HARDWICK – The Hardwick Area Neighbor to Neighbor (NtN) group has set up an emergency supply and support center in the Hardwick Senior Center at 56 High Street, adjacent to the police station.
The center will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Current inventory includes PPE coveralls, masks, hand sanitizer, shop vacs and cleaning supplies. Donations are being accepted for dehumidifiers, fans, shop vacs and sump pumps.
Helen Beattie, group coordinator, said “Our capacity to respond has greatly improved.” Last year, the group came to the aid of many town residents in recovering from flooding in the region. “It feels so important to be here, to put a face to the organization,” Beattie said.
Beattie was accompanied by Diane Grenkow and Abrah Griggs. NtN’s volunteer force has provided support for a growing number of families this past week, citing last year as a much-needed learning experience.
Hardwick Area Neighbor to Neighbor volunteers staff the emergency supply and support center at the Hardwick Senior where the documentation needed to track requests for supplies and record who has what is laid ut on a table, along with various emergency preparedness handouts. Group Coordinator, Helen Beattie (far left) looks on as volunteer Ken Leslie (standing delivers dehumidifiers and a sump pump while volunteers Diane Grenkow (left) and Abrah Griggs help keep track of what’s coming in.
Volunteer mobilization is critical within the first two weeks of a disaster, said Beattie.
She described how the state volunteer network provided essential assistance last summer, from our immediate and extended community. “Within a day, I had 10 volunteers, each taking multiple three-hour shifts.”
Some suggested help is required in the hours before a looming disaster. Arielle Demers said “It’s hard to know who does what sometimes. More communication about where to find these resources would help. A lot of people were purchasing sandbags themselves because they didn’t know they could get them from the town, so more community outreach would be helpful.”
In an example of neighborly support, Troy resident Mark Orlaff offered both his time and supplies. According to Beattie, “He staffed this center for many shifts. He became deeply committed; he’s become an amazing advocate. Within hours I got an email saying “I have three dehumidifiers and fans.”
Beattie said “People were deeply appreciative of having a place to come for help in a timely way. We’re so grateful for the community support, for rallying around these families.”
In one instance, the NtN group assisted a local family who lost three vehicles in last week’s flood.
Hardwick Area Neighbor to Neighbor has taken over the Senior Center in the Public Safety Building at 56 High Street, where flood relief supplies fill the area where patients once waited for doctor appointments. The American Red Cross recently delivered cleanup kits to assist residents with their flood recovery efforts.
Teresa Dailey described how she looked outside at 2:30 a.m., and her car was completely submerged. Dailey was able to contact NtN, who provided a dehumidifier, fan and cleaning kit.
Major equipment like dehumidifiers and sump pumps are recorded and signed out, as are “wishes.” This is one method NtN uses to gather data on the highest need items.
Much of this year’s damage is similar to last year, allowing the group to further improve their networks, “In some ways it expedites our work, the gaps are blatant again,” said Beattie.
The NtN group has sought community input on how to best support those impacted by the flood. They have partnered with the town to expedite this process; hosting debriefs and community dinners to collect extensive community input.
According to Beattie, the next step after broad data collection is drilling down to interview other organizations and groups. Beattie said, “It encourages other organizations to look at their structure and find ways to improve their emergency preparedness.”
She elaborated further, “Other organizations don’t have these protocols because they’re still too busy with long-term work. We’re looking for what would really support the resilience of our community.”
NtN has recently partnered with Team Rubicon, a volunteer organization comprised of veterans and civilians. After NtN identifies families in need, Team Rubicon assembles a volunteer work crew. The crew helps muck out basements and handles other flood repair jobs. They are seeking volunteer recruits for the Hardwick emergency response team.
Nora Zakhani said mold abatement was her foremost concern with emergency preparedness. Currently, the Flower Basket is utilizing a dehumidifier for their basement. Zakhani said knowing what resources are available on mold removal would be helpful in the event of another flood.
Mold abatement is the primary concern for Team Rubicon, and a high priority for NtN. In addition to providing PPE gear and cleaning supplies for safety, NtN has tried to provide instructional sheets on mold removal.
NtN has partnered with the Red Cross to better stock their inventory over time. Red Cross cleaning kits include tools and liquid cleaners for mold and water repair.
There is a sign-up list for dehumidifiers, sump pumps, wheelbarrows and other supplies. Inventory is replenished as they have it.
To donate supplies or equipment, please drop them off at the senior citizen center. Alternatively, pick-ups or drop-offs can be coordinated by phone (802) 441- 3301 or email at [email protected].
Raymobda is a VTSU - Castleton English Major interning with The Hardwick Gazette.
