We are seeing it play out in Houston.
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/08/ordinary-citizens-are-first-responders/538233/
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It's hard to think back to 2011 when Hurricane Irene struck Pittsfield (and many other Vermont towns,) in fact most of us would rather move on and forget about it. But It was an intense time both emotionally and physically for all of us, and whether we like it or not we were forced to lean on each other. Bonds were made that don't always hold up in our day to day lives. Vermont PBS has asked to air Flood Bound again in honor of this year's anniversary of the storm. I think it's worthwhile, I hope you do to.
Wherever you are now, maybe it's ok to remember for a moment where we were then and what it meant to you. Was it a time when you were forced to take help, to face fears, to step up, a time when you had the opportunity to give in a meaningful way? Flood Bound will air August 27th at 7pm on Vermont PBS. What did we learn in our small town from Irene? What lessons were repeated in Superstorm Sandy? No matter how prepared the big organizations like FEMA and the Red Cross are - it's the members of your own community that are on the ground with the knowledge to help each other in the first days of a natural disaster.
Daniel Aldrich concluded in his New York Times Op Ed "... that the density and strength of social networks are the most important variables — not wealth, education or culture — in determining their resilience in the face of catastrophe." Read the rest of his article here. Free Flood Bound screening Thursday Nov. 29th at 6:30pm Rochester School Auditorium.
Filmmaker Marion Abrams and Photographer Barb Wood will be there to answer questions, and DVDs will be available for purchase. Last week I went to the local post office and shipped out about 100 "Flood Bound" DVDs. Have you gotten yours? Share your thoughts on the RESPONSE page.
I will be selling DVDs Saturday September 29th at the Pittsfield Bazaar. Thank you Mark Johnson for your really thoughtful interview on my film "Flood Bound" and the status of the town of Pittsfield Vermont one year after Irene. You can listen to the interview on line - click HERE. (Please note, you'll have to skip ahead about 14 minutes to get to the Flood Bound interview.) Telling Irene Stories: On Page and Screen
Margot Harrison of Vermont's 7Days newspaper wrote about some of the stories collected in commemoration of Irene. Here's what she said about Flood Bound. Read the rest of her article. "Some of these books’ gripping Irene stories play out on screen in Flood Bound, a powerful hourlong documentary from Marion Abrams that screens onVermont Public Television this week. When the storm hit, the Pittsfield filmmaker was trapped along with the rest of her village, and her camera offers revealing glimpses of a community severed from the outside world. In interviews, Pittsfielders recall letting go of grudges and getting hugs from strangers as they pulled together to repair the damage and endure. Call it a reverse Lord of the Flies." I will be at the Governors 1 year anniversary of Irene event tonight. They will pay a short clip from "Flood Bound" and I will have DVDs available. Thanks Molly Smith for inviting me to talk about "Flood Bound" with you on Movies in the Morning. Watch the video HERE.
BROADCAST
*On TV: Flood Bound airs on Vermont Public Television August 16th, August 20th and August 25th. SCREENINGS * There will be a free screening of Flood Bound in Pittsfield on August 26th at 6pm in the Pittsfield Federated Church. * There will be a free screening of Flood Bound at the Killington Library on August 28th at 2pm AND August 29th at 7pm. * I'll be showing the film at the Chittenden Public Library Thursday September 6th at 7pm.. This will be a good chance the thank the CVFD again! * Would you like to schedule a screening in your community? Send me an e mail. BUY The DVD * In Pittsfield at the Pitt-Stop convenience store in Pittsfield Vermont. * In Pittsfield on August 26th at the Pittsfield Town Shut Down Party. details here. * At the Killington Library screening on August 28th at 2pm and August 29th at 7pm. * Right here on the Food Bound web site home page. * On August 28th at the Governors "One Year Stronger" Irene commemorative event at the Chandler in Randolph. |