More than 700 homes across Vermont were damaged or destroyed by Tropical Storm Irene. In
some cases, the damage was so extensive that homeowners will not be able to
rebuild on their property. We talk with Senate President Pro Tempore John Campbell
about some of the complicated legal issues that have arisen after Irene.
Senator Campbell has just launched a new task force to address questions such
as, what happens if your house and property were destroyed, but you still have
a mortgage? Who owns the river that now runs through land you once owned?
Also on the program, we visit
the ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center, in Burlington, to catch a glimpse of some of its newest arrivals: a group of baby Eastern spiny softshell turtles. These threatened turtles are especially vulnerable to
predators and habitat destruction when they’re small. So ECHO, in conjunction with VT Fish and Wildlife biologist Steve Parren, will care for the turtles through this fall and winter in its animal care unit. When the weather warms up again the turtles will be released into Lake Champlain.
And we talk to VPR’s Bob
Kinzel about a new song that his band, The Barn Band, has just released to raise money for Irene recovery. Check out the full video of The Spirit of Vermont below.
RESOURCES FOR IRENE RECOVERY
Senate Pro Tem John Campbell’s office: (802) 828-3806
Central Vermont Long Term Recovery Committee: (802) 461-7855
Franklin/Grand Isle Long Term Recovery Committee: (802) 527-5438
Newport District: (802) 751-0168
St. Johnsbury District: (802) 751-0168
Brattleboro LTRC: (802) 257-4011 ext. 110
Bennington LTRC: (802) 447-2745
Chittenden County LTRC: (802) 651-1684
Addison County LTRC: (802) 388-7189
Rutland County LTRC: (802) 665-1721
Upper Valley/Hartford: (802) 885-8862
Randolph LTRC: (617) 501-8811