Gov. Deane Davis gave us the spring litter pick up ritual that is particular to Vermont — Green Up Day, and on Tuesday, Gov. Peter Shumlin bookended the May volunteer effort with a fall event he dubbed “Vermont Clean Up Day.”
The governor is asking Vermonters to dedicate Oct. 22 to helping the victims of Tropical Storm Irene in one of three (or all three) ways – by donating money, volunteering and/or donating specific items.
“None of us imagined the magnitude of damage Vermont would sustain, but all of us knew that once the rains eased, we would all join together to begin the response, recovery and eventually rebuilding of our state,” Shumlin said in a statement.
Winter is coming, and many of the more than 2,000 Vermonters with homes that were damaged by Irene are struggling to make their homes livable before winter. Meanwhile, the outpouring of support for flood victims has begun to slacken as the state enters the seventh week after Irene. State officials say full recovery from Irene will take years to complete.
Vermonters can donate money to the VT Disaster Relief Fund (the state’s designated emergency fund) or other charities, join a team of volunteers who will clean up or rebuild flood damaged homes, or donate an item on a “goods exchange” that will go to flood victims.
Shumlin made the announcement at Volunteers’ Green in Richmond. The recreational field and playground were covered with about four feet of water on Aug. 28 when floodwaters from the Winooski River came roaring through.
Sarah Douglas Hughes was one of the Richmond residents whose home was badly damaged in the flood. She and her family are living in a camper until they can rehab their home. They have not yet received money from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and have been unable to purchase a new furnace and hot water heater.
The VT Disaster Relief Fund is a resource of “last resort” designed to fill gaps in funding for flood victims like Hughes who will likely have to pay out of pocket for repairs even after they have received insurance money and/or FEMA funding. So far, the state has raised $1.5 million. Disbursements have not yet been made to individuals.
To make a cash donation, volunteer or give goods to the exchange, go to www.vtcleanup.org.
