The recent rain and resulting floods have had major impacts in many Vermont communities. While we are grateful that Vermonters appear to have remained safe, we know that many in the early childhood and afterschool communities are facing challenging circumstances today and may face a lengthy recovery for their programs and themselves.
If your child care program operations are impacted by the rain and floods, please reach out to your licensor or the Licensor on Duty to let them know (AHS.DCFCDDChildcareLicensing@vermont.govor 1-800-649-2642, option 3). We are able to advise on emergency procedures and support relocation to alternative spaces if needed. Please see information below on how programs can operate when water and power have been impacted if they choose to do so.
The State of Vermont is currently focused on emergency response. Resources that may be helpful are the latest updates from Vermont’s Emergency Management division and this list of local emergency management directors for each Vermont town. Vermont 211 is also a resource for individuals and programs. It may also be helpful to:
- Sign up for VT Alerts,
- Watch weather from the NWS,
- Check VT511 for traffic, and
- Review flood recovery resources from the Agency of Natural Resources.
Guidance for Programs with a Power and/or Water Outage
It is your choice to provide care when power and/or water are out. When the power and/or water are out in a program, providers may provide care for children if meeting all of the following conditions:
- Heat shall sufficiently warm the facility in a safe manner,
- Suitable light must be available (no candles may be used),
- Toilet must be operational (may be flushed mechanically),
- Safe drinking water must be readily available,
- Hand washing with warm water and soap must be readily utilized,
- Food must be safely stored and readily available, and
- Phone service must be available on site (cell services is acceptable).
The program should not operate if all of these conditions are not met, as operation would violate essential, minimal health and safety regulations that have been enacted to protect the welfare of children.
In all cases of power or water outage, parents, the local community child care support agencies, and the Child Development Division (CDD) should be directly notified of your program’s status.
If you must close your program due to emergency conditions, families should be referred to the local community child care support agency for assistance in locating alternative care, if they need it. Families can also consider temporarily having an Approved Relative Child Care by contacting the local community child care support agency. If the agency is not available due to their own power and/or water outage, please contact CDD.
In extreme emergency situations, the CDD may consider emergency variances. Please contact your licensor and/or the Licensor on Duty with any questions by email at AHS.DCFCDDChildcareLicensing@vermont.gov or phone, 1-800-649-2642, option 3.