WASHINGTON, June 5 – Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) today urged President Barack Obama to support Gov. Peter Shumlin’s request for disaster assistance in the wake of damaging floods caused by heavy rains and a freak May snowstorm.

Up to eight inches of rain and a more than a foot of snow fell in parts of Vermont from May 22 to May 26. The heaviest downpours in northern Vermont caused flash flooding that severely damaged roads, bridges and homes.

Altogether 30 state and local bridges were closed and power was knocked out for 12,000 customers.

With state resources already deployed in a massive effort to repair and rebuild property damaged in 2011 by Tropical Storm Irene, the congressional delegation said in a letter to the president that the recent disaster confronted state and local governments with unforeseen additional expenses.

“The state of Vermont has relied on its partnership with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and we respectfully request your additional assistance as we respond to this recent flooding,” the delegation letter said. 

To read the letter, click here.