One year ago, when Tropical Storm Irene hit, the destruction wrought along Vermont's rivers was tragic.  But Lake Champlain Lakekeeper Louis Porter of the Conservation Law Foundation says some extraordinary and wonderful things happened as well - some of which have taken us some time to understand.  

Ever since the State Office Complex was wiped out by the Irene floods, the state work force of about 1,300 people has been dispersed across central and northwestern Vermont. Now, only 200 state workers are in Waterbury every day, and the prospects of when others will return are far from certain.

In the weeks after Irene hammered so many small towns across Vermont, Pittsfield became an example of a community coming together. But the recovery has been more difficult than the immediate aftermath of the storm.

In Northfield, homeowners who are part of a FEMA buyout program have learned it will be fall before they can expect to see any money for their Irene-damaged homes. Residents are grateful that the end is in sight. But for some, the months of waiting has exacted an emotional toll.

Greg Sharrow of the Vermont Folklife Center talks about organizing "story" circles over the last year, where people who were affected by Tropical Storm Irene talk in groups and record their experiences.

By the time Tropical Storm Irene swept through Vermont, more than 3,500 homes were either heavily damaged or completely destroyed by the storm. One of the houses totally wiped away by Irene belonged to Jon Graham and Beth Frock of Rochester.

Over the past year a lot of numbers have bandied about in relation to Tropical Storm Irene, but it's a challenge to come up with a grand total for the damage done by the storm.

The Rock River has been destroying homes, bridges, roads and businesses in Williamsville and South Newfane ever since the villages were settled. Deborah Luskin lives on the Rock River, and she credits the river for something constructive, as well

As Tropical Storm Irene approached last year, Jay Craven set out from his home in the Northeast Kingdom, to give a talk at Marlboro College. He experienced the full wrath of Irene and reflects today on what it all means.

Every Irene flood survivor has their own story about when they first realized this was no ordinary storm. For Red Gallagher, who lives at Weston's mobile home park in Berlin, the moment came when he saw the Dog River spread like a rising tide over the road and toward his home.

Nearly one year ago Tropical Storm Irene clawed apart more than 500 miles of state roads and dozens of bridges, isolating 13 communities. The flood washed about 1,700 Vermonters out of their homes. Today most of the roads and bridges are back and people are safe and secure. But many are still unsettled and the wounds are still raw.

As Vermont prepares to mark a year since Tropical Storm Irene ravaged parts of the state, Governor Peter Shumlin plans to visit 22 communities affected by the storm.

Eleven months after it was established to help individuals recovering from last August's flooding, Vermont's Long Term Disaster Recovery Group says it's far short of its fundraising goal. Money raised by the group provides a fund-of-last-resort for people who've exhausted other Irene recovery resources. Organizers say there are still hundreds of people in need of assistance.  

The town of Rockingham is planning to mark the anniversary of Tropical Storm Irene by remembering the loss of a local icon.