Editor’s note: During our fall member drive, we’re going to be sharing firsthand accounts from members of our newsroom about their experiences covering this summer’s floods. And we’ll be offering new giveaways every day of the drive.
Dear Reader,
The weekend of July 8 had already been busier than usual for VTDigger. Though we typically scale back our operations on weekends, our reporters and editors had already jumped on two big stories that Saturday — new charges in the death of a Rutland police officer and flash flooding and mudslides in Killington.
Then, early on Sunday, July 9, VTDigger digital editor Sam Gale Rosen wrote fellow editors to flag the latest forecast of an incoming storm. “Just hopping on to note the rain tonight and Monday is gonna be REALLY serious, looks like very real potential for serious widespread flooding.”
Sam was right.
When we reached a National Weather Service meteorologist, he told us the rainfall could rival that of Tropical Storm Irene, with equally devastating flooding. We scrambled the jets to publish a story warning Vermonters of “catastrophic, life-threatening flooding” — and we pushed it to readers through a breaking-news email and social media.
We later heard that it was this story that brought the storm to the attention of many Vermonters — in many cases just in time to batten down the hatches.
Our work didn’t stop there. Editors spent the rest of Sunday preparing to cover the storm. We asked reporters and photographers to plan to head out early the next morning to every corner of the state. We revamped our homepage to better feature flood coverage and created a form for Vermonters to share what they had witnessed. And our veteran journalists shared tips on how to cover such a natural disaster.
“Before you head out, pack water (not just for you), energy bars (not just for you), batteries and alternate power, change of clothes, towel, Ziploc bags,” photographer Glenn Russell advised his colleagues. “And take it from an Old Pro: NO cotton underwear!”
Glenn was right.
By the end of the night, as heavy rains began to drench Vermont, VTDigger was ready to go.
To do this work requires a great deal of energy, commitment and teamwork. It also requires your support. If you can, please consider becoming a monthly member during our fall member drive.
Thank you for being a staunch VTDigger supporter.
Paul Heintz
Editor-in-Chief
