Flood News Update: from the trenches

Take Back Vermont photographed by Melissa Hauteniemi

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Welcome to the new weekend edition of your Vermont flood news update.  We’ve been glad to hear that the information provided here has been informative, utilized to motivate folks to get out there and help our neighboring communities, and gather charitable donations for people still suffering in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Irene.

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Where to Help: Sunday 10/2

Here’s a list of places to help out on Sunday, October 2:
You may go here to see the details of these links:
http://vtresponse.wordpress.com/2011/10/01/where-to-help-sunday-102/
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Bethel

Information:

Bethel’s Town Hall has served as a multi-function relief center since Tropical Storm Irene ripped through the town.
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Gaysville

The White River Campground (Gaysville/Stockbridge) needs ongoing help to clean up the property, the road, and the buildings.  They have received no help from anyone and would appriciate any help.  They need heavy movers and chain saws, this property follows the White River and took on a lot damage. Help is needed and welcome any day, any time. Please call 802-234-9115 if you are able to help or head to the campground during day time hours to help out.
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Granville
CHAINSAW and people needed to cut up and stack 2 fallen trees in Granville. Kim Warner 619/246-2134 email – kimwds@gmail.com

10-02 thru 10/7

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Hartford
*This includes White River Junction, West Hartford, Quechee and Windsor
Information:
  • Hurricane Clean-up:

SILT: Please bring your silt to the edge of your property for further collection next week by the Town of Hartford.

  • The FEMA Disaster Recovery Center located at the Hartford Public Safety Building,Will Be Closing Thursday, October 6, 2011.
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Jamaica
8 to 10 people are needed to help daily in Jamaica and Londonderry.  You will go door to door in those communities and complete surveys of needs. You will be meeting at Neighborhood Connections daily at 9 am for a brief training and maps of the neighborhoods. This project requires people who are polite, organized and punctual.

If you are able to volunteer, please contact Neighborhood Connections at 802-824-4343 with the day or days that you are available.

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Killington
Fundraising Events:
Golf Benefit for Flood Relief
802Relief will be hosting The 2011 802Relief Golf Classic on Sunday, October 23, 2011. The 18-hole team handicapped scramble will take place at Green Mountain National Golf Course. Funds are to benefit ongoing flood relief projects in Vermont. Cost is $100 per person/$400 per foursome and includes golf, cart and full dinner afterward. Registration forms can be downloaded at 802Relief.com or can be emailed to you by sending an email to 802Relief@gmail.com with the subject heading ‘Golf Registration’.
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Londonderry
8 to 10 people are needed to help daily in Jamaica and Londonderry.  You will go door to door in those communities and complete surveys of needs. You will be meeting at Neighborhood Connections daily at 9 am for a brief training and maps of the neighborhoods. This project requires people who are polite, organized and punctual.

If you are able to volunteer, please contact Neighborhood Connections at 802-824-4343 with the day or days that you are available.

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Marshfield

Allison Silveria requires assistance harvesting a garden, cleaning a chicken coop, and clearing various debris.  Volunteers please protect yourselves from mold: wear N95 masks, gloves, boots, and long sleeves.  If possible, please bring/donate tarps, trash bags, and bleach.  Contact Allison at (802) 279-0762, or email at acefrapple@msn.com.

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Moretown

Sunday 10/2 8:30 am 20 people scheduled to help at CrossHaven Farm, Moretown. Job partially completed. Volunteers need rakes & shovels to work with. If you have equipment and/or can add to the work party, it’d be great! – Trail improvement (only access to property since the bridge washed out in the flood). – debris and gravel clean-up – barn clean-up contact.  Scott Sainsbury 496-5965.  Meet at northerly Farnham Rd/Moretown Common Rd intersection to hike in together.

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Norwich

Donations Information:

  • Subject: [Norwich] Irene Pie Bake-Off and Giving Bowls

On Sunday, October 16th, eat dessert first, then have some soup!

Dessert First — noon-2:30pm Hurricane Irene Pie Bake-Off and Silent Auction
at Carpenter and Main restaurant. All proceeds benefit the Upper Valley
Haven’s Hurricane Irene relief fund. For more information on this event
please see our blog http://irenebakeoff.blogspot.com/ or or find us on
facebook – “Hurricane Irene Relief Pie Bake-Off” You can also email
irenepiecontest@killdeerfarm.com

Next the Soup – – 2-4pm Giving Bowls on the Norwich Town Green – share soup,
bread and basked goods with your neighbors, and take home a hand made bowl.
Proceeds benefit Willing Hands and the Haven food pantry. For questions
about this event, please contact j.lisa.christie@gmail.com

  • Norwich residents interested in assisting flood victims may also volunteer in West Woodstock. The Woodstock Clothing Relief center at the Grange Hill building is accepting donations of the following items only at this time: Winter Clothing for Boys & Male Teens; work boots/winter boots for men;  Winter Coats for women; New under ware for men/women; women’s winter coats; warm blankets and bedding, new pillows; heavy Carhart work clothes and personal care items. We also match people who can donate appliances, furniture etc, with those who need it. We provide free clothing etc. to all who have been effected by Hurricane Irene.  Volunteers needed for clothes sorting and sizing and assisting those who come to “shop”. Sign-up for a two hour shift. New hours of operation are: Sundays 12 noon -6 PM and Saturdays -Friday 10 am -6pm. This grass-roots relief effort is located on Route 4 west in the Grange Hill building (the former Baptist Rock Church building) right hand side when going towards Bridgewater and across form the Woodstock Union High School soccer field-  Look for Fema & Clothing sign, park in back. Any questions call organizers: Missy at 299-2348 or Mary at 291-2348. Many thanks.

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Rochester
Help is needed in Rochester, across from White River Golf Course (Rt. 100 South of Rochester) on Sunday, October 5th. 5 strong volunteers are needed. Please bring work gloves, rubber boots. There will be lots of shoveling. Please call Cynthia Ryan before you go at 802/767-9100. If there is no answer leave a message.
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Royalton
Information:
  • Happy Hollow Road – Open from VT Route 14 to Rix Road
  • Bridge Street, in Royalton Village is now open to traffic
  • Johnson Hill Road is still being worked on.  Please seek alternate routes during the day to allow our work crews the space they need to complete the repairs.  Congestion by non – construction vehicles creates safety hazards and prolongs the repairs
  • Mill Road Bridge CLOSED – scheduled to open the week of October 17th.
  • Foxstand bridge CLOSED
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Rutland
We would appreciate any volunteers that you could send our way.  We have many opportunities for volunteers, including a volunteer shopper and/or someone to accept and distribute donated items for clients.  Please meet at the Recovery Center around 8:30 am for the morning or any time during the day.  The Center is located at 263 South Main Street in Rutland.  It is the old Smith Buick Building.  The phone number is 802-773-1739.
Information:
The Giving Tree
802Relief, a Rutland-based nonprofit created after Irene, is establishing ‘The Giving Tree.’ ‘The Giving Tree(s)’ will be located in various storefronts in Rutland and the surrounding communities. Vermonters who were affected by flooding can anonymously request the donation of specific items they need. The ‘Tree’ will be given ‘leaves’ that patrons to the store can ‘pick’ and will go purchase the item. The item will be brought to 802Relief’s offices, where it will then be brought to the person or persons in need. Requests should be made to: 802Relief@gmail.com with the subject heading of ‘Giving Tree’ The message should include the needed item and the name, address and contact information (which will NOT be on the leaf, but is needed so we can get the item to the person) For further detail, contact Scott Tommola at (802)236-1381.
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Sharon

  • VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

October 8th and 9th – COIN DROP TO BENEFIT SHARON FIRE DEPT.

As many of you are aware, our Sharon Fire Department suffered significant damage due to Tropical Storm Irene.  Please come out and help friends of SFD to raise money to rebuild the fire house and replace equipment.

The coin drop will be set up on Route 132 in front of the church.  Looking for 12 – 16 volunteers to work in 2 hour shifts both Saturday and Sunday.  Shifts available from 9am – 11am, 11am – 1pm, 1pm – 3pm.  To sign up please contact Jodi at 763-2839.

If you would like to make a direct donation to the Sharon Fire Department checks can be mailed to:

Sharon Volunteer Fire Department
PO Box 74
Sharon, VT 05065

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Stockbridge

The White River Campground (Gaysville/Stockbridge) needs ongoing help to clean up the property, the road, and the buildings.  They have received no help from anyone and would appriciate any help.  They need heavy movers and chain saws, this property follows the White River and took on a lot damage. Help is needed and welcome any day, any time. Please call 802-234-9115 if you are able to help or head to the campground during day time hours to help out.

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Waitsfield

Waitsfield. 10/1, 9am through 4pm.  The Mint Restaurant, Bridge St, Waitsfield, requires help preparing for a fresh coat of paint. Basic wall scrubbing. Bring rags, gloves, and buckets.  Please contact 802-279-9563

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Waterbury

Extended opportunities to help with general cleanup, childcare and meal prep and service from now until the end of November.  Starting October 1st, Rebuild Waterbury is organizing Saturday volunteer workdays through the end of November.  Please arrive around 9 am at 109 So. Main Street behind St. Andrew’s Church.  Volunteers are need to help with tasks from mold control to hanging sheetrock and general cleanup.
Volunteers will be matched with rebuilding projects from among the 200 odd homes and businesses that suffered from Irene.  Focus will be on helping homeowners without flood insurance or the means to rebuild themselves without volunteer help.  Due to high dust levels and hazardous conditions we ask that volunteers be 18 years of age or older.  Please wear protective footwear and clothing (i.e. work gloves and boots).  Lunch will be provided at noon (and volunteers are needed for this and child care.)
Contact Belle Mcdougall @ btmcdougall@gmail.com if you are able to provide food or help organize these efforts.

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White River Junction

Morris Brothers Bike Shop, 176 Bridge St., White River Junction: Needs general clean up and basic carpentry help, hanging blue board insulation; Friday, Saturday or Sunday. (This is an indoor job, in case it’s raining!). You may contact the owner directly, at 802-296-2331, or 295-7597.

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West Hartford

A homeowner in W. Hartford needs help hauling debris to the landfill, especially several appliances. Strong backs and trucks needed. He really needs this help this weekend (10- 1 & 2), as they are going to crush the home and his things need to be moved out. You may contact the homeowner directly; Paul Davidson 802-291-1871, or show up at 12 noon at 116 Green Trailer Park Rd. , off of Rt. 14, Sharon (just over the W. Hartford line).
  • Family in Need of Volunteers

Heavy equipment needed!  We have heard from the below family that they are looking for volunteers to assist in the removal of some silt from their backyard.  Please contact sarahb@coverhomerepair.org if you would like to be matched with this family to assist them.  Please put ‘W.Hartford Volunteer Heavy Equipment’ in the subject line.  Thank you!

The folks at Rex Associates (it’s a small garage), really could use some help. They are trying to clean and sort through all their tools and machinery, need some carpentry help, some help moving heavy equipment, and even more importantly, they have a house that they’ve not been able to deal with because they’ve been focusing on the business. They are going to be tearing the roof off of this house, in order to burn it. Any help they could get would be so appreciated. They do not work on Saturdays, so during the week or Sunday would be most helpful.

You may contact Bruce Conrad at 802-295-3948, or just show up at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday at 6025 Rt.14, W. Hartford . If you can’t find anyone there, please call the above number.

***

Donations Information:

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Woodstock

Riverside Mobile Home Park could use a large group of volunteers this weekend; 10-1 & 2. Please show up for work at 9:00 a.m., with shovels, rakes, gloves, boots. There is a lot of general clean-up, clearing of debris, carrying debris from homes, etc. You may just show up, or contact Moe at 802-356-1787. Directions: Go through Woodstock , and past the green, past the UU church, before the iron bridge, there is a road that forks up to the left, called Carleton Hill Rd. You go up that hill, stay on that road all the way out (maybe 2 miles?), and it will turn into College Hill Rd. Stay on it until you see Riverside Pk. Drive on your right; turn in there. There is a volunteer tent set up right behind the mailboxes on your left.

Donations Information:

  • The Woodstock Clothing Relief center at the Grange Hill building is accepting donations of the following items only at this time: Winter Clothing for Boys & Male Teens; work boots/winter boots for men;  Winter Coats for women; New under ware for men/women; women’s winter coats; warm blankets and bedding, new pillows; heavy Carhart work clothes and personal care items. We also match people who can donate appliances, furniture etc, with those who need it. We provide free clothing etc. to all who have been effected by Hurricane Irene.  Volunteers needed for clothes sorting and sizing and assisting those who come to “shop”. Sign-up for a two hour shift. New hours of operation are: Sundays 12 noon -6 PM and Saturdays -Friday 10 am -6pm. This grass-roots relief effort is located on Route 4 west in the Grange Hill building (the former Baptist Rock Church building) right hand side when going towards Bridgewater and across form the Woodstock Union High School soccer field-  Look for Fema & Clothing sign, park in back. Any questions call organizers: Missy at 299-2348 or Mary at 291-2348. Many thanks.

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Other Volunteer Opportunities

“Can’t do the physical labor?  Copy this section, print it out and deliver it to folks along VT Rte.14 so they are up-to-date!”

Information:

  • Rte 132 CLOSED between Cross Rd and High Lakes Rd for culvert replacement.
  • **Winter coats/jeans/gloves are being distributed, don’t miss out**

When: Sunday, October 2, 2:00-4:00pm
Where: Riverside Mobile Home Park, West Woodstock
Bonus: Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream
Bring this flyer and see Scott Farnsworth at the Lenny’s Apparel Truck
Contact Barbara Farnsworth at St. Paul’s Church with questions
directions: go through Woodstock on route 4, and past the green, past the UU church, before the iron bridge, there is a road that forks up
to the left, called Carleton Hill Rd. You go up that hill, stay on that road all the way out (maybe 2 miles?), and it will turn into College Hill Rd.
Stay on it until you see Riverside Pk. Drive on your right; turn in there. There is a volunteer tent set up right behind the mailboxes on your
left.

Print the flyer here:

http://docs.google.com/leafid=12tiRFxhyfkztse3Q7F3mwxPxHU3ux7REZJt0IbcCEbEcu2P4mZz634qLx9Qp&hl=en

The new deadline for cities and towns to file for federal disaster assistance is October 17th, extended from October 1st. Via VPR News.
  • Hurricane Clean-up:

SILT: Please bring your silt to the edge of your property for further collection next week by the Town of Hartford.

  • The FEMA Disaster Recovery Center located at the Hartford Public Safety Building,Will Be Closing Thursday, October 6, 2011.
The Vermont Bar Association, Vermont Legal Aid, Legal Services Law Line of Vermont and the Vermont Volunteer Lawyers Project have pro bono lawyers standing by to help victims of Tropical Storm Irene.

Vermonters who have been affected by flooding and who have legal questions or problems can contact these resources for information and help:

–Call 1-800-889-2047. Through this intake number, a client may be connected with a Legal Aid attorney; receive over the phone legal advice from a Law Line attorney; or be assigned an attorney through the Volunteer Lawyer Project.

–Visit Vermont Legal Aid’s webpage with answers to frequently asked questions for flooding victims at http://www.vtlawhelp.org/disaster_Irene.

  • Relief Fundraiser
Irene Relief Button Up Workshop
The Center for Sustainable Practices at Vermont Technical College is hosting a Button Up Flood Recovery Workshop. When: Wednesday, October 5, 7-9pm Where: Judd Hall on the VT Tech campus in Randolph Center The Flood Recovery Workshops are a joint effort by Efficiency Vermont and the Central Vermont Community Action Council (CVCAC) to help homeowners impacted by the recent floods. The workshop covers how to dry walls and basements, address mold, and improve the energy efficiency of the building and systems to create safe, healthy and energy efficient homes as they are rebuilt. Workshops will be held in several locations in affected areas of the state. Contact CVCAC at 802-477-5237 or e-mail buttonup@cvcac.org for more information.

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Appreciation

Big thank you to everyone who came out to EMS and donated to the West Hartford Village Store rebuild fund!  We’re glad you enjoyed the lovely music and performances of John T and Joice Marie!  Thank you to EMS for having us there and supporting the A.T. community on Club Day!”  ~D.O.C. A.T. Corridor Stewardship Program Volunteers, Dartmouth Outing Club

“Thank you for what you are doing to inform folks.  The hard work continues on this project.  Please keep up your good work.”
***
“Thanks so much for sharing the news.  I’ve read all of your updates and have helped where I could.  I would love to make a donation, albeit small, to the West Hartford Village Store.  How do I go about it if I cannot stop by EMS?  I will try, but the next 2 days I may be in the opposite direction.  My husband and I hiked the AT 15 years ago (next week!!!), and although we were not lucky enough to have the store open when we went through West Hartford, we live just up the road and would like to thank them for all of their efforts and help them be ready for next year’s hikers.  Recent south bounders will certainly miss out as they come through.”
***
“My husband, and I want to thank you for the herculean job you have done letting us all know what is happening and how we can help Vermonters recovering from Hurricane Irene.  We were some of the lucky ones who didn’t suffer much damage and were able to help dig out others after the storm.  Thanks mainly to you and your detailed listings, we were able to know where to go and what to bring when we were able to help.  It also helped us even when we couldn’t volunteer, since you gave updates and quotes from both volunteers and storm victims.”
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*Are you out there in the trenches?  Want to share the information in real time?*

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