Albany, NY, Sep 01, 2011 — Nearly 100,000 homes and businesses that were blacked-out by Tropical Storm Irene got power back yesterday. About 243,000, roughly 70,000 of them in upstate areas are still dark. Utilities say most people should have power restored by tomorrow.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo says total damages to the state could hit $1 billion. He's been on the road for three days, visiting hard hit communities. He says new York has paid "a terrible, terrible price" but will rebuild. He spoke with Karen DeWitt last night.  Go to full article

Keene Valley, NY, Sep 01, 2011 — Emergency responders and local government officials are still just getting a handle on the destruction that tropical storm Irene left across the North Country.

Among the hardest hit are businesses, everything from retail shops, to restaurants to farms. Dozens of shops were flooded by Irene and fields were covered with silt.

Now many business-owners fear that the grim news from New York and Vermont will drive away visitors ahead of the holiday weekend.  Go to full article

Prattsville, NY, Sep 01, 2011 — Governor Andrew Cuomo and Homeland Security Secretary, Janet Napolitano, toured the flood devastated Catskill Mountain community of Prattsville Wednesday, as both promised financial aid and a determined rebuilding effort. Some residents, though, were feeling tired and defeated. Karen DeWitt has this report:  Go to full article

Albany, NY, Sep 01, 2011 — WEB ONLY: Speaking with Albany reporter Karen DeWitt last night after a long three days touring storm damage in New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo talked about the resilience he's seen in communities beginning to pick up the pieces.
And he talked about the importance of government "when faced with bare reality." He said, "If government works, these communities can rebuild. If it doesn't, they won't."
Here's their conversation.  Go to full article

Keene Valley, NY, Sep 01, 2011 — Roughly 20-percent of Vermont schools are delaying the start of classes because of damage from Irene. Most of the delays are because of washed out roads and damaged bridges that make it impossible for students to get school safely
But few - if any - schools in New York are opening late.  Go to full article

Rutland, VT, Sep 01, 2011 — Aid reached one of the last isolated towns in Vermont yesterday morning.
A Vermont National Guard vehicle with water was the first in to the village of Wardsboro.
The small town in the southern Green Mountains had been isolated since flooding struck on Sunday.

The Guard has been using trucks and choppers where necessary to get supplies to stranded residents. Aid reached 13 other towns Tuesday night.

A convoy of about 30 trucks finally made it through to Killington Mt. yesterday morning.

Rob Mitchell, state editor for the Rutland Herald, says the supply effort really ramped up yesterday, just as isolated towns were beginning to run out of essential supplies and medicines.
He spoke with Nora Flaherty on All Before 5 yesterday:  Go to full article

Sep 01, 2011 — National Guard troops from the North Country are part of the massive mobilization statewide aimed at cleaning up from tropical storm Irene. Chaplain Eric Olsen says people from the region have been assigned in some of the hardest hit areas.  Go to full article

Sep 01, 2011 — Dozens of major roadways across the Adirondacks are still severely damaged this morning, making travel difficult. Keene Valley still has "road closed" signs posted on the two major routes into the community. As Brian Mann reports, road crews face major challenges getting these routes open again.  Go to full article

Keene, NH, Aug 31, 2011 — Roughly 20-percent of Vermont schools are delaying the start of classes because of damage from Irene. Most of the delays are because of washed out roads and damaged bridges that make it impossible for students to get school safely.

But few - if any - schools in New York are opening late.

Julie Grant reports on how New Yorkers are working to get schools, businesses, and homes back to normal after the storm.  Go to full article

Rutland, VT, Aug 31, 2011 — Vermont was hit very hard by Irene. More than 14,000 were still without power Wednesday morning; water supplies are compromised or dwindling in many communities--and in some areas, people are trapped where they were when the storm made roads impassible.

Nora Flaherty spoke with the Rutland, Vermont Herald's statewide editor Rob Mitchell on Monday to get a sense of the damage. She called him earlier today, and asked him how things have moved forward since then:  Go to full article