Volunteer organization helps neighbors recover from flood

Barre, VT – Last week Vermonters faced a repeat of the devastating floods that destroyed homes, businesses, farms and downtowns exactly one year ago. As people across the state begin to pick up the pieces left behind by the floods, residents of one city are volunteering to help lighten the load.

Barre Up, a volunteer community relief organization formed in the aftermath of the July 2023 floods to help Barre residents deal with the damage. One year later, Barre Up is back in action after the city was struck by heavy rain and high water once again.

Shawna Trader, Barre Up’s executive director said Barre’s residents are becoming adept at flood relief tactics, an unfortunate result of the recent frequency in which Vermont experiences floods.

“We’re getting really good at disaster recovery,” said Trader. “That’s not like super great and happy to be reporting that, but the changes in the speed in which we can deploy our services has multiplied by sometimes a factor of five or ten.”

Barre Up’s temporary headquarters are at the Aldrich Public Library, where volunteers can check in for service and donate supplies for their neighbors in need. Volunteers are assigned tasks and dispatched to a number of workstations around the city.

Trader said Barre Up’s focus is on the residents who need the most help, many of whom were struggling before the flood upended their lives.

“We absolutely prioritize residents, we prioritize vulnerable people, the elderly, young folks, poor folks,” Trader explained. “If you’re out there and it’s really hard for you to recover because of other issues we’re really here for you.”

Volunteers assisted with everything from pumping out flooded basements to delivering supplies, food and water to affected residents. They also canvassed the city to find out what residents need most and better help their neighbors.

Trader hopes that as the Barre’s flood recovery response gets more efficient, the city will soon be able to take preventative measures against future floods, avoiding the devastation residents have faced for the past two years.

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