Working with the great folks at the Department of Transportation, the Google Crisis Team was able to generate this new map to show road closings and other information. This is just a start and we'll add more layers as we are given new data feeds. Hope it helps. http://crisislanding.appspot.com/?crisis=2011_flooding_vermont
Posted in Regional
Black River Good Neighbors ready to help those in the Ludlow area (Mt Holly, Plymouth, Cavendish and Ludlow) with food, water, and dry clothes to any who may need them. Go to BRGN's location at 37B Main Street (in the Ludlow Community Center complex) in Ludlow, Vermont or call Audrey Bridges, BRGN director, at 228-3663, for assistance. BRGN is there to help anyone with a need, especially in view of the Irene flooding.
Posted in Regional
Submitted by Republican/Democratic/Progressive Parties
DONATIONS
Text FOODNOW to 52000 to donate $10 to Vermont Foodbank. The Foodbank will turn each donation into $60 for families in need.
You can donate to the United Way's Vermont Disaster Relief Fund online, or buy sending a donation to your local United Way. Just make sure your donation is marked for the "Vermont Disaster Relief Fund".
You can also donate to the American Red Cross of Vermont and the New Hampshire Valley. The Red Cross set up shelters immediately after Irene hit for flooded-out families to stay in. (Note: While all donations are appreciated, financial donations offer the Red Cross the greatest flexibility for response in this crisis. Donations can be made at www.vermontredcross.org or by calling 800-660-9130. For those who are interested in volunteering, they can contact their operations headquarters at 802-773-9159.)
The VT Irene Flood Relief Fund is raising money to help people and communities affected by flooding. 100% of all donations will be distributed to businesses and families. The fund is being administered by Todd K. Bailey.
Vermont Baseball Tours has set up the 8/28 Fund to raise money. Donations of $20 or more get you a cool t-shirt.
The MRV Community Fund has been reestablished to help Mad River Valley farmers who saw devastating crop losses due to the flooding.
Independent Vermont Clothing is selling a special "I'm With VT" t-shirt. All profits from sales of the shirt will go to relief efforts.
Across the lake, upstate New York got hit hard by Irene, too. Donations are being coordinated on the Irene Flood Drive Facebook page.
Burr and Burton Academy has started a fund to help relief efforts in the Manchester area.
The Preservation Trust of Vermont is taking donations to help rebuilding and cleanup efforts for the historic buildings and bridges damaged by Irene. Make a donation on their site and be sure to note "Hurricane Relief" in the Comments section.
The Intervale Center has started a fund to help the farmers at Burlington's Intervale who lost their crops to flooding. To make a contribution, donate to the Intervale and designate your donation to the "Intervale Center Farmers Recovery Fund." Or mail a check payable to Intervale Center Farmers Recovery Fund to the Intervale Center, 180 Intervale Road, Burlington, VT 05401.
VOLUNTEERING
VTResponse.com is working to connect volunteers ready to help with those that need assistance. If you want to help clean up and rebuild, let the folks behind this site know.
Montpelier Alive is coordinating volunteer efforts in that city through their Facebook page.
Volunteer and cleanup efforts are also being coordinated on Twitter via the #VTresponse hashtag.
The Vermont Flooding 2011 page on Facebook is functioning as a community bulletin board of sorts.
Vermont Helping Hands is also coordinating relief efforts via Facebook.
The Red Cross is in desperate need of blood donations. Stop by their donation center at 32 North Prospect Street in Burlington, or the Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital Blood Donation Center at 125 Mascoma Street in Lebanon, NH.
Upper Valley Haven is operating with considerably fewer volunteers due to road closings. They're looking for volunteers who are able to travel there.
MORE RESOURCES
If you need assistance or information from the state, dial 211 or visit vt211.org.
The Help Vermont Facebook group is another place to share recovery information.
Sublet.com will provide free access for people who are displaced from their homes. Call their customer service line at 1-877-367-7368 for more information.
For child care providers who have been affected by Irene, check out the Resources for Relief (Child Care Providers of VT) page on Facebook.
Posted in Regional
Sunmitted by Margo Caulfield
The National Guard rolled into Cavendish Tuesday evening, to cheers and tears. They are now housed at the Cavendish Elementary School. We will be doing breakfast and lunch for them, as well as serving three meals to the community as long as it is needed. Meal schedule is as follows: breakfast 7 am; lunch at noon; and dinner 5:30. Snacks and water are available at other times. The Chester American Legion will provide tomorrow’s dinner.
Power is slowly returning, as is town water. There is a “boil water” notice for the town water, so please observe this by boiling water for drinking or cooking. This will remain in effect until further notice.
Showering is available for those who need it at the Ludlow Community Center.
The town manager has requested that people refrain from going down to the Williams Store bridge area and the “canyon” that has formed on 131 near Bob Glidden and Dan Churchill’s property. These are extremely unstable areas and the ground can give way underneath you. We don’t want any fatalities.
Day care will be available at Stepping Stones Pre School from 9-5 for children ages 3-10. Snack and lunch will be provided. The cost is $15 and is available on a first come first serve basis. FMI 802-681-3461.
The start of school has been delayed for GMUHS and CTES until next Tuesday.
While people are just doing amazing and thoughtful things in response to this situation, it isn’t easy. Many people are reporting feeling overwhelmed, crying and just very unsure of what they doing or the strong emotions they are feeling. This is a very normal response to a very abnormal situation. Food, water and people to chat with are at the school. Take a break from trying to do massive clean up and making a meal. We will be working on resources to help those who may not have flood insurance or other resources. Sometimes it’s the simple things of a nap, eating something or going to the bathroom that can make you feel better. Hang in there. We will make it through this.
There was even time today for a discussion among those in the Cavendish Chronicles play. Come Saturday night and be prepared to laugh. Even if you’ve already seen it, there will be some new and funny twists with this revised version. Curtain is at 7 pm.
Posted in Cavendish
This from the combined Republican/Democratic/Progressive parties of VT to help people with contacts for specific help from flood damage:
Reporting Damages
Vermonters who have property affected by the storm should report it to the state. There are several phone lines in addition to the 211 number now in operation. Please note that it is critical to acquiring recovery aid that a statewide inventory of the damage is taken. Also, if repairs are made by a property owner, it is important to take pictures of the damage, document the repairs and keep receipts for potential assistance.
Individuals: Individuals reporting property damage should call 211.
Businesses: Businesses should call the Agency of Commerce and Community Development at (ACCD) at 828-3211 to report damage which will be collated for VEM and FEMA. ACCD will also make referrals for financing and technical assistance. The information needed when businesses make the call is: name of business, location (complete address), description of damage, point of contact, date damage occurred. There are additional questions for historic properties.
Farms: To report damages to property including but not limited to barns, milking parlors, crops, fields, equipment, etc., call:
· Your county USDA Farm Service Agency (http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app?state=vt&agency=fsa) OR;
· Your county Natural Resources Conservation Services office (http://www.vt.nrcs.usda.gov/contact/index.html).
Organizations such as the Vermont Farm Bureau (802-434-5646 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 802-434-5646 end_of_the_skype_highlighting) or NOFA Vermont (802-434-4122 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 802-434-4122 end_of_the_skype_highlighting) can also be called. These organizations will send a summary of the information to the Agency of Agriculture which will forward it to VEM.
Farmers experiencing loss of crops due to flooding should contact their crop insurance agent as well as the USDA Farm Service Agency (802-658-2803 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 802-658-2803 end_of_the_skype_highlighting).
Emergency Flood Assistance Program for Businesses
This program, administered by VEDA, is up and running. It will provide $10 million of very low interest, no first year payment, loans to businesses which suffered losses due to flooding. Interested businesses should go to VEDA’s website (http://www.veda.org/) for more information.
Storm Recovery Resources
Vermont Emergency Management Website: This site includes the latest updates and helpful information: http://vem.vermont.gov/.
Vermont Emergency Management Facebook Page:
The most up to date information for VEM can be found on their Facebook page. If you “like” VEM on Facebook you will be given automatic updates on your Facebook homepage as their status changes. Includes great links to press releases and other information. Find it at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Vermont-Emergency-Management/142566220102
Returning to Your Home: For information on cleaning up your home after flooding, visit: http://vem.vermont.gov/home/return.
Fuel Tanks: If you find a fuel tank on your property or floating in flood waters, please contact the Vermont Fuel Dealers Association at 802-223-7750 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 802-223-7750 end_of_the_skype_highlighting or info@vermontfuel.com.
Vermont Travel Information Services: For the latest information on road closures, call 511 or visit: http://www.511vt.com/.
Ride Share: This site is designed for commuters to find car pools, but can be a valuable asset for individuals whose cars are damaged or destroyed: http://www.connectingcommuters.org/.
Posted in Regional
Submitted by Margo Caulfield
As many of you already know, the damage in Cavendish is extensive. Many are saying it is worse than the aftermath of the 1975 flood. It is not possible to go east on Route 131 towards 91 as the Williams Bridge has a section that is gone and so are parts of 131 east of Cavendish Village. While 131 may be open in other areas, drive carefully as sections of the road are gone. Bridges and roads are washed out all over town so getting around is difficult. Also, downed power lines can be an issue in certain areas.
Route 131 to Ludlow and Mt. Holly is now open. A bridge is out so you can’t make it to Rutland on this route. It will most likely be months before you can use the Shaws’ Plaza. You can make it to Chester and to Springfield though for banking purposes and there is a Rite Aid in Springfield.
There is no municipal water at the moment and power is still out in many places. If you need food and water, come to the Cavendish Town Elementary School. Meals will be as follows: breakfast, starting at 7 am; lunch, starting at noon; and dinner starting at 5:30. Snacks will be available throughout the day. A very special thanks to Crows Bakery, Singleton’s, Pleasant Valley Foods and the many people who have come in with donations of food and water.
There is no school at GMUHS or CTES until at least Thursday. Assessment is going day by day. However, as long as water isn’t available at the school, CTES will remain closed.
Damage assessment and repairs are currently underway. The Governor flew over yesterday. Be sure to check on your neighbors, particularly those who are elderly or who may have special needs. Rendering aid to those in your immediate area is the best way to help with the clean up. 911 is the number to call in the event of emergency.
Town manager, Richard Svec, said that the damage is in the millions, which will qualify the area for FEMA. These funds will be needed to help with things like repairing route 131, which will take months in some parts.
As more information becomes available today, including where to go to volunteer with clean up, we will be posting it directly to the Cavendish blog www.cavendishvt.blogspot.com and Cavendish VT Facebook Page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cavendish-Vermont/147333582005710?sk=wall Use the latter to let people know what’s going on in your area. You can comment to Facebook by hitting “like” and then use the “write something” feature.
This Saturday, the “Cavendish Chronicles: The Early Years” will be repeated at the Cavendish Town Elementary School. Curtain is at 7 pm. This is a free play, but any donations given will go to the recovery effort. Come and learn some Cavendish history, laugh and celebrate the Cavendish spirit that keeps us all going even in the worst of times.
Posted in Cavendish
Ludlow's Main Street on Sunday, Aug. 28 around 3 PM. Check out video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swTHbeVMgkY&feature=youtu.be. Sources: Michelle Stinson and others from Facebook postings. Other photos may be seen at
Posted in Ludlow
Submitted by JoAnn Milza
The Garden Club of Ludlow will hold its September meeting on Thursday, September 8 th at 12:00 pm. It will take place in the home of Patricia Kuntz, the President of the Club. Our guest speaker will be Lorri Doolitle an Herbalist who will discuss the use of Herbs in Cooking and Medicine. After the talk , we will view Patsy's herbal gardens. Please bring a sandwich and a chair. The hostesses will provide beverages and desserts. For further information, please call 672-4041.
Posted in Ludlow
Submitted by Okemo Mtn Resort
Move over, Okemo Valley Golf Club, there’s a new golf course in town. Okemo Mountain Resort celebrated the grand opening of Lumberin’ Cal Mini Golf on Tuesday, Aug. 23. Members of the Okemo Valley Area Chamber of Commerce, their employees and family members, were invited to play a round of 18 holes on the new course and experience all the fun features of Okemo’s new Adventure Zone, located at Jackson Gore.
Miniature golf fans enjoyed more than just 18 holes of putting – the course is an interpretive tour of Ludlow and the area’s history. Each hole is themed with an element of local legend and lore. Some highlights include pint-sized versions of the Okemo Mountain Fire Tower, the Ford Farm on South Hill, and the Black River Academy.
Choice is the motivator in this course with playing surfaces that offer multiple paths to the cup. Players have distinct choices with mixed outcomes, depending on the selected path. A variety of hole types means some are more difficult than others. And a few incorporate the course designer’s unique concept of “intentional luck.” This concept enables children and less-skilled players to score as well as adults and seasoned players.
A round of golf is priced at $10 for 18 holes or $32 for a family of four.
In addition to miniature golf, Okemo’s new Adventure Zone features The Timber Ripper Mountain Coaster – Vermont’s first roller-coaster-style attraction, The Stump Jumper Bungee Trampoline, The Maples at Okemo Disc Golf Course, Twiggy’s Snack Bar, and The Ripper Arcade and Gift Shop.
Tuesday’s grand opening of Lumberin’ Cal Mini Golf was also the debut of Okemo’s new mascot. Calvin the Catamount is the loveable character who the mini golf course is named after. The furry, fun-loving feline will make numerous appearances in print and in person around the Resort this winter, and in the future.
Learn more about Okemo’s Adventure Zone online. For more information about Okemo Mountain Resort, please visit okemo.com or call (802) 228-1600.
Posted in Ludlow