The Craftsbury Selectboard recently heard a presentation from Kingdom United Resilience & Recovery Effort (KURRVE) about establishing a community resilience hub in town. KURRVE Director Paige Hartsell outlined the organization's work across Caledonia, Essex, and Orleans counties, including more than 2,211 calls received during the 2024 floods and 60 completed repair and reconstruction projects.
KURRVE currently operates nine hubs that store emergency supplies such as mold remediation materials, dehumidifiers, and sump pumps. The hubs also serve as community gathering places to help neighbors coordinate emergency planning and identify vulnerable residents. The Barton hub is the most developed, regularly hosting community events. Another hub operates at the Lunenburg Fire Department.
Hartsell announced that the Land Access and Opportunity Board recently awarded Northeast Kingdom Organizing (NEKO) a $50,000 grant to expand resilience hubs. Craftsbury was identified as a priority location based on local Neighbor-to-Neighbor efforts. Grant funds may be used to purchase emergency supplies. Hartsell noted statewide efforts to ensure equipment like sump pumps are returned after use.
KURRVE, NEKO, and other groups spent over a year developing the Resilience Hub Toolkit, available online and in print, to help communities assess strengths and vulnerabilities. Developing a hub requires community participation, including volunteers and a location. Sterling College was mentioned as a possible site.
NEK will be looking into the status of the $50,000 grant and the planned location of the Craftsbury hub.
Originally reported by Newport Daily Express.
Photo: Dan Dennis via Unsplash. Photo is illustrative and not from the scene.
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