VermontVermont requires emergency plans for two high-hazard dams
Vermont’s emergency planners must prepare evacuation plans for two state-owned high-hazard dams and report on how communities could plan for other dams.
What it does
The Division of Emergency Management must prepare plans for two state-owned high-hazard dams, including evacuation routes and destinations, and plans for using state resources and mutual aid.
The Division must report the pilot's results and costs, propose a timeline and budget for municipal planning tools and training, and recommend how communities should prepare and practice plans.
The Governor or Director of Emergency Management may order people to leave an area at risk of flooding from a dam failure without municipal approval.
Argument forPlans could help people and local organizations know evacuation routes and where to go if a dam fails.
Argument againstPreparing plans and training could take staff time and money, and the report must estimate the cost of planning for more communities.
More detail
The Division of Emergency Management must develop emergency plans for two state-owned dams as a pilot project. One dam must have at least 1,000 people at risk. The other must have at least 100 but fewer than 1,000 people at risk. The Division must coordinate with the Department of Environmental Conservation. The plans must assess community needs and identify people and organizations to involve in planning.
The Division must report on the pilot and make recommendations about emergency plans for other communities. Recommendations must address municipalities downstream of Vermont state or federal high-hazard dams where at least 100 people are at risk. The report must include the pilot plans, how they were developed, their cost, and a proposed scope, timeline, and budget for a municipal planning template and training. It must recommend how often to practice plans and estimate the cost of preparing plans for communities downstream of dams where at least 100 people are at risk. The Division must report to the General Assembly by July 1, 2028.
The Governor or Director of Emergency Management may order an evacuation without municipal approval. The order may cover an area at risk of flooding from a dam failure.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Passed 2nd Chamber
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 27House message: Governor approved bill on May 27, 2026Latest
- May 27Signed by Governor Phil Scott on May 27, 2026Became Law
- May 21Delivered to Governor on May 21, 2026To Governor
- May 13Senate Message: House proposal of amendment to Senate proposal of amendment concurred inMinor
- May 12House proposal of amendment to Senate proposal of amendment concurred inMinor
- May 12House proposal of amendment to Senate proposal of amendment, textMinor
- May 12House proposal of amendment to Senate proposal of amendmentMinor
- May 8House proposal of amendment to Senate proposal of amendmentMinor
- May 8Entered on Notice Calendar
- May 8House message: House concurred in Senate proposal of amendment with proposal of amendmentMinor
- May 6Senate proposal of amendment concurred in with further amendment thereto, as offered by Rep. Chapin of East MontpelierMinor
- May 6Action Calendar: Senate Proposal of AmendmentMinor
- May 5Notice Calendar: Senate Proposal of AmendmentMinor
- May 1Senate Message: Passed in concurrence with proposal of amendmentMinor
- Apr 30Read 3rd time & passed in concurrence with proposal of amendmentPassed 2nd Chamber
- Apr 30New Business/Third ReadingMinor
- Apr 293rd reading ordered
- Apr 29Proposal of amendment by Committee on Natural Resources and Energy agreed toMinor
- Apr 29Reported favorably by Senator Watson for Committee on AppropriationsMinor
- Apr 29Read 2nd time, reported favorably with proposal of amendment by Senator Williams for Committee on Natural Resources and EnergyMinor
- Apr 29Favorable report by Committee on AppropriationsMinor
- Apr 29Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on Natural Resources and EnergyMinor
- Apr 29Unfinished Business/Second ReadingMinor
- Apr 28Favorable report by Committee on AppropriationsMinor
- Apr 28Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on Natural Resources and EnergyMinor
- Apr 28Second ReadingMinor
- Apr 24Favorable report by Committee on AppropriationsMinor
- Apr 24Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on Natural Resources and EnergyMinor
- Apr 24Second ReadingMinor
- Apr 24Entered on Notice Calendar
- Apr 22Referred to Committee on Appropriations per Senate Rule 31
- Apr 22Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on Natural Resources and EnergyMinor
- Apr 22Second ReadingMinor
- Apr 22Entered on Notice Calendar
- Mar 27Read 1st time & referred to Committee on Natural Resources and EnergyMinor
- Mar 25Read third time and passedPassed 1st Chamber
- Mar 25Action Calendar: Third ReadingMinor
- Mar 24Third Reading orderedMinor
- Mar 24Report of Committee on Environment agreed to
- Mar 24Rep. Squirrell of Underhill recommended for the Committee on Appropriations
- Mar 24Rep. Chapin of East Montpelier reported for the Committee on Environment
- Mar 24Read second timeMinor
- Mar 24Action Calendar: Favorable with Amendment
- Mar 20Notice Calendar: Favorable with Amendment
- Feb 24Referred to Committee on Appropriations per Rule 35(a)
- Feb 24Notice Calendar: Favorable with Amendment
- Jan 27Read first time and referred to the Committee on EnvironmentIntroduced
Emergency ManagementPublic Safety