Contracting volunteers needed for Irene recovery

As Windham County homeowners affected by Tropical Storm Irene continue to assess and repair damage to their properties, the Southeastern Vermont Irene Long-Term Recovery Committee (LTRC) is seeking volunteers with construction and contracting experience to help affected homeowners.

Specifically, volunteers are needed to help with physical assessments and cost estimating on damaged homes.

“As we meet with families recovering from the flood, we're finding that the amount of damage and the specific problems associated with flooding are well beyond most people's experience with home improvement projects,” said LTRC member and Windham & Windsor Housing Trust's director of homeownership, Cathy Semans.

“These homeowners need help identifying what exactly needs to be done to bring their home to pre-flood condition, how much it should cost, and how to identify a reputable contractor to complete the repairs,” Semans continued.

To meet this need, the Long-Term Recovery Committee is actively seeking volunteers to help homeowners through the process of obtaining estimates, hiring contractors, and supervising the repairs. Volunteers are not being asked to complete the work.

People with construction and contracting experience who are interested in volunteering should contact Semans at 802-246-2109.

The Southeastern Vermont Irene Long-Term Recovery Committee works to identify and address human service needs related to Tropical Storm Irene recovery in Windham County by assessing the needs of those affected by Irene, working with families and individuals to ensure those needs are met, recruiting volunteers and coordinating volunteer efforts, and distributing funds raised for long-term recovery.

The committee includes representatives from local nonprofit organizations, state agencies, and the interfaith community.

For questions about the work of this committee, contact Public Information Officer Glenn Herrin at 802-254-1060.

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