The floodwaters roar with the sounds of tumbling rocks and debris. As the water recedes, it leaves the landscape and lives changed. For those whose lives are impacted by flood waters, the damage to their home or business can be overwhelming. It may be difficult for them to navigate the bureaucracy of insurance, FEMA (if the whole county is declared a disaster) and where to go for help. That is why the Long-Term Recovery Groups (LTRG) are so important. Recovery After Floods Team (RAFT) is a LTRG that was formed after the 2024 floods to assist folks in Hinesburg, Huntington and Richmond. RAFT is comprised of volunteers seeking to provide three main areas of assistance:
Support for Flood-Impacted Residents, including helping with navigating the system, filling out forms, mucking out the home, dealing with mold, weatherization, general repair and clean-up of the site.
Preparedness and Education which includes working with other organizations such as emergency response, town committees, faith-based organizations and others to plan for future events.
Community Empowerment and Coordination: the goal is to have a large base of volunteers who can respond in a time of need.
RAFT needs volunteers to do this work. It will only work if we help each other. Volunteers can sign up for what work they feel they can do and the times that they are available. The RAFT board needs representation from Hinesburg. The board should be representative of the communities served by RAFT, which means farmers, businesses, homeowners, etc.
RAFT invites you to join our meetings, either in person or virtually. For more information, the website is raftvt.org.
Contact: Prem Linskey, RAFT board chairperson 802-318-1161.
