Storm Update/Pics

As you know, Tropical Storm Irene has caused major damages to public and private property in the White River watershed.

Jack – see below… and thanks! – Ron

We’ve heard from dozens of WRP Board members, volunteers, and partners who are helping restore flood damaged properties. And WRP staff are working with technical partners to offer assistance to watershed towns in tracking damages to public property that may be eligible for FEMA disaster assistance funds. Stay tuned – there may be opportunities for volunteers to help with this effort. For those of you looking for opportunities to help immediately, here’s a list we just received. Please consider passing this list along to interested folks:
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.
• 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.

We’ll keep you posted about emerging opportunities to help recovery efforts in the White River watershed. Thank you, Mary

Mary Russ
Executive Director
White River Partnership
4266 VT Rte 14, PO Box 705
S. Royalton, VT 05068
Phone/Fax: (802) 763-7733
Email: mary@whiteriverpartnership.org
Web: http://www.whiteriverpartnership.org