TR’s Vermont Response Team assembled at approximately 11 PM on Thursday in Dorset, VT. After scouring local news and several calls to emergency services throughout the state we determined that the Town of Grafton would be our first stop. Upon our arrival in Grafton we were directed to Idyll Dairy Farm. Fortunately Idyll Dairy Farm’s livestock had been spared during the flood. As the only dairy farm in Grafton, and primary dairy supplier for the farmer owned co-op Cabot Cheese; Idyll Farms is critical to the local economy. Flood water had flattened fencing and littered the cow pasture with debris. As a result the cows could not be grazed. The Vermont response team assisted the staff at Idyll Farm in clearing all of the flood debris. With the pastures cleared of debris, the fences were repaired and operations resumed to normal. 

The team then proceeded to Jamaica, VT and the good people there informed us that they were quite fortunate and that another town further down the road had been hit worse.  We quickly learned this testament to the resiliency of everyone in the green mountain state. Several homes in Jamaica suffered severe damage or were erased by Hurricane Irene. The Green Mountain team spent the rest of the day clearing debris from a residence of an elderly couple that had been inundated by flood water, silt and debris. The TR team improved the safety and comfort for this couple by clearing out several hundred pounds of sediment from their basement thereby mitigating the risk of mold growth. I am amazed by how quickly the TR team, most of which were complete strangers yesterday, assembled into a tight knit group. The resilience of the Jamaica community was also apparent, they rarely asked for assistance, supported each other tirelessly and will continue to labor to reassemble their community.

On Saturday the team returned to Jamaica and continued to assist with recovery operations. As the forecast predicted more rain on Sunday the team shifted gears and began to assist in the preparation for additional flooding. Before leaving Jamaica the team helped establish shelter locations while also distributing clean up supplies to residences most affected by the flood. This effort was much like the day before when Jamaica’s residents worked side by side with TR volunteers to deliver help where it was needed most. It is clear to me that TR’s flexibility is one of its greatest assets. Within a few hours the team transitioned from shelter setup to supply distribution and on to the next location.

By midday the team had arrived in Wardsboro, VT; a town that had been completely isolated until Wednesday. TR’s Vermont Response Team Leader JC McGreehan attended Wardsboro’s first town hall meeting following Hurricane Irene. One of the unique challenges presented by widespread flooding in Vermont has been the significant distance and isolation between affected areas. It is not uncommon to see one house completely or partially washed away in close proximity to another that is entirely intact. The overworked Wardsboro Fire Department opened its doors to Team Rubicon and asked it to assist in organizing relief efforts. The team immediately split to the four corners of Wardsboro to evaluate damage and recruit volunteers. In many ways TR and Wardsboro were a perfect match. The team stepped in, partnered immediately with local experts and took concrete steps toward progress and recovery. By the end of the day information and available services had been disseminated to the community. The team was also able to check on more remote parts of the community that had been cut off by washed out bridges.

The recovery has a long way to go here in Vermont. And the residents here are incredibly resilient, capable and resourceful. Without a doubt TR has leant a much appreciated helping hand to some of its most vulnerable residents. I also believe TR will leave Vermont with several new lessons learned regarding flood disaster response.

-Chris Safulko, US Army veteran