Corrections & Institutions Committee hears briefing on 2023 flood damage to Montpelier Capitol Complex

Members of the Corrections & Institutions Committee on Jan. 30 heard a detailed briefing from Joe Ajah, director of design and construction for Buildings and General Services, on damage from the July 2023 flood that affected the Montpelier Capitol Complex and surrounding state-owned properties.

Ajah said the July 2023 event "was a 25 hour event of flooding in Downtown Montpelier" and "impacted, over 19 buildings," including 18 inside the Capitol Complex and one state-owned office building on Green Mountain Drive. He told the committee five buildings remain unoccupied — four on the complex and the one on Green Mountain Drive — while others have been reopened temporarily under an extended 90-day permit.

Why it matters: the briefing outlined which buildings suffered basement- and first-floor flooding, which mechanical and electrical systems were damaged, and why the state must document losses for FEMA before permanent repairs proceed. Ajah warned that extensive rehabilitation could trigger code upgrades if a building is deemed "substantially damaged" — typically replacement costs exceeding 50% of assessed value — which would change the scope and cost of any rebuild.

Key facts from the briefing

- Scope and occupancy: Ajah said the flood affected more than 19 buildings; 18 are inside the Capitol Complex and one at 13 Green Mountain Drive was impacted at basement level. Five buildings remain unoccupied. Several other buildings were reopened for temporary use after cleanup.

- Significant damage to basements and mechanical spaces: Ajah showed photos during the briefing of basements and mechanical rooms with standing water and muck. He detailed that the basement at 110 State Street had about 48 inches of water before cleanup, and that the basement in 133 State Street reached roughly 6 to 7 feet (near the top of some doorways). He said the electrical room in one building had more than 6 feet of water.

- Systems and contents lost: Ajah said elevators, mechanical systems and electrical switchgear were among the most damaged components because hydraulic elevator tanks and electrical equipment sit at low elevations. He described a video showing an elevator whose doors opened after the elevator dropped as floodwaters rose. Ajah said crews have removed items that cannot be dried and that SERVPRO and other contractors have performed large-scale cleanup.

- Contractor and reimbursements: Ajah estimated SERVPRO and related cleanup exceeded $20,000,000. He said some cleanup work has already been reimbursed through insurance and that FEMA will review project worksheets and reimburse eligible costs under its rules. Ajah cautioned that some types of rework done before FEMA approval could change reimbursement categories.

- FEMA process and mitigation options: Ajah described the FEMA documentation process: the state is cataloging damaged items, receiving valuation for replacement-in-kind, and assessing whether buildings meet the substantial-damage threshold. He said options under review include elevating buildings to meet a base flood elevation (he noted the old terminology of the "100-year flood"), dry flood-proofing to keep water out, or wet flood-proofing where water is allowed in and then drained after an event. He emphasized that these mitigation choices affect cost and future occupancy.

Committee discussion and next steps

Committee members asked about timelines and whether the work would be covered by larger capital packages. Ajah confirmed that some repairs are included in a broader $200,000,000 package under discussion and that the committee will know more as FEMA project worksheets are processed in the coming months. Ajah said the state is continuing to reopen buildings temporarily where safe to do so, working with fire safety and other regulators, and documenting corrosion and other emerging issues.

Ajah asked the committee to consider site visits once weather permits; committee staff and members agreed to circulate the briefing materials by email and to arrange a walkthrough of affected buildings.

What was not decided

No formal committee votes or binding policy decisions were recorded during the briefing. Ajah and committee members discussed options and next steps; the committee indicated it would review FEMA outcomes and potential capital decisions later in the legislative session.

Ending

Ajah said the state will continue documenting damage and coordinating with FEMA and insurers, and committee staff will circulate the briefing materials and follow up about a walkthrough and any off-session actions needed after project worksheets are approved.