Boil water notices (Bristol), road updates (St. Albans), offers of help (Moretown), and many other postings are coursing through Front Porch Forum tonight as Vermonters deal with the impact of Hurricane Irene… neighbors helping neighbors. The American Red Cross and several municipalities are reaching local folks through FPF as well (see emergency shelter posting below).
Then there’s the truly important stuff, e.g., from Lauren tonight in Burlington’s Old North End…
Dear neighbors – I have a life-size Justin Bieber cardboard cut-out that I’m willing to part with for free. This amazing piece of pop culture ephemera can be yours, or your 10-year-old daughter’s or son’s, with just a quick couple of keystrokes. This gem would also be perfect in the living room in a college house, right next to the beer pong table. Don’t delay; act now.
From the American Red Cross…
Hurricane Irene – Emergency Shelter Information
The first of 9 American Red Cross shelters in Vermont opened last evening in Brattleboro, sheltering 17 residents from a local senior housing complex. An additional 20 residents from another Brattleboro Housing Authority location are expected to arrive at the Brattleboro shelter this morning. The balance of the Red Cross shelters opened this morning at 9am.
In addition to the 9 shelters being operated by the Vermont & the New Hampshire Valley American Red Cross, logistical support in the form of cots and blankets have been requested by 6 additional communities. Those supplies were provided yesterday or are currently on route.
The 9 Red Cross shelters are located at the following locations:
- Brattleboro, VT – Brattleboro Union High School – Fairground Road
- Bennington, VT – Mt. Anthony Union Middle School – 747 East Road
- Springfield, VT – Springfield High School – 303 South Street
- Hartford, VT – Hartford High School – 37 Highland Avenue
- Rutland, VT – Rutland High School – 22 Stratton Road
- Barre, VT – Barre Auditorium
- St. Johnsbury, VT – The St. Johnsbury School – 257 Western Avenue
- St. Albans, VT – St. Albans Town Education Center – 169 South Main Street
- Enosburg Falls, VT – Enosburg Falls High School, 65 Dickenson Avenue.
In addition to Red Cross-operated shelters, a number of communities have opened shelters on their own. By calling Vermont 211, folks can find out about shelters in their area.
As the storm’s impact becomes further defined, an assessment will be made as to resources that need to be shifted to different locations or consolidated in shelter locations that are experiencing the greatest demand.
These shelters are part of a network of over 300 locations across the region with whom the Vermont & the New Hampshire Valley American Red Cross has agreements for potential use during times of disaster. At the shelters opened today, the Red Cross will have the capacity to shelter and feed those that may be displaced by the storm.
In their 
Amen! We’re excited to see the dozens of online neighborhood forums that are bursting with activity on Front Porch Forum and we look forward to expanding to more places in the near future.