of circumstances. COOP is important as a good business practice because the planning fosters recovery during emergency situations. The plan should develop procedures for: alerting, notifying, activating and deploying employees; identify critical business functions; establish an alternate work facility; roster personnel with authority and knowledge of functions. This of the COOP as an annex to your Local Emergency Management Plan. To view/download a COOP template, click here.

Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP):

Mitigation is any action that reduces or eliminates long-term risks to people and property from disasters. LHMPs are based on historical data and address vulnerable areas likely to be impacted by natural hazards. LHMPs must be adopted by the municipality and approved by the state and FEMA every five years.

Having an LHMP makes towns eligible for grants such as the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, Flood Mitigation Assistance, and the Pre-Disaster Mitigation Competitive Grant. NVDA has created a streamlined process to help towns complete LHMPs and get them approved.

Find your community’s Hazard Mitigation Plan

Municipality	Date Approved	Expiration Date	Comment
Albany (multi-jurisdiction plan for Albany and Albany Village)	April 10, 2017	April 9, 2022
Barnet	March 27, 2005	March 26, 2010
Barton (multi-jurisdiction plan for Barton Town, Barton Village, and Orleans)	March 30, 2018	March 29, 2023
Bloomfield
Brighton	June 23, 2017	June 22, 2022
Brownington	December 23, 2021	December 26, 2026
Brunswick
Burke	June 7, 2021	August 10, 2026	Multi-Jurisdiction plan (Burke, Sutton, Sheffield, Wheelock) \| Certificate of Adoption
Canaan	August 25, 2017	August 24, 2022
Charleston	April 12, 2021	April 11, 2026
Concord	February 22, 2019	February 21, 2024
Coventry	June 11, 2019	June 10, 2024
Craftsbury	October 20, 2022	October 19, 2027
Danville	November 7, 2023	November 6, 2028
Derby (multi-jurisdiction plan for Derby Town, Derby Center, Derby Line)	February 16, 2021	February 15, 2026
East Haven
Glover	May 4, 2017	May 3, 2022
Granby	September 5, 2019	September 3, 2024
Greensboro	March 25, 2024	March 24, 2029
Groton	July 11, 2023	July 10, 2028
Guildhall	May 17, 2005	May 16, 2010	Draft plan for review/comment
Hardwick	December 21, 2023	December 20, 2028
Holland	May 4, 2018	May 3, 2023
Irasburg
Jay
Kirby	August 14, 2017	August 13, 2022
Lemington
Lowell	March 21, 2017	March 20, 2022
Lunenburg
Lyndon (multi-jurisdiction plan for Lyndon Town, Lyndonville)	September 30, 2016	September 29, 2021
Maidstone
Morgan
Newark
Newport City	January 26, 2023	January 25, 2028
Newport Town
Norton
Peacham	October 9, 2019	October 7, 2024
Ryegate	June 27, 2022	June 27, 2027
Sheffield		August 10, 2026	Draft Multi-Jurisdiction plan (Burke, Sutton, Sheffield, Wheelock)
St. Johnsbury	July 26, 2016	July 25, 2021
Stannard
Sutton (Multi-Jurisdiction plan Burke, Sutton, Sheffield, Wheelock)	June 3, 2021	August 10, 2026	Adoption Certificate
Troy (Multi-Jurisdiction plan for Troy, North Troy)	November 15, 2022	November 14, 2027
Unified Towns & Gores	March 24, 2017	March 23, 2022
Victory
Walden	March 21, 2017	March 20, 2022
Waterford	April 7, 2017	April 6, 2022
Westfield	May 27, 2005	May 26, 2010	Draft plan for review/comment
Westmore
Wheelock (Multi-Jurisdiction plan for Burke, Sutton, Sheffield, Wheelock)	January 18, 2021	August 10, 2026	Adoption Certificate

NEK Consortium Regional Fire Services Feasibility Study

Consolidated Recomendations
Regional Fire Services Feasibility Study
Regional Map
Study Appendices
Final Presentation

Emergency Planning Resources

VT Emergency Training
The Training Source for Vermont emergency responders. Designed to provide emergency service personnel with a single source Internet location for Fire, Law Enforcement, Local Government, EMS, Emergency Management, and Terrorism Training.

VT Emergency Management
A division of the VT Department of Public Safety. Vermont is one of the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) partners.. EMAC allows for a quick response to disasters using unique resources and expertise possessed by member states.

Federal Emergency Management Agency
Everything you might be interested in is at this site: assistance, education, maps, grants, publications, library, contact info, insurance issues, etc.

National Weather Service
To check for severe weather information.

Flood Ready

Vermont's Agency of Natural Resources online resource for local flood resilience planning.