Sunday Opinion: Taking stock after Irene came calling
It’s all about Irene this week on the opinion pages, as editorial writers take stock of the power of nature and the resilience of we humble humans. Both were on display in remarkable ways over the last week. Here’s a sampling…
The Glens Falls Post Star lavishes praise on first responders for their Irene efforts, but also calls for smart thinking about future preparedness.
But while the storm showed how well prepared we were, it also exposed some deficiencies. For instance, generators specifically purchased to power the Warren County municipal center and the emergency response center were rendered inoperable due to water damage.
Radio communication among highway crews was disrupted by frequency issues with a Vermont radio system…
While justifiably applauding themselves for their response, state and local officials should also use this opportunity to identify these weaknesses, honestly assess them, and correct them before Mother Nature’s next big surprise arrives.
OK, everyone along a mountain creek or river could have evacuated, but imagine what a production that would have been – and for what? Up here, people weren’t in danger of being swept away or crushed by the storm itself, and the buildings and roads the storm-swollen rivers thrashed couldn’t have been moved.The communities along the branches of the AuSable River, which surged in a fury unknown in living memory, were settled way back when people needed rivers to turn their mills.
The spirit of Vermont rises from our strong sense of place. Asked where we are from, we would proudly proclaim, “Vermont,” before naming any town or village. That sort of distinction is something we keep among ourselves.
When disaster strikes even a remote corner of Vermont, the pain shivers across the state. When the devastation is widespread, the pain strikes at the heart of the state.
The Plattsburgh Press-Republican gives kudos to the frontline responders who were so quick out of the block Sunday night and Monday morning.
Our heroes once again are the lineup of people, paid and unpaid, who step up to help others in times of crisis: firefighters, highway crews, utility workers, Red Cross personnel, police officers.
All of these people left the comfort of their homes — purposely putting themselves in danger — to go out in the middle of a raging storm to see if they could help others get their lives back in order.
When we asked fans of our Facebook page to tell us who had helped them during the storm, those were the people they named. And they also had kind words for all the neighbors who helped with food or picked up tree limbs or shared their homes.
So there you have it. As always, your views are welcome below. How did you and your neighbors make out during the storm? What do you expect in the days and weeks ahead as we rebuild and recover?
Tags: irene
While we have had our problems here in the daks I am appalled at the devastation in the Catskills. As a former resident of that area I have family and friends there. The pictures and videos they are sending me are heartbreaking. Those of you who are familiar with that area should be aware that the villages of Windham, Prattsville, Margaretville, Phoenicia and many others are simply wiped out.