DEERFIELD — After Tropical Storm Irene left millions of dollars worth of damages in its wake when it ripped through the valley in August 2010, communities were left to pick up the pieces as they tried to secure federal and state funding that was often going to larger municipalities.
In the aftermath of the devastation, a partnership of local and federal government, regional nonprofits and private organizations came together to form the Creating Resilient Communities group in an effort to bring money to communities along the Deerfield River watershed in western Massachusetts and southern Vermont as towns undertake various preparations for future weather events amplified by climate change.
The motivation, said Carolyn Shores Ness, longtime Deerfield Selectboard member and one of the founding members of the wide-ranging partnership, sprung from the fact that small towns across New England are often unable to compete for disaster relief funding because larger municipalities often have professional grant writers and engineers on staff, thus making them a more lucrative destination for government money.
“Our small towns were overwhelmed,” Shores Ness said by phone Friday. “Based on our relationship, we are able to get things done faster and better for our communities … (and) get over the hurdles of no professional staff in our small towns.”
Having begun in December 2011, this partnership is still thriving 10 years later. The group held an anniversary meeting last week to talk about what they’ve accomplished and what they plan to do in the next decade.
“The message is the same message from 10 years ago,” Shores Ness said. “We’ve come a long way. Do we have a long way to go? Absolutely.”
Those in attendance Thursday expressed their thanks for the long-lasting relationship.
“It’s really been a complete community effort,” said Christine Hatch, a University of Massachusetts Amherst professor specializing in hydrogeology. “And one that I think has had positive impacts for all of us and led to a nice network of partners.”
The partnership brings together the Franklin Conservation District, Franklin Regional Council of Governments, Connecticut River Conservancy, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, Vermont Fish and Wildlife and UMass Amherst, among more than two dozen other entities in both the private and public sectors. Starting with a “small $6,500 grant” to get things rolling, Shores Ness estimates the Creating Resilient Communities group has secured more than $76 million used to repair storm damages and prepare communities in the Deerfield River watershed for future weather disasters.
While Tropical Storm Irene was the origin for the Creating Resilient Communities group, Shores Ness said her first experience dealing with disaster funding was after a 2005 storm that wreaked havoc in Deerfield over Columbus Day weekend.
“I was fairly naive because this was my first event,” she said. “We called and called and we couldn’t get anyone to come. It was the most horrific thing. No one was answering the phone because it was a holiday Monday.”
After working through that experience, the town of Deerfield was much more prepared for Tropical Storm Irene and was able to protect some of its most vulnerable areas. Other towns in Massachusetts and Vermont, however, were left mangled by the storm, which led to the creation of Creating Resilient Communities.
Starting as one “giant meeting” in December 2011, the various cogs in the Creating Resilient Communities wheel got to know each other and build relationships, eventually leading the group to where it is today.
“It was amazing,” Shores Ness said of how the group has grown and evolved. “We got people trained on how to replace culverts, we got money. It was one of those things that just worked out.”
Even as the group celebrated 10 years of working together, Thursday’s meeting was still a working meeting as groups were split up to discuss different questions regarding the future of the Deerfield River watershed.
One group — composed of Franklin Conservation District Executive Director Michael Leff, Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation Watershed Coordinator Marie Caduto and longtime Northampton Director of Central Services David Pomerantz — discussed equitable solutions for municipalities preparing for climate change, including “climate migration,” which occurs when people have to move due to different climate stressors.
“Our land use is in trouble. … This is coming, whether we prepare for it or not. Public education and outreach is a huge need.” Caduto said. “As much as we hear about climate change, I don’t think most people are looking forward enough to start doing things on the local level.”
Leff emphasized the importance of focusing on the most vulnerable populations first to ensure everyone is taken care of as the climate becomes more extreme.
“I guess I would like to see us focused on the whole community supporting those who are the most vulnerable,” Leff said. “Not being reactive or erecting walls, so to speak.”
As the meeting wrapped up and another one was set, Shores Ness reflected back on the last decade of work and said there is plenty of work still to be done.
“People are still coming to meetings after 10 years, it’s fantastic,” she said. “This group is vital to keep going because we still need more policy changes and creative thinking.”
Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com or 413-930-4081.