At this hour, as they say….10:20 Thursday morning:
1. Good News: A team of Peter Vollers’ Land-Rover Overland Expedition Club in on its way to bring water, food and of rescue anyone out of a pocket cut off by flooding in the area of Route 100 and Route 100-B. Vollers, a local attorney, also has a business providing back-road and off-road tours through Vermont. His team of old-style Land Rover owners are on their way and will bring anyone out who needs to be brought out.
2. Good News: Retired Former Police Chief Byron Kelly, Jr. has been brought back by the Woodstock Emergency Response Team. Kelly has extensive experience with disaster and emergency operations, having served on DMORT teams and in other disaster management operations including Katrina. His role, based on his past experience, is to help the Town of Woodstock work it’s way through FEMA funding requirements and paperwork. Getting out in front of the operation so that, as Chief Blish described it, there will be as few bottlenecks getting emergency funding when it becomes available. Welcome Back, Byron!
3. Good News: A Slow Trickle of Water is Back to Some Village Homes! Town officials this morning ask everyone to use it very, very sparingly. Water pressure is a big issue. Low-lying areas of town may think they have plenty of water, but their use may prevent those at higher elevation from getting enough to wash a sink of dishes. As for immediate tourism, officials suggest that, unfortunately extra visitors to town — at this time -will only strain the community’s fragile water system. Trustee Bob Pear is still asking people to get water for their toilet flushing from the Woodstock Elementary School supply truck. BTW, a lot of bottled water for drinking is now at the school. Go pick it up. Enjoy. Courtesy of the American Red Cross!
4. Rep. Alison Clarkson’s team is coordinating to see what they can do for the people at Riverside Park. Throughout the day, if anyone wants to volunteer, check in at the Elementary School.
More in a bit… from this morning’s meeting and last night’s community meeting which can be viewed later today online from Woodstock Community Public Access TV Channel 8 or, we are told at this address: www.wctv8.com
We would recommend watching later if you can. A lot of very good information was shared this morning by State of Vermont Rivers Manager Tom Menees.
Julia Carlisle
Woodstock Early Bird 