The Plymouth emergency management team has created a website to consolidate emergency and recovery information at www.plymouthrecoverynews.com. Updates on road and utility conditions, information on how to contact authorities, damage assessment forms and more will be posted there. The information will also be shared here on The Plymouth Press.
Thanks to Terry for getting that up and running! It’s a great resource.
Notes provided by Wendy Clinch. Some of this has been previously reported, some is new information.
Plymouth Emergency Update – 9/3/11
We held two information/update meetings today: one at the Tyson Church and another one at the town hall. We brought our Tyson/Kingdom neighbors up to date on things that have been established and also were able to address some of their questions. Road updates, logistics updates and Q & A was reviewed. For expediency, notes from both meetings are below:
Communications:
o Tyson/Kingdom folk voiced a desire to establish one or two bulletin boards similar to the one in town hall for information sharing, updates, forms and sign up lists.
§ Action: Determine location and number of bulletin boards.
o Action: The Tyson group will get back to the Emergency Management team about whether they would like to have their own ‘town meeting’ and the frequency of those meetings while the temporary roads are under construction.
o A website is being developed to help facilitate communications. The website should be up and running by Monday.
Operations:
o A timeline for road improvements cannot be determined right now. There are many stop gap repairs that need to be done (49 major repairs were noted by State officials) just to assure we have access to the outside world and each other. These repairs are temporary and permanent fixes will start when the critical issues are addressed.
o Outside resources were requested from many sources (including the National Guard, the State, outside contractors, volunteers, opening of previously closed gravel pits etc.) to assure that things progress as quickly as possible.
o We have made tremendous progress improving our access to the outside world and within our own boundaries. Progress includes creation of ‘Rocky Rd I’ and the start of ‘Rocky Rd II’ which allow us at least limited access north and south of Plymouth. The State started work on Rocky Rd II which follows a more direct path along Rte 100. We hope to have it operational by Monday. Traffic may be controlled by use of a traffic light. This temporary road will be in place until a permanent two lane road along ‘the gap’ on Rte 100 can be built.
o Rte 100A is still closed.
o Kingdom Rd is now passable by 4wd vehicles.
o Rte 100 N is open to Rte 4 for 4wd vehicles at restricted times. All non emergency traffic along Rte 4 from Bridgewater to Woodstock is prohibited from 7 am to 6:30 pm.
o Access north of Hawk Resort is restricted by passes issued to residents in 4wd vehicles only during certain times. Contractors hired by home owners to help with repairs will be admitted as well. During this weekend we have hired a sheriff from Sat. 8am to Mon. 8 am to assist with access limitations. Pass access will continue at least through Labor Day Weekend. Traffic check points are being manned by town volunteers and assisted by police when necessary and available.
o As temporary road repairs are being made, we will be working with the Agency of Natural Resources to assess any possible effect of re-routing brooks.
Logistics
· The weather is constantly being monitored as a risk for further damage and safety. An evacuation plan is being developed and will be discussed at the town meeting to be held Sunday at 11:00 in the town hall.
· An electrician is in town to help triage electrical issues. Anyone needed electrical evaluation should so indicate on the damage assessment/needs list and/or tell an Emergency Management team member today.
· Until road access has been significantly improved, the town hall will be manned 24/7 in case of emergency.
· Emergency supplies have been received which include food, water, cots, blankets, radios to assist with crew/volunteer/management communications, personnel supplies, pet food, baby products. Supplies will be provided to shelters in case of need to evacuate.
· ‘Fast trash’ pick up is as usual at the town hall AND a dumpster has been made available in the Tyson Church/Echo Lake Inn parking lot today between 12 – 3.
· Power has been restored to most residence as well as phone and internet.
· Non leaded gas distribution for generators will be on an as needed basis going forward.
· Cleaning kits provided by the Salvation Army are now available for those that need them. They are at the town hall.
· The Mennonite Disaster Team will be coming in to help all residents who are in need of personal assistance such as filling out forms and other personal issues.
Water: If your well was covered by flood water or standing water, use bottled water or boil it until you can get your water tested. If in doubt, call Russ Tonkin at the town and he’ll advise you. Russ has ordered water testing kits from the State.
Finance:
· If you have not paid your taxes yet there will be no penalty in getting your taxes in late as long as they are in by Oct. 1.
· The president has approved our State status as ‘state of emergency’. As a result we will be considered for both town and individual FEMA aid. FEMA information is available in hand-outs.
o Action: All residents sustaining property damage need to call FEMA to register with them asap.
· Damage reports: Please take pictures to document any property damage you may have sustained because of the storm BEFORE you start repairs. These forms and pictures need to be collected asap for submission to FEMA.
The Plymouth Memory Tree is seeking donations to help Plymouth residents who suffered losses from Irene. As we are NOT a 501(c)3, we are funneling donations through the following groups so that your contribution is tax deductible. Please make your check payable to:
Neighbors Helping Neighbors, Inc.
PO Box 39
Bridgewater, VT 05034
or
Church of Our Saviour
P.O. Box 67
Plymouth, VT 05056
Please include either a note or write on the memo line of your check Plymouth Memory Tree. These organizations will then send all funds so designated back to us to be distributed to residents of Plymouth, only.
Please pass the word on. We are hoping to raise many dollars. FEMA help is limited, so private donations are crucial to rebuilding homes. Thank you!
Elaine Gambone
Plymouth Memory Tree
672-3493 if you need more information
or singerherbalist@mac.com
CORRECTION: TUESDAY Night Community Supper: Many folks have been working hard all day & fixing a good meal is not a high priority. Tina Verdrager and Margo Marrone will be cooking up a variety of food & anyone who would like to stop at the church to partake of this meal is welcome. If others have something to share, that would be fine, but certainly not necessary. We will start setting up at 5:30 & hope that getting together will provide a much needed break for everyone & time to chat.
Because of the expected rainfall tonight (1 – 2”), Monday, September 05, 2011, we are taking precautionary measures. The Plymouth Emergency Team is requesting that all residents in low lying areas relocate to safe areas.
All residents should be out of these low lying areas by 3 pm.
Shelters are available at the Inn at Water’s Edge and at the Plymouth School. Additional shelters will be made available as needed.
If you decide to stay, it is at your own risk. We will not be able to rescue you until it is safe for a rescue team to get to you. These rescue efforts may not occur for several days.
Emergency Management Team
We have uploaded some video footage from the day of the storm taken on the north end of Plymouth on Route 100A, and a few videos from the days since then, including a drive over to the Farm Brook Motel and to where 100A ends heading south.
Plymouth, VT Storm and Aftermath Videos
If you have footage you want to share, e-mail us.
Submitted by Sue Poirier at 10:50AM, Sunday, 9/4
URGENT: We have been monitoring the weather and there are two issues:
An evacuation plan was developed. Highlights include:
Three (3) centers will be opened and people assigned to centers by the area in which they live. All centers will be manned with Emergency Management Team members. Centers have blankets, cots, food, water and personal essentials.
In this current crisis, should anyone feel nervous about existing conditions they are welcome to go to either the Town Hall (for everyone north of Rocky Rd) or the Inn at Waters Edge today, Sunday from noon on.
Road Update:
Logistics:
Reposted Comment from Jon Clinch
The township order regarding travel on Route 100 has made meetings at the Town Hall inaccessible to residents below Rocky Road. In the interest of public safety and clear communications, I’d ask on our behalf that any materials made public at such Town Hall meetings be provided to us both via the internet and via posting at the church.
Additionally, the Facebook group Rebuild Okemo Valley is an active location for sharing regional information. While we’re waiting for the development of the Plymouth Recovery News site, this can help get things done. People there are already talking about issues concerning Plymouth. Its address is as follows —https://www.facebook.com/groups/203312973065383/ I would be willing, and in fact eager, to establish such a group for Plymouth. It’s simple and easy and free. In the meantime, piggy-backing on the successful Rebuid Okemo Valley group is one good way to get things done NOW.
By Jen Flaster
I just got word that the Plymouth Recovery News site is not yet ready for prime time – please disregard the post sent early this am about the evacuation plans. The info on that website is subject to change – once the emergency management team has reviewed the content on that site, it will become the official source for news about the response in Plymouth. There is a meeting in town this morning – we expect an update early this afternoon from the town emergency management team. Thanks to all who are lending their hands to get Plymouth back up and running!!
From Jen Flaster
Route 100 just before Hawk by Jim Nielsen
Last night we regained power and phone about 8pm. The power is now running from Town Line Road and to home on 100A north of Town Line.
We still haven’t really seen any road crews on this north side of 100A, but CVPS is here working again today. Yesterday I spoke to and then later saw(!) Bobbi Lynds, who is part of the emergency team and was somehow able to drive down through Hale Hollow (which is still not a true through route) by truck. Bobbi said that the roads are really in bad shape and that’s why access is still so limited. She said she thought they would be sending road crews up 100A from the south. Route 100 was closed coming from W. Bridgewater yesterday and I expect it will be again today. Route 4 is closed from Bridgewater to Woodstock as well today, but we drove North Bridgewater to Cox District, which is under repair, and got through to Woodstock (and West Leb!) last night. We also just heard this morning that Route 4 is open to local traffic who need to get through.
Bobbi let me know that there is a great crew of people organizing down in Plymouth at the Municipal Building. ABLE is using its trucks to repair roads and everyone else with big equipment is lending it to the effort. Julie Dupont is organizing volunteers, Melissa Lynds is organizing communications through the post office. Terry and Willow Bascom have past experience with Hurricane Floyd and will be helping out with the aftermath of the storm and the impacts on people that we don’t yet know about. Bobbi also shared that the Mennonite Disaster Management Services would be sending in people to help with FEMA paperwork and other post-storm needs.
Keep sending in information and pictures and we’ll keep publishing it!!
