Hello everyone.
Vermont had catastrophic flooding this week. It’s hard to describe until you’ve seen it. The capital was underwater, homes have been destroyed, people have lost everything.
The geology has changed. Torrents cut 20-foot chasms in roads and sent brooks into entirely new directions. Many roads are still impassable.
My house in Montpelier is right on the river, which crested higher than the historic 1927 flood. The downstairs apartment was inundated. My downstairs tenant has been displaced and has lost his furniture.
Here’s what it looks like.
This house you see is the one I originally bought and rehabbed for my family years ago. It’s now the house I need to move into. My small house near Burlington is on the market as I can’t afford to live in it anymore after losing my job to the woke mob at the end of last year.
The flood changed everything. Money has been a struggle as I’m still trying to put together enough sideline work to live on. Disaffected, the show and this Substack, are a joint production owned by Kevin and me, and it’s not big enough yet to pay either of our bills (but thank you for those of you who are pushing it in that direction!).
Many of you have asked how you can help. Here's how. Taking charity is hard for me, but a very kind reader set up a fund to help my recovery (you know who you are ma’am, and let’s talk privately. Bless you.).
If you wish to help, I’d be very grateful. The fund is through GiveSendGo:
https://www.givesendgo.com/GAV4H
My savings is nearly gone, and rehabbing this apartment so that I can have a place to live will cost at least $10,000, probably more. Homeowner’s insurance pays nothing for floods. This is all on me.
It’s also possible we’ll flood again, as the weather is turning, and our dams and waterways are already over capacity.
To the best of my understanding, FEMA money is exclusively for owner-occupied properties, which this one was about to be -- as soon as my house sells -- but wasn't yet.
What I will do with any excess money beyond my rehab needs:
I won’t take more than I need to bring my apartment back to a state where I can live in it. I’d like to help my displaced tenant get some furniture, too. I will donate any overage to flood relief efforts here in Vermont.
Please keep everyone in Vermont in your thoughts and prayers. There are people who have lost much more than I have and it’s heartbreaking just to walk through town and see what they’re going through.
Thank you, everyone.
The generosity you all have offered is making me blush. Thank you, each and every one, for your thoughts and prayers, and for your gifts.
None of you have to do anything, and yet you do, for someone who is (let's face it), a stranger to you.
I wish I knew what to say beyond "thank you." It's very touching.
This has been a really difficult year. You are helping soften the blow.
Prayers up for you and Vermont.