Apres le Deluge--Vermont Rebuilding After Irene
It's been a week since Tropical Storm Irene slammed into Vermont causing flash flooding and power outages. The storm washed out bridges and roads thus marooning many mountain towns and causing havoc with the electric power grid.
Though not as devastating as the infamous 1927 storm, the Green Mountain State was still stunned by the extent of the damage. Mountain towns like Jamaica, Londonderry (pictured above), Killington, Wardsboro and Wilmington were submerged and cut off. Larger towns like Bennington, Brattleboro and Rutland were disrupted too, as was Woodstock.
Ludlow, near the President Calvin Coolidge homestead, was particularly damaged.
A week later Vermont is on the rebound largely because of the spirit and dedication of Vermonters. Fewer than fifty (50) customers have no power in south/central Vermont. Amazing--compare that with ongoing power outages in Connecticut, New Jersey and New York.
Here's my very short list of those who really deserve a big thanks for pulling Vermont through this crisis.
Central Vermont Public Service--CVPS--the power company and its crews did an awesome job restoring power.
Vermont State Police--for safety and emergency coordination
Town Road Crews and Dump Truck Drivers--who keep a steady flow of gravel and stones to fill in washed out roads.
VT National Guard--helicopters are a God send in places like Pittsfield and the engineers will fix cut roads.
The well known VERMONT SPIRIT--the can do Individualism, is making the difference!
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