Pittsfield, Vermont - September 1, 2011
Local chefs set up for the daily free barbecue on the Pittsfield town green Thursday. Nearby, kids are learning about Vermont wildlife.
"Right now the kids are going to school for two hours on the green," said Marion Abrams of Pittsfield.
It's a community of curfews and new committees.
"Water, power, medical, we formed our own hospital up the road at the Amy Farm. People are on cots, we have people on oxygen and generators to keep them safe," resident Mark Bragg said.
It's also one of the communities hardest hit by Tropical Storm Irene. You might not know it by the energy in the town of Pittsfield, but the damage here is great. Nine of the town's homes have been destroyed and in a town of 423 people, that's a significant impact.
"I was told one of the bridges is condemned, so there's no travel in or out. There's been no power since the storm," Abrams said.
Pittsfield is one of the many island communities created by this storm, with Route 100 completely destroyed on both sides, they were stuck-- but that didn't stop them.
"We've dug our way out to Route 4, which was phenomenal. We're digging our way north right now, making our way in that direction," said Peter Borden, the Pittsfield Emergency Management Coordinator.
People in Pittsfield say the crisis may have actually improved conditions in the community.
"It's kind of nice. I mean obviously we want power, I wish my house wasn't wrecked; but it's been so fantastic. We kind of wish it was like this all of the time," Abrams said.
They've created a command center with a list of wants and needs, but Abrams says the needs list is gone.
"All there is are things people want to give right now on the list," she said.
She says it's like camp, but it can't last forever.
"We're doing OK, but we just want to make sure we're not forgotten about and that supplies keep coming in," Bragg said. "We are getting a little tired and a little impatient, but our morale is good."
In a community able to find a silver lining even beneath a cloud as dark as Irene.
There's still no real way in or out of Pittsfield. Emergency crews are only able to reach the community on a limited access road. WCAX News hitched a ride with a supply truck.
Susie Steimle - WCAX News
