Vermont homeowners living with island home after Irene
A pair of Vermont residents are continuing to look for assistance, as their home remains on a virtual island due to the lingering impact of Hurricane Irene last summer.
June Tierney and Kellie Burke told The Associated Press that their Bethel, Vermont, home used to be located on a lot with a small brook running near the backyard. However, when Irene dumped several inches of rain on the state in August, the stream split, cutting a new path around the front of their home and leaving water flowing around all sides of it.
The couple has been forced to cross a ford to reach their home every day. While the source says they did receive a $20,000 homeowners insurance payment because their barn was destroyed, they haven't received flood insurance payments because their main property wasn't touched.
The homeowners told the AP they are now working with a grant program which compensates property owners in flood-prone areas for leaving their properties.
The entire state of Vermont was devastated by flooding from Irene. Last week, the state received more than $21 million in federal funding to help residents and business owners rebuild their properties.
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