Yesterday I found myself stranded at Sugarbush overnight after shooting a wedding – all roads were impassable due to flash floods from tropical storm Irene. It ended up being a fantastic wedding even under the circumstances, but the next morning when I got in my car, I was shocked by the scale of devastation that Irene had left behind. Large swaths of road were torn apart from Sunday’s rushing water as I drove back to Burlington, trying to map routes around the missing roads.
Instead of heading back right away, I explored the streets of Waterbury which had experienced widespread flooding. After a few minutes of wandering and talking to people, I found myself hauling trash bags and rinsing mud off at Lucy’s house. She evacuated her house last night, after which three and a half feet of water deluged the first floor of her house. Lucy, who lives alone, does not have flood insurance and recently lost her job.
In spite of all things, the amount of camaraderie and generosity I saw on Randall Street was incredible. People moved furniture, helped clean, rinse and pump, and gave out barbecued food on the street for those who needed it during cleanup. I would encourage all of you to see what you can do to help Vermonters across the state during the recovery and relief efforts in the next few weeks and months. Check out the Seven Days writeup on how to help here, and follow the hashtags #vtirene and #vtresponse on Twitter for news and suggestions. More updates to come.
A cross section of Route 100 the morning after Irene. Large swaths of road were torn open and 260 roads were closed after flash floods swept across the state.
Locals survey the damage to Route 100 in Warren, Vermont the morning after Irene hit the area.
A child swings as his family empties the contents of their house in Waterbury, Vermont, the day after Irene hit and damaged neighborhoods across the state.
Lucy's living room the morning after flash floods from Irene swept through her house in Waterbury, Vermont, filling the first floor with three and a half feet of water.
Friends and strangers clean Lucy's house in Waterbury, Vermont the morning after flash floods from Irene swept through, filling the first floor with three and a half feet of water.
Belongings are stacked on a table in Lucy's house in Waterbury, Vermont the morning after Irene hit. Flash floods filled her first floor with three and a half feet of water.
Belongings are strewn across Lucy's garage in Waterbury, Vermont the morning after tropical storm Irene hit.
A growing pile of trash bags in Lucy's driveway in Waterbury, Vermont the morning after Irene swept through, filling her first floor with three and a half feet of water.
Water drains in a neighborhood in Waterbury, Vermont as neighbors pump basements and hose belongings down in tropical storm Irene's aftermath.
no comments