Flood Updates & Help
This post will be updated frequently. Last update, Wednesday, July 24. We are slowing our updates, as communities have started to get a handle on volunteer needs. The most important thing is documenting your damage and reporting it to the state, so FEMA disaster can be declared, opening those funds (as limited and frustrating as they can be).
State Flood Recovery Centers
The state is opening four flood recovery centers this week in Barre, Hinesburg, Lydonville, and Plainfield. Centers will be open 9:30am to 6pm during the following days:
Barre: Mondays and Fridays - Barre Municipal Auditorium, 16 Auditorium Hill, Barre, VT
Plainfield: Wednesdays and Sundays - Plainfield Health Center, 157 Towne Ave, Plainfield, VT
Lyndonville: Tuesdays and Saturdays - Vermont State University, Grey House, 180 Vail Drive, Lyndonville, VT
Hinesburg: Thursdays - Champlain Valley Union High School, 369 CVU Road, Hinesburg, VT
The centers will offer snacks and water from the Red Cross, cleaning kits, assistance finding recovery resources, mental health services, and basic medical services.
Free Flood Recovery Workshops for Businesses and Organizations
Next week, CVEDC launches a six part flood recovery workshop series for business owners and service providers. These free workshops are open to all but registration is required.
We’ve collected together topics that you’ve asked about most and gone to the experts who helped us best at CVEDC. These are complex topics and we appreciate the guidance of professionals and the conversation of the community in flood recovery. Register now at centralvermont.org/flood to meet with Josh Schwartz next Monday July 29 and Brian Lewis next Tuesday July 30.
More workshops from Efficiency Vermont and experts in data collection, mutual aid, social media during disaster response will be announced next week as dates are finalized.
Area Mutual Aid & Shelters
There is a lot of organizing happening in Plainfield, please scroll down for their own section of information on this blog post.
NEK Organizing has a mutual aid spreadsheet for NEK towns to directly offer help to locals. Vist: https://nekorganizing.org/2024-flood-recovery/. More info on them can be found at https://www.instagram.com/nekorganizing/ or https://nekorganizing.org/
Barre Up is coordinating volunteers daily starting at 10am and until about 4pm on the front lawn of the Aldrich Public Library. Food, clothing, water, and hygiene supply distribution is at the Rainbow Bridge Community Center, on Main Street across from Exile on Main Street. To get OR give help, please email info@barreup.org or call us at 802.227.2536.
Area Shelters have opened at the Barre Auditorium (Red Cross and pet friendly), 16 Auditorium Hill, will be open at least until July 26. and Williamstown Middle/High school, 120 Hebert Rd. Please note the St. Johnsbury School shelter closed on Friday due to lack of need. The American Red Cross opened a third regional disaster shelter in Lyndonville at the Lyndonville Fire Department (316 Main St.) on Friday, July 12 in the afternoon. Pets are welcome.
Individuals evacuating to a Red Cross shelter should bring essential items for each member of their family, including: Prescription and emergency medications, Foods that meet special dietary requirements, Extra clothing, pillows, blankets, hygiene supplies and other comfort item, Chargers for any electronic devices, Books, games and other forms of entertainment.
Barre Up, a flood recovery organization that formed after last year’s flood, is activated in Barre and providing support in the North End of the city at the Dollar General parking lot.
The Hardwick Emergency Supply and Support Center will be open for the next week from 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM and is located in the Hardwick Senior Center at 56 High St, Hardwick, adjacent to the police station. DONATIONS NEEDED: dehumidifiers, fans, shop vacs, and sump pumps. If you have some to give or share, please drop them off at the Senior Center during open hours. Alternatively, you can call 802-441-3301 or email hardwickneighbors@gmail.com, and we can arrange a pick-up or drop-off.
The Civic Standard has a “Small Support Fund” that started in last year’s floods to help local folks with fiscal needs of all kinds. If you or someone you know is in need, email them at thecivicstandard@gmail.com or stop by their building at 42 Main Street in Hardwick.
More info on how to help smaller NEK town recovery is at the NEK Organizing Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/nekorganizing/. Info on this org can be found at: https://nekorganizing.org/
Marshfield folks, if you need help the Marshfield General Store has this mutual aid form to fill out.
The United Way of Lamoille County is organizing volunteers. Info on their Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/uwlamoille/
In the Northeast Kingdom, the Kingdom United Resilience and Recovery Effort (KURRVE) has information about local mutual aid groups and a spreadsheet for needs and offers of help. More info at their website at: https://nekprosper.org/get-involved/flood-recovery-resources/
Central Vermont Canine Recovery shares the following: "We're seeing tons of posts for missing, lost, found, and stray dogs from the flooding last night. WE WANT TO HELP! Please reach out to us if you have seen a lost dog, have missing dogs, etc.
For those of you that want to help/volunteer please reach out to us. This is going to take a team!"
Please note that WGDR/WGDH is a non-commercial station, we cannot promote fundraising for any other entity or individual (GoFundMe). It is an FCC rule, even in times of emergency. There are many GoFundMe sites popping up and being posted in community Facebook groups and other locations to directly help folks that way.
If you need help cleaning up, call the state’s Crisis Cleanup line at 802-242-2054.
If you want to help volunteer, sign up at Vermont.gov/volunteer or find a local town coordinate effort.
If you want to donate to flood recovery, you can call 888-653-7715 or email donations@vermont.gov or find one of the many GoFundMe individual support sites.
Plainfield Response & Recovery
From the Town of Plainfield:
There are 3 places that anyone affected by the flood should register:
211- Call 211 to log your damage with the state and FEMA.
Crisis Cleaning: If you have damage that needs mucking, pumping, and cleaning you need to register for help by calling the Vermont Crisis Cleaning Hotline at 802-242-2054
Red Cross: Call 1-800-RedCross to get registered. They have case management, financial assistance, and more for those affected by the floods.
We now have a resource website, please check it out for even more updates and ways to help: https://sites.google.com/view/plainfieldfloodresponse
Volunteers: WE NEED MUCKERS!
New assessments in town have given us the green light to begin to do more work on places that we haven;t been able to muck and clean. So while we have some organizational work crews out tomorrow, we could also use 40 muckers Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday to help at houses as their capacity builds over the week and into the weekend. So if you have time, please come down to the Opera House. We’ll be here to orient new volunteers at 10am, but can send you out anytime between 10-4.
Showers
Those who are still without water, we have access to showers for you if you need. Contact us at plainfieldfloodresponse@gmail.com or 802-227-2660 for specifics or you can stop by the Opera House after 10am for that information.
Donations
We are in need of a food coordinator. If you would like to help us coordinate the drop off of food for the lawn and prepared meals, please email us at plainfieldfloodresponse@gmail.com
This is the list of our most current needs from the Methodist Church Donation Center. You can drop off donations from 12-6pm.
Thank you so much to everyone that has donated so far. We are PAUSING clothing and hygiene donations. The basement is full! We will post when and if we are ready to receive more. Hold on to the items because this will be a long road to recovery.
Canned Food
Batteries
Can Openers
Steamed Microwavable Rice (no flavors!)
Microwavable Food (but not frozen)
Gift Cards or Prepaid Visa cards
Large Plastic Totes with Lids
Contractor Bags
2xl and 3xl t shirts
Paper towels
Towels
Ice
Granola Bars
Small Individual Pre-Packaged Snacks (nuts, chips, etc)
Juice Boxes
Gatorade
Water
Fresh Fruit (clementines, bananas, apples)
If you are in need of items we currently have: clothing (adult and children), toiletries, non perishable food (incl gluten free), pet food, bedding & towels, shoes & socks, cleaning supplies, hand sanitizer, paper plates, toilet paper, paper towels, housewares, cleaning totes w/ brushes, trash bags, maps, etc.
Registering your needs
One Important note: there are 2 places that anyone affected by the flood should register:
211- Call 211 to log your damage with the state and FEMA.
Crisis Cleaning: If you have damage that needs mucking, pumping, cleaning you need to register for help by calling Vermont Crisis Cleaning Hotline at 802-242-2054
Assessments/Inspections
Starting today we will have assessors from several state agencies and charitable groups in town making assessments of homes. These include from the State Fire Marshal, Electrical Inspector from Vermont Fire Safety, Red Cross, and others. These groups will be doing individual assessment and so some homeowners/renters may have to have several conversations to get into the various systems. We know this will be frustrating, but we are told that this is the way it needs to be processed. In the coming weeks it is likely that FEMA will also be doing assessments.
Work Crews
Work crews from larger charitable groups who have experience in disaster response are beginning to arrive in town. Their capacity will be ramping up through the week and into the weekend. You will likely see their vans around town as crews from Southern Baptist Disaster Relief, Mennonite Disaster Relief, Team Rubicron and Red Cross start working with our neighbors.
Veterinary Care
The Mitzvah Fund of Vermont is offering veterinary care for animals stressed by the flooding. They can help replace lost meds and provide pet food. Applications are online at www.themitvahfund.org
Porta Potties and Water
There are porta potties and water in a few locations in town including:
Corner of Mill St and Main St: Porta Potty, water and cleaning station
Corner of Mill St and Brook: Porta Potty and water
Creamery St: Mobile water station
Town Parking lot across from Opera House: Porta Potty
Contact Info
If you want to call or email Plainfield Flood Recovery Coordinators, please email us at plainfieldfloodresponse@gmail.com and call us at 802-227-2660 also at https://sites.google.com/view/plainfieldfloodresponse
The Plainfield People (VT) Facebook group has many postings of town folks offering free food, places to charge devices, and even spare rooms to stay in. This group is also posting items found washed up down river of Plainfield - photos, instruments, and all kinds of things have been found. They are being brought to the stone wall at the Stone Church in Plainfield for folks to try and recover personal items of meaning. They ask that folks keep an eye out while cleaning up and look for these types of things down river, in hopes that small acts of joy like this can lift spirits. Connect on Facebook.
The Plainfield Opera House is gathering volunteers, offering resources, and more daily from 10am-4pm for at least the next number of days. The Town of Plainfield Emergency Operations Center can be reached at 802 322 5019. The Town Clerk’s office number is 802 454 8461.
This week, the Cutler Library in Plainfield will be open outside of normal operating hours from 11 AM to 5 PM on Sunday and Monday. The library is a cool, calm place where you can access computers, laptops, iPads, high-speed WiFi, and a printer. And don't underestimate the power of a good book when going through a stressful situation.
You may also use the library's computers or phone to contact 211 to report flood damage.
From the librarians: “The library is also here for those who just need a hug or someone to talk to. If you can't access the library but need support in some way, please don't hesitate to email or phone us during open hours. We love you and will do our best to help you in any way needed.” info@cutlerlibrary.org & 802.454.8504
Need help clearing mud/silt clearing/driveway repair/debris removal in Plainfield and Barre area? Dan Caddy on the Plainfield People FB group has offered help all next week (July 15-20) for FREE. If you need assistance clearing your driveway/parking area, driveway washouts filled/graded, debris moved, or other things that need equipment to make your property/home accessible please post here with the below info: 1. Description of what is needed 2. Address 3. Accessible by road or not
4. Please add pictures. Post your needs on the FB thread of the post in the group here or search “Plainfield People” for the group on FB.
Plainfield is accepting donations of good usable household items, clean clothing and personal hygiene products for the numerous folks who lost their homes and belongings in this week’s flood. Donation center set up at Grace United Methodist Church open from noon-6pm every day this week.
Contact Plainfield recovery coordinators: plainfieldfloodresponse@gmail.com
802-227-2660.
Road Outages & Area Info
You can sign up for alerts from the state at vtalert.gov.
It will be hot and you will be tempted to cool off in rivers or area ponds or lakes. Please do not swim! The flood waters contain all sorts of toxins and the waterways need time to clear from that.
To Seek Help, Stay Safe & Report Damage
To get help, report damage, resources and other services, call Vermont 2-1-1 or visit vermont211.org. 211 is NOT for emergencies, please call 911. Reporting damage is critical for the state to get federal relief funding. Here are links to the business damage form and the residential damage form.
Mental health support. If you need to talk to someone you can access Starting Over Strong Vermont by calling 211. You can also call 988, the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, which will connect you to someone locally.
For mental health support, call 9-8-8, or call or text the SAMHSA Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990.
Flood safety information in multiple languages at vem.vermont.gov/preparedness/floods.
We will provide more updates as we collect them.
Stay steady everyone. We are here for each other.
