Utility Repair Teams from Illinois are Here Fixing the Poles and Lines
As part of a rapid deployment of utility workers CVPS and other Vermont utilities called in companies from around the country to help with repairs here.
This afternoon Woodstock Early Bird met a Ameren team from Illinois, about four to five specifically assigned to the Woodstock area. They reeport that about 150 workers from their company are in Vermont helping to set things right right now.
Today (Tuesday) these Illinois angels helped with restoration of power to water systems — critical to helping Woodstock Aqueduct get water going. We hear that at least one computer glitch was repaired and with power back to the system attempts were made to get motors running to get water flowing into Woodstock pipes.
Alas, the bad news…no dice, some vital piece of equipment is busted from Tropical Storm Irene and we (all of us!) are now waiting on a part.
While we have not spoken to Woodstock Aqueduct principles Eric Wegner and Frank Billings, we hear from Town officials they are working this huge problem as best they can. They, too are apparently in shock at the magnitude of our flooding and the daunting task of getting water back into our homes. At least another day, folks, at least…that’s what we’re hearing. Waiting on a part…
In other news….right now 6:00 pm ish…drinking water and utility water is available and being distributed at the Woodstock Elementary School. Volunteers are also going to be out leafleting neighborhoods with emergency information. If you’d like to volunteer, head on down, right now!
Woodstock Town Planner Michael Brands spoke to Early Bird this afternoon. What he’s been doing is driving all the Town roads to photograph and document the massive, “catastrophic” damage so there is evidence for when we will certainly be applying for emergency FEMA funds.
In a light moment, Brands joked he is seeing a plethora of zoning violations all over town as a result of the flooding. Curb cuts out of place, signs on lemonade stands without permits, etc. What is the world coming to? We’re pretty sure he’s not worrying about those right now. Nor is anyone else.
Julia Carlisle
Woodstock Early Bird 