Current News

The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) announced today the steps they are taking to help municipalities and homeowners expedite flood recovery. ‘We recognize that in many places the river changed course, damaging homes and businesses, and wiping out roads and bridges,’ said Vermont Agency of Natural Resources Secretary Deb Markowitz. ‘We need to rebuild this infrastructure immediately but if we are not careful, the things we do today could have a catastrophic impact later on.’ She added, ‘To help prevent future problems, we have deployed a team of experts who are out in Vermont communities, ready to help with technical assistance, expert advice and problem solving.’

The Maine Department of Transportation will be sending workers and equipment to Vermont in an effort to help respond to rebuilding the Vermont’s roads and bridges in response to Tropical Storm Irene.
‘We are so grateful to our neighboring states to help bolster our efforts at this time of need, ‘ said VTrans Secretary, Brian Searles. ‘Just as neighbors are helping neighbors throughout Vermont, states are now helping states so that we can rebuild from this storm.’
Maine Governor, Paul LePage explained, ‘Maine has a long-standing tradition of helping neighbors in need, and this is no exception. The extraordinary damage in Vermont would compel any neighbor to assist however they can.’

Green Mountain Power (GMP) has begun construction of Kingdom Community Wind (KCW), a 63 MW renewable wind energy project in Lowell, Vermont. The 21 turbine wind project can provide power for more than 24,000 homes with the lowest-cost new renewable energy available to GMP customers and the members of the Vermont Electric Coop (VEC).
"We are extremely excited to start construction on this important local, renewable energy project," said Mary Powell, President and CEO of Green Mountain Power. "In addition to producing clean and reliable power for our customers and VEC members, Kingdom Community Wind is the most affordable new renewable energy available."

In the wake of Tropical Storm Irene which affected much of central and southern Vermont, and resulted in the worst flooding in a generation, Northfield Savings Bank today made a $100,000 donation to the Green Mountain United Way for immediate disaster relief. The presentation of funds was held at the bank’s Waterbury, VT branch at 29 South Main Street. The location was significant, as floods had destroyed this branch earlier in the week.
"Northfield Savings Bank was founded on the principle of Vermonters helping Vermonters," said Thomas N. Pelletier, President and CEO of Northfield Savings Bank. "More than seven generations later, this remains a central part of our mission. This money will be put to immediate use to help Vermonters recover from the ravages of Tropical Storm Irene."

Efficiency Vermont is working to help all Vermonters affected by Irene. As Vermonters think about repairing or rebuilding their homes, Efficiency Vermont can provide advice on replacing damaged insulation and on how to address health and safety issues. In addition, Efficiency Vermont will have financial assistance available for heating and hot water systems, replacing insulation, air sealing, and finding a contractor as well as rebates on ENERGY STAR® dehumidifiers, refrigerators and clothes washers.
‘Countless Vermonters have seen their homes and businesses damaged or destroyed, and their appliances ruined,’ said Efficiency Vermont Director Jim Merriam. ‘Efficiency Vermont can provide technical and financial assistance to help Vermonters start to recover from this devastation. We are working closely with state agencies to ensure a coordinated response so that as Vermonters rebuild, they get the help they need, regardless of the source.’

Secretary Lawrence Miller today announced that the Agency of Commerce, through the Procurement Technical Assistance Center, is helping State and Federal Agencies with procurement of products and services from local businesses in response to the impacts of Hurricane Irene.
The Vermont Procurement Technical Assistance Center (VT PTAC) works to connect Vermont businesses with government opportunities. During the aftermath of Irene, the VT PTAC is helping State and Federal Agencies identify local businesses that can provide needed products and services. VT PTAC is also able to help businesses make sure they have the proper registrations in place required to be a federal vendor. There is no cost to any Vermont business to use the services provided.

Flooding caused by hurricane Irene led to extensive damage to crops, fields and equipment on farms all across Vermont. Unlike the flooding this past spring, or after storms in recent years, these floods affected the entire state rather than a few counties. From the Connecticut River to the Lamoille River, from the Otter Creek to the White River, farms had water come up to the 100-year flood level and in some cases the 500-year flood level.
Vegetable farms were especially hard hit because they are commonly located on the bottom lands by rivers and streams. That’s where the soil there tends to be fertile and flat, and irrigation water is readily available. Reports collected to date from several dozen vegetable farms throughout Vermont indicate losses approaching $2 million.

The Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont (NOFA-VT) is launching an online auction on October 1 to raise crucial funding for the Farmer Emergency Fund, which will provide financial support to organic and NOFA-VT member farmers whose land and crops were destroyed by the statewide flooding.

Never before have so many Vermont farms suffered damages at once; according to Vern Grubinger at the University of Vermont, vegetable farms alone have sustained at least $1.5 million in losses. NOFA-VT’s Farmer Emergency Fund has been in existence since 1997 making funds available to organic and member farmers throughout the state who have been affected by fires, blizzards, floods, and other disasters.

Johnson State College (JSC) has received its first $1 million gift, in the form of an irrevocable bequest gift, which will be divided between two endowments at the college: the JSC Library Endowment and the Julia V. and Ervin L Willey Scholarship Endowment.

When Hurricane Irene unleashed a torrent of water into creeks, streams and rivers across central and southern Vermont, it also spurred the largest recovery effort in the history of Central Vermont Public Service. But the recovery effort actually began days earlier.
Long before Hurricane Irene dumped up to 9 inches of rain across CVPS’s service territory, Central Scheduling Manager Scott Massie and his team were making calls for help. With private forecasts raising the possibility of historic devastation, CVPS was on edge and preparing for the worst. But virtually every utility on the East Coast was gearing up for the storm, and outside contractors were in short supply.

Tupelo Music Hall in White River Junction is partnering with the Hartford Area Chamber of Commerce to help the many area victims of Tropical Storm Irene. The music venue is presenting a full weekend of music, ‘A Weekend of Giving,’ to benefit the Chamber’s efforts to raise funds to be turned over to The Upper Valley Haven to get food, clothing, building materials, and whatever storm victims may need directly into their hands.

As many of you know, our state of Vermont was severely hit from last week's Hurricane Irene. North Bennington, Vermont, where New Directions is headquartered, was spared much of the Hurricane's devastation; however the rest of the state is still dealing with the real-life crisis of the hurricane's aftermath.

Vermont Flooding and Destruction After Hurricane Irene 8/28/2011