Hurricane Irene Storm Recovery Resources

August 30, 2011

“People’s hearts are made of gold right now" -American Red Cross Volunteer in Vermont

Hurricane Irene took Vermont by storm this weekend  with historic flooding and remarkable damage in many parts of Vermont. The response of Vermont's nonprofit sector has been quick and targeted. VPIRG sent an email highlighting many of the recovery efforts and many local efforts to share information and clean-up are available for those in need. And don't forget about the United Way's 2-1-1 service to report damage and find out about recover efforts.

There's plenty of opportunity to help.

Thanks to VPIRG and Green Mountain United Way for this round up of services and information:

DONATIONS
•    Text FOODNOW to 52000 to donate $10 to Vermont Foodbank. The Foodbank will turn each donation into $60 for families in need.
•    You can also donate to the American Red Cross of Vermont and the New Hampshire Valley. The Red Cross set up shelters immediately after Irene hit for flooded-out families to stay in.
•    The VT Irene Flood Relief Fund is raising money to help people and communities affected by flooding. 100% of all donations will be distributed to businesses and families. The fund was set up by Todd Bailey (the former director of Vermont League of Conservation Voters) and is being administered through the Vermont State Employees Credit Union.
•    Vermont Baseball Tours has set up the 8/28 Fund to raise money. Donations of $20 or more get you a cool t-shirt.
•    The MRV Community Fund has been reestablished to help Mad River Valley farmers who saw devastating crop losses due to the flooding.

VOLUNTEERING
•    VTResponse.com is working to connect volunteers ready to help with those that need assistance. If you want to help clean up and rebuild, let the folks behind this site know.
•   Montpelier Alive is coordinating volunteer efforts in that city through their Facebook page.
•    Volunteer and cleanup efforts are also being coordinated on Twitter via the #VTresponse hashtag.
•    The Vermont Flooding 2011 page on Facebook is functioning as a community bulletin board of sorts.
•    Vermont Helping Hands is also coordinating relief efforts via Facebook.
•    The Help Vermont Facebook group is another place to share recovery information.
•    The Red Cross is in need of blood donations. Stop by their donation center at 32 North Prospect Street in Burlington, or the Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital Blood Donation Center at 125 Mascoma Street in Lebanon, NH.

And to Becky Raymond of Green Mountain United Way, who reminds us to use their excellent community "help line" dial 211 on any working phone to get information. Affected residents and businesses are encouraged to report damage.

For *Road Closures* or Travel Information dial 511 or visit the http://www.511vt.com/ website

Current *Red Cross shelters* open in Vermont:
http://www.redcrossvtnhuv.org/detalle_noticias.asp?SN=8042&OP=8283&id=9881&IDCapitulo=44W8UXGL8L

For more information about the *hurricane disaster declaration* in Vermont (expect this information to change in the coming days / weeks):
http://www.fema.gov/news/event.fema?id=15472

To apply for assistance from *FEMA *(PLEASE NOTE: there was *not *been a declaration for individual or public assistance for this disaster as of today):
http://www.fema.gov/assistance/index.shtm

*Vermont Emergency Management*: http://vem.vermont.gov/

How you can help: http://7d.blogs.com/blurt/2011/08/after-irene-how-you-can-help-vermont.html

Town Updates:

 

Northfield:
http://www.northfield-vt.gov/text/Current_Notices/Current_Notices.htm Waitsfield:
http://www.waitsfieldvt.us/

Waterbury: http://www.waterburyvt.com/

Facebook Flood Updates (fan pages / groups):
https://www.facebook.com/MRVpostIrene
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Vermont-Flooding-2011/212455332141871
https://www.facebook.com/groups/184210041652477/

On Twitter: #vtresponse, #vtirene, #vtrecovery http://www.timesargus.com/ - live tweets (click on "Irene in Vermont")

Volunteer Opportunities: http://vtresponse.wordpress.com

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