In a small state like Vermont, you might think everyone knows everybody. But they don't, and in dealing with the aftermath of Irene — flooding, power outages, roads closed or destroyed — information is of huge value. Now that power is coming back on for almost all, those on Facebook in Vermont are using that power to help others scrambling to figure out everything from roads that are open again, to where to drop off items for donation.
Two groups have pages, Vermont Flooding 2011 and Irene in VT, that have quickly proven popular. Here's an example from Vermont Flooding 2011:
Can anyone tell me the detour to get to route 103 from rutland? I am travelling from Castleton State College to Bellows Falls to get home, I can get route 4 east to rutland, but rt 7 between there and 103 is still closed. I was told there is a way to get there from up near the hospital, but I'm not familiar with the area ...
Almost instantly, answers pop up, including:
Take Cold River Road (turn is next to U Haul on Route 7 in Rutland) and simply follow the traffic. There will be a steady stream of cars almost certainly. You also go up 4 to Stratton Road and pick up Cold River Road past the hospital, but coming from Route 4 west it would be quicker to simply pick up Cold River Road right next to U Haul.
Another Facebook page, Help Irene Victims in Southern Vermont, offers a growing lists of sites for donations, as well as where help is offered ("Those who have well water can get a free water testing kit from the Vermont Department of Health Bennington Office at 324 Main Street.")
There are also these pages available:
- Town of Manchester, VT
- Help Vermont
- Vermont Covered Bridges
- WCAXTV news coverage
- Facebook's own Disaster Relief page for the big-picture aftermath of Irene around the country.
Vermont's pages, though, tell many personal stories and offer powerful examples of people at their best, using the social networking site to do their utmost for others. Among them: A granddaughter and her grandmother who needed assistance; they couldn't use the roads from their house, and the granddaughter posted that on Facebook. Word got to police, who used an ATV to get her grandmother out.
Even a dairy farmer's call for help was heeded; with the power out, and the electric milker useless, volunteers from Facebook signed on to help with the milking.
All help, domestic and otherwise, has been remarked on and appreciated.
"Very moving sight on I89 this morning," posted April Davies Taylor Thursday morning on Vermont Flooding 2011. "A long caravan of utility trucks from Canada heading south to help stranded Vermonters. Thanks so much Canada!!"
Related stories:
- Northeast mops up, counts costs as Irene water recedes
- Hurricane power outages endanger those on home medical machines
- How to use social media during Hurricane Irene
Check out Technolog, Gadgetbox, Digital Life and In-Game on Facebook, and on Twitter, follow Suzanne Choney.