More than a year after Tropical Storm Irene devastated the state, town and state officials from Bennington to Bethel are getting questions from residents concerned about Hurricane Sandy as it moves north from the Carribean.

The hazard mitigation home buyout program is designed to buy and remove flood-damaged properties to reduce future hazards.  So far, FEMA has approved the buy-out of 78 homes, 14 of which are second homes. But one hard-hit town has decided not to apply on behalf of second homeowners.

Erasing a stigma with art.

Rockingham resident Sue Hammond famously recorded as Tropical Storm Irene's floodwaters crushed the Bartonsville Bridge and swept it down the Williams River. Now she's documenting its reconstruction online.

Newscast: Friday, October 19, 2012, 5:50 p.m.

The Shumlin administration says it won't know until mid-January how much federal disaster money will be available to rebuild the Waterbury state office complex.

Vermont's Long Term Disaster Relief Fund has passed the $2,000,000 mark in the amount of money distributed to victims of Tropical Storm Irene. Fund organizers say they're still short of the money required to meet the ongoing demand for assistance. 

Tropical Storm Irene destroyed a Windsor County town's Little League field. This month, residents are putting the final touches on its reconstruction.

Newscast: Monday, October 8, 2012, 5:50 p.m.

The Vermont League of Cities and Towns has delivered additional money to the town of Rockingham for restoring the historic Bartonsville Bridge, which was destroyed in Tropical Storm Irene.

More than a year after Tropical Storm Irene, Randy and Lynda Hart still aren't back home. But they're getting close, thanks to a steady stream of volunteers who've been helping rebuild their house from the foundation up. The Hart's home is among at least 140 still being repaired after last fall's floods.

In the months after Tropical Storm Irene the state held listening sessions in dozens of Vermont communities to learn how to improve disaster response and recovery. This week, officials issued a summary of what they heard and a list of recommendations. 

When the flood hit Wilmington a year ago the local economy was already on its knees. But just this month, with the help of a local non-profit two new businesses are opening in the downtown and a once flood-damaged building was sold.

Governor Peter Shumlin says he will push ahead with a $125 million plan to rebuild the Waterbury state office complex despite the uncertainty of federal funding. Shumlin says he's confident that the Federal Emergency Management Agency will eventually help pay for the project. But the governor says he doesn't know exactly how much the feds will provide, or when the money will come through.

One year after Tropical Storm Irene, the Red Cross has launched a program designed to help towns and individuals prepare for emergencies when outside assistance is not available.

For one Braintree man, recovery from Tropical Storm Irene has been a difficult and long process, but on the anniversary of the storm, he celebrated its completion.

A series of commemorations marking the first anniversary of Tropical Storm Irene concluded last night on the anniversary of the floods, with an event in Randolph. 

More than a dozen property owners have received word from FEMA that the federal government will buy out their homes that were destroyed by Tropical Storm Irene. FEMA's hazard mitigation program is designed to reduce property damage from floods in the future by purchasing damaged properties and turning them into green space.

VPR remembers the seven people who died as a result of Irene.

Fans of Keegan Bradley got a lesson on Monday in Woodstock from the 26-year-old golfer who's been racking up wins on the PGA tour. Bradley's charity tournament in his hometown benefits the Vermont Disaster Relief Fund.

Vermont Edition talks with Governor Shumlin about the lessons learned in river management, road construction and working with FEMA as a result of Tropical Storm Irene.

VPR's Ross Sneyd recalls the events of Tropical Storm Irene that took place a year ago and gives an update on the issues that were unfolding on our airwaves in the days after the storm.

Lt. Governor Phil Scott says the state is committed to bringing employees back to the Office Complex in Waterbury. But Scott says plans for a new, energy efficient office building for the Waterbury complex may have to be scaled back if the state doesn't get enough money from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

As Vermont cities and towns continue to borrow money at a swift pace in the wake of Tropical Storm Irene, the state treasurer is defending the increase in municipal bonds.

We discuss why natural disasters foster such creativity and what we all gain from the art it inspires and we recall the events that unfolded a year ago during Tropical Storm Irene.