Flood Watch on Lake Champlain
June 16, 2011, page 21.....

State Offers Flood Advice

Heavy snow last winter and record spring rains in the Lake Champlain Basin led to the highest water level ever in Lake Champlain. As water poured down from the skies and rushed in from rivers and streams, the lake came up more than seven feet from its 2011 low of 95.74 feet on March 5 to the record high 103.19 feet on May 6. It has gone down gradually, and June 11 was the first day that the level was below 101 feet.

Charlotte has fared better than many lake shore towns because of the rocky shoreline in much of the town, but there have been instances of damage to buildings close to lake level and erosion along streams and unprotected low lying shore land.

State Offers Flood Advice

BISHCA is providing insurance information for flooding victims.
The Banking, Insurance, Securities and Health Care Administration (BISHCA) is providing a telephone assistance contact for individuals with questions and has posted detailed information about flood insurance on the BISHCA website bishca.state.vt.us.
Anyone with specific concerns about insurance coverage or other flood insurance-related problems may call or e-mail Brenda Clark, a Consumer Services Specialist at BISHCA, at 802-828-3302 or Brenda.Clark@State.VT.US.

Avoid fraud when repairing flood damage.
Vermont Emergency Management wants to remind residents to be on the lookout for dishonest contractors looking to cash-in on the flood disaster. Although there have been NO reports of it happening in this disaster, fraudulent contractors sometimes go door-to-door after catastrophic events to find victims who are in need of assistance. 
The Vermont Attorney General’s Office Consumer Assistance Program (CAP) urges consumers to fully checkout contractors before agreeing to any work. Information and important questions to ask are available on the CAP website under: Home Improvement FAQs. 
Watch out for the following warning signs of less than reputable contractors: 
•Solicit door-to-door and are not local to the area.
•Inform you that they were passing by and noticed a problem with your home.
•Offer you discounts for finding other customers or promise that the job will be a “demonstration.”
•Just happen to have materials left over from a previous job and can give you a really good price.
•Only accept cash payments.
•Pressure you to make a decision on the spot.
•Ask you to pay for the entire job or a substantial portion of the job up front.
•Suggest that you borrow money from a lender the contractor knows. 
If you have a question about a contractor or suspect fraud, call the Attorney General’s Consumer Assistance Program office at (800) 649-2424 or (802) 656-3183. 
Vermont’s home improvement fraud registry lists all contractors convicted of criminal home improvement fraud at: Home Improvement Fraud Registry. The Vermont Attorney General’s web site is atg.state.vt.us.

Information provided by BISHCA and the Attorney General’s office.