Rochester was one of the towns hit hard by Tropical Storm Irene, as the White River plowed through town, toppling houses and ripping bridges away from the riverbanks.

When the storm hit, Benson photographer John Penwarden's first instinct was to document what was happening.  He connected with a local art gallery owner, Anni Mackay, who helped Penwarden document the aftermath and recovery. 

VPR's Jane Lindholm recently met up with Penwarden and Mackay in Rochester to talk about the power of these photographs and the documentary process.