Shumlin Calls First-ever Vermont Clean Up Day A Success

VPR/Lynne McCrea

Volunteers help clear a walking trail in Waterbury on Saturday.

(Host) Flood cleanup efforts in areas hit hard by Tropical Storm Irene drew scores of volunteers on Saturday.

Governor Peter Shumlin had asked people across the state to pitch in, hoping for at least one last push before winter arrives.

In Waterbury, about 30 volunteers cleaned up brush and worked to clear a section of a walking trail that had been washed out by flooding.

Dozens of others moved through the downtown area in an effort to spruce up the shopping district.   

Laura Parette is with Revitalizing Waterbury, a group that takes care of downtown beautification efforts.

(Parette) "Make it look nice downtown, so hopefully people will shop local even more than they already do, and picking up litter as we see it around."

(Host) Among those turning out to help were House Speaker Shap Smith and his son, Eli.

Smith says Saturday's Clean Up Day was an effort to capture all the energy that's come from Vermonters in response to Irene.

(Smith) "And it just, I think, emphasizes what an incredible sense of community there is in Vermont and how people are willing to pitch in and help each other get through what is a really difficult time."

(Host) Waterbury is one of the towns especially hard-hit by Irene, including devastating damage to the State Office Complex.

Buildings there remain closed, and the future of the complex is uncertain.