September 11th and Irene

The stream went under the hotel

Not sure if this was a house that shattered or a shed or barn...

This house didn't used to be so close to the edge of the bank

Car was moved by the stream...no driveway any more

No driveway, no yard, first floor with gravel, mud, etc in it

Fuel station

Part of fuel station

Mother Nature's erosion (NOT manmade!!)

Driving on the "new" road...view of the new stream bed

Written 10 September 2011.  Pictures taken 12 September 2011.

As the world remembers the events of September 11^th, 2001, my thoughts are filled with Irene and the massive destruction she caused for my home state.

I am in no way trying to belittle those or gloss over those who died on 9/11, or lost loved ones, or those who have died fighting for my country since then…but Irene’s devastation is so much closer to home and so fresh in my eye.

My friends at Husky Works Mushing – they lost their kennel, but the outpouring of support, time, materials, and sweat that helped them rebuild is amazing.

Some of my coworkers lost their homes and possessions, but they came to work anyway to help others by rebuilding roads, removing trees from streams, putting streams back into their original beds, fixing bridges, etc, etc.  For fifteen to sixteen hours per day.  That is selflessness.

The amount of contractors, National Guard, and private citizens that have called into the Rutland Command Center to say, “Hey, we have this equipment, can you use it?” – astounding.

The stories I hear of neighbors buckling down to help neighbors…the the Crazy Russian Girls Bakery (my favorite in Bennington) – they’ve non-stop been accepting donations of items for affected families, baking goodies for road and utility crews, and reaching out to communities to help.  What kindness.

But the devastation, even after two weeks is still mind boggling.  Numerous town and road bridges still damaged enough that they are closed.  Some East-West major VT corridors are still closed due to the damage.  Staggering numbers of state routes and town roads are still closed due to unsafe situations.

We are rebuilding.  And we’re rebuilding faster than I thought we could.  So even though you can’t quite get there from here the way you used to go…or maybe even at all right now…you will be able to soon!