This document summarizes UVM Extension's role in disaster recovery efforts following Tropical Storm Irene, which caused extensive flooding and damage across Vermont in August 2011. It describes how UVM Extension quickly shifted resources to support recovery, conducting damage assessments, distributing information, and coordinating relief efforts. Key tools used included smartphones, conference calls, SharePoint, websites and social media to communicate and manage recovery paperwork. The document concludes by emphasizing the importance of establishing partnerships and emergency plans ahead of disasters.

1. Disaster Recovery:
You CAN Get There
From Here
Cathy Yandow
Webmaster & Communications Support Specialist
UVM Extension
May 29, 2012

2. Key Story Points
• Vermont geography
• Storm & damage
• UVM Extension’s role in post-Irene
recovery
• Tools UVM Extension used
• Lessons learned

3. New England Geography
• “You can’t get there
from here”
• Mountains, valleys,
rivers
• Few direct routes
between points
• Towns, roads,
railroads parallel
rivers
http://www.vpr.net/community/gallery/157/, GMRC

4. The Green Mountain State
August 31, 2011. Waitsfield, Vt.
www.mansfieldheliflight.com

6. Timeline
• August 25-26:
• Based on weather forecast, constructed
“preparedness” site
• Saturday/Sunday, August 27-28:
• “Irene” hit Vermont
• Monday, Labor Day, August 29:
• NW Vermont not as hard hit as other areas of state
• Switch to recovery-based resources
• Friday, September 2 :
• EDEN conference call

7. Preparedness Site
• Vt. state plan commitment
• August 25-26 - Emergency planning
resources:
– FEMA
– NOAA
– Vt. State Emergency Management links
– EDEN & CES resources (e.g., LSU, NDSU,
etc.)
– eXtension
– American Red Cross

8. Preparedness Site
• Emergency supply info
• Preparing for flooding & power outages
• Pet & livestock safety
• Post-storm food safety
• Property clean-up safety

9. Irene’s Track
• Slow movement up Atlantic seaboard,
storm picked up more rain than forecast
• Southwest to northeast -- New York State
& New England
• Across the “spine of the state,” the
mountains
• Mountainous terrain, slowing of storm, rain
= torrential rain, flooding

10. Storm Damage
• 14-county disaster declaration
• Vt. National Guard assisted by Guard from 6
other states (Maine, Illinois, Ohio, NH, South
Carolina, West Virginia, Virginia)
• 260 roads closed (not including municipal
road segments)
• 531 miles closed
• 33 state highway bridges closed
• 200 bridges damaged

11. Storm Damage
• Rail line damage, 107 washouts
• 200 miles of rail line impassable
• 6 rail bridges badly damaged
• Power outages
• 13 landlocked towns
• Flood waters damaged 400+ acres for fruit
& vegetable production (estimated to
approximate $2.24 million)

13. August 31, 2011. Hancock, Vt.
www.mansfieldheliflight.com

14. UVM Extension
• Recovery efforts started Labor Day, Aug.
29
• Chittenden County less damaged
• UVM & UVM Extension offices, services
uninterrupted
• Nearly 100% Extension personnel
available (several lived in communities
isolated by flooding)
• Build on existing relationships with state
agencies, FSA, legislators, others

15. UVM Extension
• Focus:
– Damage assessment assistance to farmers
– Information distribution to Extension
colleagues & public
– Website became comprehensive information
source
– Social media use to broaden reach
– “Boots on the ground”/cleanup activities
– Ag workshops on feed/forage safety

17. Coordinating Role
• Vt. Ag Agency infrastructure badly
damaged
• Extension able to provide means to
provide outreach to damaged farms
• Needed ability to visit farms (some
isolated), document damage, take photos,
manage intake paperwork

18. State Infrastructure
• VT Agency of
Agriculture, Food &
Markets (VAAFM)
losses
– Offices flooded
– Web site
• Overwhelming need &
request for services
“Rebuild Waterbury” photo gallery
http://rebuildwaterbury.org

19. Equine specialist Betsy Greene coordinated delivery
of emergency feed to horse operations in Rochester,
Vt.

20. Extension’s ‘Irene’ Toolbox
• Smart phones
• Conference calls
• SharePoint
• iPads
• Web site
• Social media

21. Smart Phones
• Consistent
communication
• Damage
documentation,
photos
Flooding damaged 6,000+ acres of corn in Vermont,
creating a serious feed shortage on many farms.

22. Conference Calls
• Daily (less frequently as needs changed)
• COORDINATE tasks, information
distribution
• Assess current situation, needs, priorities,
problems, brainstorm solutions
• Dean, faculty specialists, program staff,
admin staff, web staff

23. iPad
• 3G/4G enabled for statewide use
• Complete on-site completion & collection
of intake damage assessment forms
• Upload to SharePoint site for review by
VAAFM, transfer to FSA

24. SharePoint
• “VT Farm Disaster Response”:
• UVM Extension
• VT Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets
(VAAFM)
• Natural Resource Conservation Districts/VT
Association of Conservation Districts
• Confidential intake/assessment forms
(needed for assistance)
• Centralized paperwork management
• Team discussions

25. SharePoint
Printable resources & forms
• Vt. Ag Agency resources for farmers
• “Be Familiar with Crop Damage Reporting
Requirements” (info sheet)
• Damage Assessment Form
• “What to Do Next” (recovery guide, info
sheet for farmers)
• Unemployment Information factsheet (pdf)
• “Interpreting the Results of Soil Tests for
Heavy Metals” (info sheet)

26. SharePoint
• Intake/upload of Damage Assessment
Forms (confidential, used by FSA)
• Excel spreadsheets
• Needs / Donations
• Farm assistance (manpower!) requests
• Requests for goods, money, assistance &
donations managed via Excel
spreadsheets
• Conference call notes

27. Web Site/Social Media
• General information for farmers, public &
colleagues
– News & updates from:
• Media
• Local municipalities
• State government & agencies
• Federal agencies (FEMA, USDA)
– CES, EDEN, eXtension resources

28. Web Site/Social Media
– Farms
– Families & Stress
– Finance & Taxes
– Food Safety,
– Homes
– Schools
– Donations, volunteering, community
fundraising

29. Web Site
• Ag & business information
– Damage documentation forms, process,
where to get assistance
– Natural resource impact – including property
tax changes
– Factsheets on taxes, unemployment, crops,
forage, etc.
– Extension services & state emergency
programs

30. August 29, 2011. Bolton, Vt.
www.mansfieldheliflight.com

31. University of Vermont
• UVM Interim president former
Extension/College of Ag colleague
– Office space for Vt. Ag agency personnel
– 2 days per person volunteer time
– Clean-up crew days – students, faculty, staff

32. UVM Testing Labs
• Heavy metals testing
• Mycotoxin testing & research set up
• Ongoing assessment

33. Reconstruction Update
– All rail lines reopened within 3 weeks of storm
– Rail lines transported road-building materials
– All roads, bridges reopened by December 31,
2011
– Mild early winter -- “Last mile”, route 107,
paved, opened December 29
– May 2012 - families, businesses still displaced
& rebuilding
– Name “Irene” retired

34. Lessons Learned
• Before a disaster:
– Be familiar with any state or institution
emergency plans
– Assess skills, interests, knowledge within your
organization
– Inventory resources before an emergency
strikes
– Know national CES, eXtension, EDEN
resources
– Partners & relationships matter

35. Lessons Learned
• After a disaster:
– Communication
– Be organized
– Vet content as much as possible
– Use national CES, eXtension, EDEN
resources