Valley Futures

The Mad River Valley Hurricane Relief Headquarters has been established at the Mad River Masonic Lodge, Rte 100, next to Village Grocery. This hub serves as a way to connect resources to needs and volunteers to sites for the entire Valley Community. Staff will strive to be open 7 days a week from 8am-4pm. Volunteers are needed to begin staffing right away. Please contact juneand@madriver.com or efrankel@madriver.com if you are ready to fill shifts. Phone: 496-6089. Many thanks to the Masons and WCVT for making this happen.

Tags: Announcements, Flood Recovery by Joshua Schwartz
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Here’s an update from each town’s select board representatives and our Vermont state rep @ Big Pic tonight (8.30.11 @ 7 PM).

TO ASSIST: Look at “MRVpostIrene” Facebook page, or show up at Bridge Street HQ to get daily marching orders.

Or, visit http://www.valleyfutures.net/blog to get VOLUNTEER CONTACT PHONE #S IN EACH TOWN. Call them to help on a daily basis.

Thanks to Josh Schwartz and the MRV planning district for hosting.

What Follows Is Town Updates – Bulleted Notes (Informal)

FAYSTON (Jared Cadwell, SB)

1. We are extremely fortunate in Fayston – other Vermont towns got “hammered.”
2. Extraordinary clean up efforts in MRV – very grateful to road + emergency crews, volunteers, private companies etc.
3. Damage: relatively minor…
4. Trouble spots–Rankin Road; back side of Center Fayston; German Flats Road (Slide + Chase Brook watersheds uncorked) – restored to 2 lane traffic (pavement and restored gravel).
5. Thanks to WWSU for delaying school 1 week to allow for roadbeds to be restored.

WAITSFIELD (Kate Williams, SB Chair + Sal Spinoza, SB & Incident Commander)

1. Town has declared a “state of emergency” and activated state and federal process for relief efforts.
2. Bridge Street – “amazing” outpouring of support in Irene’s wake. “Worst of times, best of times” – devastation and clean up as quickly as possible.
3. Town is supporting trash removal etc.
4. Bridge Street and Covered Bridge closed; Bridge to be assessed/inspected tomorrow…track town web site, as info is constantly changing…
5. SAL as “Incident Commander:” update of Tremblay Road (now 2-way, mostly); Covered Bridge; Bridge Street; Route 17 is now 2 way); Common Road; Dugway Road; Butternut Hill Road. BIG THANKS to road crews; construction companies; volunteers.
6. Notice that Brook, Joslin Hill and other roads impacted by May rain event – still intact. Bravo.
7. Reminder: Bridge Street is HUB for information about where you can assist all over Valley. Check out Facebook page…

WARREN (Drew Cunningham, SB Chair)

1. Route 100 to Hancock seems solid, but not beyond.
2. Flatiron Road is closed – but will be rocking for Bike Race this week-end.
3. Senor Road – closed, but culvert should show up tomorrow.
4. Fuller Hill – one lane, filling in tomorrow etc.
5. Prickly – passable, end of the week will get worked on.
6. Covered Bridge closed – waiting for inspectors.
7. 98 percent of septic in village back on.
8. State checked Route 100′s Kingsbury Bridge – OK for now – coming down in April and new bridge built (is the plan).

MORETOWN (John Hoogenboom, SB Chair)

1. Town is completely “devastated.”
2. Thanks to the whole Valley for supporting us and showing up – THANKS. Applause.
3. MRV crested 1/8 inch higher than 1927 flood – Munn Bridge is indicator.
4. Two rivers: Mad and Winooski. Epic flooding.
5. We have no paved roads.
6. The only local road inaccessible is Moretown Mountain Road (Northfield way.)
7. Local roads: 1 lane  open; safety is an open question.
8. Drinking water an issue – all town water is contaminated. We have water tank now.
9. Needs: masks, rubber gloves, sanitary supplies. ANOTHER DUMPSTER, PLEASE. TWO, EVEN.
10. 10. Concerned about contamination.

LIMIT: Avoid Moretown as “pass through” with cars if at all possible.

ADAM G – Valley Rep to State

1. Call “211″ to report flood damage. VEMA is statewide emerg mgmt org. Make the call. 211.
2. Flood Assistance for Businesses -
   1. Businesses – call # 828-3211 (new number in Montpelier.)
   2. VEDA is freeing up 10 million dollars in business loans. (Not much, but a start).
      1. i.     Check out http://www.veda.org.
      2. Flood Assistance for Individuals
         1. Call “211.”
         2. US gov declared Vermont an “emergency,” not a “disaster” area. Big diff, actually, in terms of money, attention.

Notes by Rob Williams

Tags: Flood Recovery by Joshua Schwartz
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After the tremendous impact to individuals, businesses and communities by Hurricane Irene, the Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD) has compiled information for our partners to utilize to help answer questions and direct concerned Vermonters. Please check our website for up to date contact and resource information (http://www.dca.state.vt.us/).

Information for Vermonters and Visitors on Impacts of Hurricane Irene:

August 30^th, 2011 Status of FEMA efforts:

The President has made an Emergency Declaration for Vermont. This type of declaration allows Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to immediately assist with shelters, National Guard, emergency repairs, etc.  FEMA is gearing up to do Preliminary Damage Assessment (PDA) in each of the 14 counties. The Goal of this phase is to document sufficient damage to get a Major Disaster Declaration from the President.

If you want information on road conditions, call 511:

“511” provides Vermonters and visitors to the state with information on state road closures. The Agency of Transportation is working 24/7 to update the information as fast as possible. AOT is working on a system to report local roads as well. Go to http://www.511vt.com for additional information.

If you are an individual and need immediate help, call 211:

“211” is the resource to help individuals access services now and to  register information on individual property damage. (For more information, go to: http://www.vermont211.org/).

If you are a business (for-profit; non-profit; multi-family housing provider, etc.) call 828-3211:

If you are a business looking to report damage to your business or would like to speak to someone about additional resources available, please call 828-3211. The ACCD has set up a system to document damage to businesses and properties (both for and non-profit businesses, including mulit-family housing providers and services) in order to assist FEMA in their collection of information

Communities are reporting storm damage for inclusion in the preliminary damage assessment.

Communities also need to report damages and that information goes to the Vermont Emergency Management. The link to their site for communities to input information is at http://vem.vermont.gov/home/damage_report and filling out the survey on the site. The Regional Planning Commissions are also helping with emergency management for towns in their region. For contact information for an RPC in your town, go to http://www.vapda.org/.

Documenting Impacts to Historic Properties:

ACCD is helping to document impacts to historic resources for various reasons – a) When FEMA teams begin to work in communities they will be aware ahead of time of damaged/destroyed historic properties and can focus on those; b) It will give the historic preservation community a better sense of the extent and location of major damage and where we can help best during the recovery phase; c) It will help us better plan education and training information and workshops during the recovery phase.

What You Can Do Now:

If your property has been damaged, take immediate corrective action – - if your roof is leaking, put a roof on your building; if your carpets are wet, get them dried. If your collections or museum facility has been damaged, put your Emergency Plan in Place NOW.

FEMA recommends that you:

• Take lots of photos and document the damage
• Keep all receipts
• Document all volunteers who are helping out (you can use this for your cost share) – - Use a “Sign-in” book, with their name, time in, time out
• Take action NOW to protect your property

NOTE: You may or may not be eligible for FEMA or other federal assistance but in case you are, the above information will be critical.

As the Floodwaters Recede — A Checklist of Things to Do: (Courtesy Preservation Trust of Vermont, at http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs041/1102172352505/archive/1107373832970.html) Adapted from: INFORMATION, National Trust for Historic Preservation Booklet No. 82, 1993, Treatment of Flood-Damaged Older and Historic Buildings, and provided courtesy of the New Bern Historic Preservation Commission.

The following checklist will help you respond to flood damage in historic and older buildings. Read the steps through carefully and take time to plan. While it is tempting to wade right in with a shovel and mop, it is very important to develop a plan for cleanup and rehabilitation. Unfortunately, overly zealous cleanup efforts can result in historic materials being carted away, excessively rough cleaning methods, and the unnecessary loss of historic fabric. The best way to prevent additional damage to historic structures and materials during a time of duress is to use caution and plan ahead.

• Follow all emergency rules, laws, and regulations
• Turn off all utilities
• Document building damage
• Wear protective clothing
• Stabilize any unstable structures with temporary bracing
• Use caution when pumping basement water
• Keep building properly ventilated
• Clean everything that got wet with a disinfectant
• Allow saturated materials to dry using natural ventilation
• Check for foundation damage
• Replace soil around foundation
• Save historic materials if possible
• Use caution when removing lead-based paint or any products containing asbestos
• Clean and repair roof and roof drainage systems to protect building from future damage

Tags: Announcements, Flood Recovery by Joshua Schwartz
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VERMONT EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT NEWS RELEASE
Date: 08/30/11

Contact:
Mark Bosma, Public Information Officer
Vermont Emergency Management
(800) 347-0488
Time: 11:30 a.m.

Vermont Emergency Operations Center Update

BURLINGTON, VT – Vermont continues recovery efforts following the storm that hit the state Sunday and Monday. The situation is constantly changing; this is the latest information from the state Emergency Operations Center.

So far, there have been three fatalities due to the storm. It is expected an additional death will result as the missing person from Mendon has yet to be found.

There are currently 13 communities that are unreachable by vehicle due to road damage. There are more than 200 roads that are still impassable state wide and all 500 road workers from the Agency of Transportation are on the street today working on repairs. Much of that staff is working with local road crews to make isolated towns accessible.

511 or www.511vt.com is available for state road conditions. THE PUBLIC IS ASKED TO NOT CALL 211 FOR ROAD CLOSURES – THEY DO NOT HAVE THAT INFORMATION AND THE EXTRA CALLS ARE IMPEDING THE STATE’S ABILITY TO REACH THOSE WHO NEED TO REPORT DAMAGE OR SHELTER INFORMATION.

The 13 isolated communities and another 8 that have only limited access will be receiving food, water and other necessities from the state later today. These supplies will be trucked or flown in to communities, depending on accessibility, by the Vermont National Guard. The provisions were shipped in Monday night from the federal staging area in Massachusetts.

The Vermont State Police continue in their efforts to ensure the safety and well-being of those in flooded towns. 130 troopers and detectives have been providing security to communities, monitoring roads looking for compromised or otherwise dangerous sections, and welfare checks. The VSP has also been responding to accidents in damaged areas. Travel in damaged areas is strongly discouraged as it can be dangerous and it could hamper road repair, utility restoration and other recovery efforts.

The Red Cross has operated shelters on an ongoing basis since Sunday morning. Hundreds of people have spent the night at a shelter or have been fed by the Red Cross.

20,000 power customers are still without service. Utility crews have restored power to more than 30,000 customers since Sunday. Some could be without service until the end of the week as road conditions are making it difficult to access some areas.

President Barack Obama approved a Federal Disaster Declaration for Vermont on Monday morning. The declaration will provide 75% reimbursement to communities for repairs to public infrastructure like roads, bridges, and public buildings.

Those returning to flooded homes must have a licensed electrician inspect their electrical system before taking residence. Those who have pollutants like fuel oil or any other hazardous materials should call a professional hazmat cleaning service to clear it up.

Vermont Emergency Management will operate its Emergency Operations Center at the FEMA offices in Burlington at least until the end of the week. Contact information for the media is 802-951-2708.

Tags: Announcements, Flood Recovery by Joshua Schwartz
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Info from Jill Arace, Valley resident and Executive Director of the Vermont Association of Conservation Districts:

As you’ve probably heard, President Obama has made an emergency declaration for the State of Vermont. This declaration releases federal funding to support emergency management personnel and their activities while we’re still in this emergency phase. At a later date, there will be further declarations that will release additional funds for both emergency assistance and reconstruction. Folks from various agencies are collecting data regarding damages to make requests for additional funds from Washington. Some of these programs will support repairs retroactively.

Here is a reminder that if you intend to make any kind of claim, whether you are a homeowner, farmer, or local government, you should document your losses with date stamped photographs before you clean up. Also document any costs you are incurring.

I’m attaching here information regarding the NRCS Emergency Watershed Protection Program, which was updated yesterday. This program supports homeowners and towns facing immediate threats to life and property with 75% of the costs. NRCS is already working with a number of towns affected by the spring flooding through this program. There are funds remaining from that effort and new funding on the way. If our towns haven’t already contacted them, I suggest you do so asap – especially Moretown – and they will send an engineer down your way to make an assessment. As you can imagine, engineers are going to be at a premium over the next weeks and months.

Emergency Watershed Protection Program.pdf

Tags: Agriculture, Announcements, Flood Recovery by Joshua Schwartz
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Letter from VT Agency of Transportation to VT Legislature.

State of Vermont Agency of Transportation
Secretary’s Office
One National Life Drive [phone] 802-828-2657
Montpelier, VT 05633-5001 [fax] 802-828-3522
www.aot.state.vt.us [ttd] 800-253-0191

August 29, 2011

Shap Smith, Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives
John Campbell, President Pro Tem of the Vermont Senate

Dear Rep. Smith & Senator Campbell:

I hope this letter finds you and your Members safe in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene. I am sure you are busy, as are we
across state government, responding to the impact of his historic weather event. We are all working to ensure that State
Agencies of Vermont are responding to this disaster in a well coordinated manner and are reaching out to you to both
inform you of our efforts and to ask for your assistance in verifying information we are receiving regarding the needs of
your communities.

As you know our infrastructure has received significant damage and we spent the much of the day today in an emergency
response and assessment mode. Our district forces, the front line of VTrans, have been out in force since the rain began
on Sunday morning working, straight out, to ensure safe travel. The leadership team at VTrans was very busy today
evaluating the extent of damage and need across the state and developing action plans to address them. We are beginning
to see some road openings by the district forces today and we will see more tomorrow and in the near future.

At this time our priority is to restoring access to communities that have been cut off from the rest of Vermont. Our goal is
to provide basic access to these twelve communities for life sustaining supplies which, in some cases, will take some
significant work due to the extent of the damage. It may take a little while for the roads to be passable for residents of
these communities. Our district staff, working with Vermont Emergency Management, has compiled (below) the
following list of communities that are isolated from the rest of the state. We appreciate verifying whether this information
is accurate and complete. Our goal is to have these roads passable for supply vehicles by Tuesday PM.

District 1:
Marlboro, Route 9

District 2:
Cavendish, Route 131
Stratton Route 100 (Town road)
Wardsboro Route 100

District 3:
Pittsfield Route 100
Mendon/Killington US4
Plymouth Route 100

District 4:
Rochester Routes 100
Stockbridge Routes 100 and 107
Granville Route 100
Hancock Route 125
Strafford (partially cut off – they have access to a town road)

Tomorrow we will also be evaluating and assessing more permanent solutions for public access to these communities,
although this may take more time and resources. We are also coordinating relief efforts with Vermont Emergency
Management and FEMA for the delivery of supplies for these communities which will be delivered on Tuesday evening.

In addition, by end of day tomorrow we will have a VTrans team of engineers and technicians to every state road closure
to develop action plans to restore the asset for public use. We are also sending bridge inspection teams to inspect and
evaluate all bridges that were closed or that were damaged in the flood.

We know there are a great number of communities in need. VTrans’ next area of focus is opening roadways to those
communities that the utilities have identified as necessary to restore service.

We have enlisted dozens of contractors to initiate repair work and are requesting assistance from FEMA, our neighboring
states and are coordinating all State agency efforts through the Emergency Operation Center.

We will continue to communicate with the media and the Legislative leadership in order to keep you up to date with our
activities, and so that you can help inform us of outstanding needs in Vermont communities. Please do not hesitate to
share your needs with either me or Chris Cole, Director of Policy Planning and Intermodal development
(chris.cole@state.vt.us 828-1647). Given the extent of need out in the District, we encourage you to contact us in lieu of
the district forces or other staff at VTrans, so that they can remain focused on rebuilding our state.

This level of destruction to our State infrastructure is unprecedented in modern Vermont history. It will take all levels of
government, and the people of the State of Vermont, working together to meet our challenge

Many thanks for your service.

Sue Minter, Deputy Secretary of Transportation

Irene ltr to leg 8-29

Tags: Announcements, Flood Recovery by Joshua Schwartz
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Here is a release from VEMA announcing that FEMA aid will be distributed to communities Tuesday by the National Guard by road or by air.

VERMONT EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT NEWS RELEASE
Date: 08/29/11
Contact:
Robert Stirewalt, Public Information Officer
Vermont Emergency Management
(802) 951-2708

Time: 2215

ADVISORY: FEMA Distribution Center to be Established at Camp Johnson

BURLINGTON, VT – Thirty Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) trucks carrying emergency supplies are scheduled to arrive in Vermont tonight to provide aid for the thousands of Vermonters affected by Hurricane Irene.

FEMA vehicles, carrying supplies such as food, blankets and other necessary items, will be establishing a distribution center at Camp Johnson in Colchester. From there, the relief supplies will be distributed to the Vermont communities in greatest need starting at sunrise on Tuesday, August 30.

Some communities are unreachable by roadways, so helicopters will be dispatched to distribute those supplies. National Guard will distribute the supplies to the communities reachable by land.

“Our goal is to reach all Vermonters who have been affected by the storm and find themselves in need at this time,” said Gov. Peter Shumlin.  “We are utilizing all available resources – local, state and federal – to get commodities to those in need.”

“This identified objective of commodity distribution is consistent with the Governor’s goal of assuring the safety and stability of all Vermonters affected by this storm,” said Department of Public Safety Commissioner Keith Flynn, “and is done with the cooperation of our federal, state and local partners.”

Officials ask the public not to come to Camp Johnson to pick up supplies but to wait for their distribution on TUESDAY morning.

Tags: Announcements, Flood Recovery by Joshua Schwartz
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The MRV is awash in challenges in the wake of Tropical Storm Irene’s 8/28 visit. As is the case across VT and the northeast, we are assessing damages and picking each other back up. The community effort so far has been astounding and humbling. Feel free to use the VFN Blog as a method of connection and sharing info along in addition to the many other useful sources, such as http://www.facebook.com/MRVpostIrene and http://vtresponse.wordpress.com/.

This is what community looks like.

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Tags: Announcements, Energy by Joshua Schwartz
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