Andrea Chessman and Richard Ruane have lived in Ripton, VT since 1994. Richard is
the education technologist at the Lincoln Community School, Andrea is an author and
editor, and both are founding members of the Ripton Community Coffeehouse. During
the flood of June 2008, their home was surrounded by water and their yard and garden
were washed away.

Andrea Chessman & Richard Ruane of Ripton

Born in 1920, Hilda Billings is a lifelong resident of Ripton, VT. She was the town’s
postmaster for 27 years and is currently an amateur botanist and historian. Charles
Billings, Hilda’s son, is a Ripton native and a member of the Ripton Historical Society
and the Ripton Planning and Zoning Committee. Hilda and Charles were both stranded in
their Old Town Road home when the flood of August 2008 damaged Potash Bridge.

Charles & Hilda Billings of Ripton

Dave and Mary Harrison have lived in Lincoln, VT since 1981 and 1968, respectively.
They are currently retired. At the time of the 1998 flood, both Dave and Mary held
positions on the town’s fire department. They managed much of the rescue and recovery
effort in the days and weeks after the disaster.

Dave & Mary Harrison of Lincoln 1

Mark Bouvier is a lifelong resident of Brisol, VT. He is currently the business manager
at the Hannaford Career Center. During the flood of 1998, he was the fire chief of the
town’s fire department. Mark oversaw much of the rescue and recovery efforts after the
disaster.

Mark Bouvier of Bristol

Wendy Leeds and Tom McElhaney have lived in Ripton, VT since 1993 and the late
1990s, respectively. Wendy is a high school girls soccer and ice hockey coach and an
administrative assistant at the Ripton Elementary School. Tom works at the Middlebury
Natural Foods Co-op. They were stranded on Old Town Road after the August 2008
flood washed out part of Potash Bridge.

Flood Stories in VT

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