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Resources for Flood Damage Historic Places
Extensive Hurricane Irene Damage throughout Vermont
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Greetings!
It's obvious that Vermont has been extremely hard-hit by Hurricane Irene. While the winds have been minimal, torrential rains flooded brooks and rivers taking out hundreds of roads and bridges all throughout Vermont. Our hearts go out to the families of individuals lost or injured, and to all the people of Vermont whose beloved places have been damaged. As a start, we've listed below sites for getting up-to-date information about the current condition of Vermont, a checklist of things to do as the flood waters recede, and resources that can help you in cleaning-up and rebuilding. The Preservation Trust also offers matching grants up to $500 for Emergency Conditions and Engineering Assessments for non-profit, municipally-owned and commercial historic buildings throughout the state. These grants are made possible by in part by the National Trust for Historic Preservation through the Daniel K. Thorne Intervention Fund. If you would like to apply, please contact one of our staff below: Paul Bruhn
802-658-6647
paul@ptvermont.org
Ann Cousins
802-343-8180
ann@ptvermont.org
Eric Gilbertson
802-272-8543
eric@ptvermont.org
Meg Campbell
802-442-4915
meg@ptvermont.org
We very much would like to learn about the damage to historic buildings around the state, in particular those buildings that we have helped with grant funding or technical assistance over the years. Please feel free to email us updates, or post a photo to PTV's Facebook page. Sincerely, Paul Bruhn Executive Director
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Current Conditions in Vermont
Vermont Emergency Management http://vem.vermont.gov/ Vermont Agency of Transportation Road Closures in Vermont Please note that this map only includes the major roads, and not all of the minor roads that have been wiped out because of the flooding. http://511.vermont.gov/main.jsf WCAX-TV A large selection of viewer contributed photos and videos from around the state. http://www.wcax.com/
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As the Floodwaters Recede --
A Checklist of Things to Do
The following checklist will help you respond to flood damage in historic and older buildings. Read the steps through carefully and take time to plan. While it is tempting to wade right in with a shovel and mop, it is very important to develop a plan for cleanup and rehabilitation. Unfortunately, overly zealous cleanup efforts can result in historic materials being carted away, excessively rough cleaning methods, and the unnecessary loss of historic fabric. The best way to prevent additional damage to historic structures and materials during a time of duress is to use caution and plan ahead.
- Follow all emergency rules, laws, and regulations
- Turn off all utilities
- Document building damage
- Wear protective clothing
- Stabilize any unstable structures with temporary bracing
- Use caution when pumping basement water
- Keep building properly ventilated
- Clean everything that got wet with a disinfectant
- Allow saturated materials to dry using natural ventilation
- Check for foundation damage
- Replace soil around foundation
- Save historic materials if possible
- Use caution when removing lead-based paint or any products containing asbestos
- Clean and repair roof and roof drainage systems to protect building from future damage
Adapted from: INFORMATION, National Trust for Historic Preservation Booklet No. 82, 1993, Treatment of Flood-Damaged Older and Historic Buildings, and provided courtesy of the New Bern Historic Preservation Commission. |
