Waterbury board discusses abatements due to Irene

WATERBURY – The Waterbury board of abatement met Wednesday night for the first time since tropical storm Irene damaged more than 200 properties in the town.

At the meeting, which was held in the Thatcher Brook Primary School, the board decided to waive any penalties or fees for flood damaged properties that would normally be associated with delinquent tax payments.

Earlier during the meeting, the board heard from 12 property owners who attended the meeting and plan to apply for tax abatement.

A total of 32 requests for abatement have been made to the town so far since the storm, according to town clerk Carla Lawrence.

 

Flyfishing after Irene: Covered bridges and excavators

This photo is of the Mad River at Bridge Street in Waitsfield, and was sent in by Jenna Pizzi, who is in the Mad River Valley today. It sums up some of the oddity of the last few weeks, we think. Vermont is coming back!

Waterbury board drafts Local Plan for Recovery

WATERBURY – At an emergency meeting of the Waterbury Select Board and Village Trustees on Monday afternoon, the boards discussed how to move the volunteer effort in the town after Tropical Storm Irene destroyed many homes and businesses from emergency response mode to a more sustainable long term role.
Select Board chairwoman Rebecca Ellis presented a draft “Local Plan for Recovery,” which carefully outlines what the town did in the immediate response and how it plans to move forward in the long term, delegating responsibilities to outside organizations and non-profits.
This plan includes the creation of Rebuilding Waterbury, a non-profit charity organization, which will likely work under the existing Revitalizing Waterbury organization.
Rebuilding Waterbury will accept donations to help fund rebuilding efforts for Waterbury residents who cannot afford to rebuild their homes in the coming months.
Revitalizing Waterbury has its own donation fund to help local businesses who were affected through grant money.

-Jenna  Pizzi

FEMA Disaster Recovery Center opens in Waterbury

WATERBURY — The Federal Emergency Management Administration has opened a disaster recovery center at the Waterbury Fire Department at 43 South Main St. in Waterbury, adding to the center that opened at the Barre Auditorium on Monday, and another center in Brattleboro.
Disaster officials encourage those affected by the storms to register with FEMA before visiting a DRC by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362), or online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov
Anyone impacted by the Irene flooding is urged to register for assistance. You may qualify for up to $30,200 in assistance grants, and/or a low-interest Small Business Administration loan. The SBA loan is available for homeowners as well as businesses.
To register you will need:
-Current telephone number
-Address of damaged property and current address
-Social security number
-General list of damages and losses
-If insured, name of insurance company, agent and policy number
-Bank account routing number if will use direct deposit
If you don’t have this information, FEMA will still register you, and you can call back with info once you’ve found it.
As of Tuesday, FEMA had approved $4.2 million in assistance to Vermonters, and had received more than 2,000 applications. By the end of the day Monday, the Small Business Administration had received 1,645 loan applications - 1,179 to individuals and homeowners and 466 to businesses or nonprofits.

Heavy rain in Middlesex, Waterbury

Our state editor, Rob Mitchell, is driving to Burlington this morning and called in to report heavy rainfall in Middlesex and ponding on the roadway. He also reported that there was rain in Waterbury.

The entire state is under a flash flood watch today. With the ground so saturated from Tropical Storm Irene, the National Weather Service is urging everyone to keep a watchful eye on any rainfall, which could trigger flash flooding.

We'll keep you posted on all weather developments; please send us your reports as well.

- Jeannine

Food drive for storm victims Saturday in Waterbury

Clyde Whittemore Little League is organizing a clothing, toy and non-perishable food drive for the victims of the storm.

We'll be setting up a collection point outside of Shaw's on Rt. 100 in Waterbury on Saturday, from 10-3, and

Rusty Parker Memorial Park on Sunday from noon - 3.

Go to clydewhittemore.org for more info.

Irene Flood Drive needs: Instant Potato, Personal Hygiene Products-tooth care, personal
care, bathing care

Baby-diapers,wipes,food,  Women's Products, Bottled Water, Paper Towels,  Toilet
Paper, Towels, a Daily Newspaper, Gas Cards, Money, Flashlights  /Batteries

Clothing*/shoes*/Socks/Underwear... Each* must be  individually bagged with size
 and item description on it for ease of  distribution/containment.

Waterbury flooding video