Climate scientists have said that the major weather events in the last
year give Vermonters an idea of what the future effects of global
warming may bring to the state in the coming decades.
The Irene Effect
"The Irene Effect" takes stock of where Vermont stands nearly four months after the historic flood. Listen Wednesday, December 14th at noon and 7 p.m. on VPR, Saturday December 17th at 4 p.m., Wednesday the 28th at 9 a.m., and online at VPR.net.
Credit: AP/Toby Talbot
Vermont Edition
Vermont Edition coverage of Irene's effects and recovery.
An update on what has been accomplished so far and what is left to rebuild after Tropical Storm Irene and end-of-year giving trends in Vermont.
The initial disaster of Tropical Storm Irene was met with intense
cleanup, donations and federal response. Three months on, the long-term
recovery for victims of Irene is still taking shape.
When Tropical Storm Irene pounded the state in August, emergency
coordinators responded as best they could. Two months later, we look at the lessons
learned.
In
the days and weeks after Irene, excavators were allowed into rivers with verbal
permission to extract
gravel to rebuild road beds and shore up banks. Environmentalists are saying much
of this work has caused more harm than good.
A new task force will address complicated legal questions that are arising post-Irene: What happens if your house and property were destroyed, but you still have
a mortgage? Who owns the river that now runs through your land?
VIDEO: 'The Spirit Of Vermont'
Coping After Irene
VPR follows one family's recovery.
For Jon Graham and Beth Frock, the
trauma from losing their home of 15 years, and the physical danger they faced when Tropical Storm Irene hit not only lingers but poses emotional and psychological
roadblocks that crop up unexpectedly on the path to recovery.
Jon
Graham, Beth Frock and their two daughters, Rhianna and Chloe, lost their home
when floodwaters from Tropical Storm Irene eroded the land underneath their
home, collapsing it. Since
then, the family has been navigating the painfully slow process of dealing with
the financial as well as emotional fallout.
VPR's Mitch Wertlieb checks in with the Graham-Frock family again, and speaks with 16-year-old
high school senior Rhianna Graham-Frock about what life has been like for
her since Irene took the family's home.
For Vermonters hardest hit by
Tropical Storm Irene, the upcoming Thanksgiving Holiday comes with mixed
emotions. Jon Graham and Beth Frock of Rochester certainly have
much to be thankful for, especially since Jon escaped uninjured when his house collapsed
around him on August 28th.
Jon
Graham and Beth Frock, whose Rochester home was destroyed by a brook that overran its banks during Tropical Storm Irene, are coping with the long road to recovery.
Supported By
Commentaries
Commentaries on the storm.
Commentator Bill mares reflects on volunteering at the Tunbridge
fair, two weeks after Irene's flood roared through towns across Vermont -
including Tunbridge.
When commentator, filmmaker and Marlboro
College teacher Jay Craven set out
for southern Vermont, in the face
of warnings for Hurricane Irene, he figured he'd emerge with some kind of
story - and he did.
In the aftermath of the storm, Commentator Tom Slayton has been giving
some thought to the spirit of Vermonters and their tireless efforts in
putting the state back together.
As the floodwaters began to recede,
commentator Stephanie Greene has found herself contemplating what it
means to have connections - both the local kind, and the virtual
kind.
Displaced By Irene
Tropical Storm Irene chased 1,400 households out of their homes five months ago.
More than half still can't go back. While many in the flood zone have begun to move on, these families can't.
Timeline Of Tropical Storm Irene Coverage 575 Articles
Measured
from the base of the hydroelectric turbine, to the ceiling of the glassblowing
workshop on the floor above, Tropical Storm Irene's floodwaters were about 50 feet deep in the
old mill that houses Simon Pearce's Quechee
business.
Quaint storefronts along Main streets, covered bridges and dairy cows are the iconic images of Vermont. But Vermonters prides themselves on their independent spirits and their passion to rebuild is force of nature, stronger than Tropical Storm Irene.
A total of 524 mobile homes were damaged in Vermont during Tropical Storm Irene. Many homeowners are
still recovering, some paying more for housing.
Sales of 'I Am Vermont Strong' commemorative
license plates haven't been as strong as initially thought.
The White House has made more federal funding
available to Vermont for damage from Tropical Storm Irene.
Customers
of Vermont's largest electric utility could see their monthly
bills go up to help pay the costs of recovering from Tropical Storm Irene. If approved,
beginning on July 1, CVPS customers
would see their bills increase by 1.4 percent.
Cities
and towns are reacting to the state's
recommendation that the Federal Emergency Management Agency buyout 99 homes
in Vermont destroyed by Tropical Storm Irene floodwaters. For
homeowners, the state's approval is just the first step.
As Gov.
Peter Shumlin is asking President Obama to increase the state's federal reimbursement
for damage caused by Tropical Storm Irene from 75 to 90 percent, the cost of Irene-related repair work continues to saddle city and town finances.
Ninety-nine
homes destroyed in last year's flooding have been approved for buyouts by the
state. The approval is one step in the federal hazard mitigation program. Now FEMA will review the applications. That
process is expected to be completed next month.
Construction
is set to begin this fall on renovations to the Vermont state office complex in Waterbury.
Tropical
Storm Irene may be the most dramatic example, but every year floods damage or
destroy property in Vermont. Despite
that, there continues to be construction on floodplains. Recently,
though, the state begun urging towns to adopt new bylaws that would prohibit development in
many areas likely to flood.
Governor Peter
Shumlin is going to sign legislation that will formally begin the process of
rebuilding the Vermont state office complex damaged when flooding from Tropical Storm Irene inundated Waterbury.
Twitter: #VTIrene
@StuComstockGay @VermontCF We are so proud to have been given the opportunity to work together on this! Thank you!
#VTIrene May 24, 2012 8:17:26 PM GMT+4
Thanks for the RT @lizschlegel - on my blog about social capital and #VTIrene recovery. http://t.co/uyLo2DoL May 23, 2012 9:21:04 AM GMT+4
@neimanmarcus Love that you offer #SimonPearce glassware! Glad they're back in action after #VTIrene flooding - my fave #Vermont store/eats! May 23, 2012 6:57:47 AM GMT+4
RT @StuComstockGay: My latest blog discusses social capital and #VTIrene recovery. Features work in #Waterbury, #Wilmington. http://t.co ... May 22, 2012 4:57:28 PM GMT+4
My latest blog discusses social capital and #VTIrene recovery. Features work in #Waterbury, #Wilmington. http://t.co/uyLo2DoL May 22, 2012 4:49:37 PM GMT+4
Congrats to @Retro_Motion. Best Produced PSA award for our "After Irene - Vermont Thanks You" #VAB #BTV #VTIrene http://t.co/T0AdEkjE May 22, 2012 4:40:26 PM GMT+4
RT @vprnet: RT @SimonPearceInc: #VPR visited last week to speak with Simon about #VTIrene and the re-opening of the Mill http://t.co/WPk ... May 22, 2012 2:21:14 PM GMT+4
RT @SimonPearceInc: #VPR visited last week to speak with Simon about #VTIrene and the re-opening of the Mill http://t.co/WPk2TREo May 22, 2012 2:20:11 PM GMT+4
RT @femaregion1: Vermont, FEMA plan May 30 hearing for public input on rebuilding flooded out Waterbury State Office Complex: #VTIrene: ... May 22, 2012 12:14:40 PM GMT+4