Vermont, Post-Irene
“I ended up bushwhacking through the hillsides to avoid the ravines that now stood where the road used to be. The road was gone. Sure, little stretches remained, but not many. Our neighbor’s barn was missing, swallowed up by the re-routed river. Further down, a cottage was gone, swept away as the river claimed the path that the road used to take. I came to one spot with no outlet, the river taking over everything. I scurried across a downed tree acting as a bridge over the water. I met some more people, gawking in disbelief at the destruction. An elderly woman gave me her son’s phone number, hoping that I might be able to call if I found service.”
via Smokeless Fire.
Hoping my own Vermont pals are all right…
UPDATED with link to a piece about the devastation in New Jersey and Connecticut. Did you know that more than 20% of Connecticut residents are still without power?
Penny says:
Gosh. I just read that link. Gulp. I think everyone in VT is still walking around stunned, and then we’re gathering what we can to help. I so hope all the roads get cleared by winter.
My part of the state is fine, mostly. Our CSA farm had many fields wash away, and power was out here and there, but nothing like the southern Vermonters are facing. Other states too, have been hard hit. My heart feels like it’s in a million pieces, all stranded in the million places of need. Thanks for posting this.
On September 3, 2011 at 10:01 am
Lindsay says:
The damage was so “spotty.” Up here in the Sourland Mountains in NJ we slept through the storm and had a flooded basement, but that was pretty much all. However the fencing club that was so badly damaged was one where my son had fenced, often. It’s about a 20 min. drive from our house. Or was. A bridge is out on the direct route there. Now it’s closer to a 40 minute detour. And the club where we swim is still without power, and so closed for the last week of summer.
It’s easy to think it wasn’t much of a hurricane, until you look at what happened in the next town!
On September 3, 2011 at 2:53 pm
Mamalion says:
We were hoping to vacation down in the Outer Banks this month, but the whole road has been washed away. 2300 residents didn’t evacuate from the barrier island, and they will finally be allowed off the island this weekend. They had to set up emergency ferry service, since the road has been completely washed away in 4 different places, I think. 🙁
On September 3, 2011 at 5:54 pm
Sarah says:
It has been a hard week. While we only had to endure life without power, we are just exhausted from living in a disaster area. We are all so emotional. Some survivor guilt, but also so overwhelmed by what now needs to be done.
On September 4, 2011 at 3:36 pm