In the aftermath of the storm, Commentator Tom Slayton has been giving
some thought to the spirit of Vermonters and their tireless efforts in
putting the state back together.
Crews from the city
water department and area construction companies have been working around the
clock to restore Rutland’s water system, which was badly damaged in the flooding from Tropical Storm Irene.
Isolation and lack of
communication have been huge issues in towns stranded by Tropical Storm Irene. People in southern Vermont’s Deerfield and West River Valleys are accustomed to living without cell phone reception. In two hard-hit towns, emergency portable cell phone towers are making a
difference.
After Tropical Storm Irene, homeowners in the flood zone whose wells or septic systems were inundated need to check the safety of their drinking water. The Department of Health says it will test wells for free.
The State Office Complex has suffered "an extensive catastrophe" to its entire
infrastructure following recent flooding, which raises the question of whether or
not it makes sense to renovate the buildings.