Mon., 1/9/12: Vermont Fights Back

Vermont Fights Back
Hurricane Irene arrived in the last weekend of August, 2011. Projected to be the once-in-a-generation hurricane, it slowed to a tropical storm and sputtered briefly over land before ratcheting up again. By the time Irene got to Vermont, she brought heavy rains that caused extreme flooding, washed out bridges and roads, stranded thousands and sent the state into high alert. Vermont hadn't seen a storm like it since 1927.

Even as Irene bore down on southern Vermont, crews were springing into action. Plans were devised, stranded residents rescued, roads closed and rerouted, buildings repurposed and state command posts established to deal with the aftermath. Even Google pitched in with up-to-the-minute state roadmaps. Now, much of the wreckage has been cleared and the state continues its clean-up efforts. We'll hear how Vermont is dealing with this once-in-a-generation storm.

GUESTS:
  Sue Minter is Vermont's newly appointed "recovery czar," in charge of overseeing all aspects of recovery from Tropical Storm Irene. She was formerly the Deputy Secretary of the Vermont Transportation Department.
  Candace Page is a reporter for the Burlington Free Press. Her series Hard Lessons of the Tweed chronicles the fight of the town of Stockbridge against the forces of Tropical Storm Irene.
  Reverend Peter Plagge, administrator of the Waterbury Good Neighbors Fund.

  Dean Mary Watzin, of the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural   Resources at the University of Vermont.