You might not know that Madmotion is located in the tiny town of Pittsfield Vermont (pop 427), and that our town was one of many along the Green Mountains hit hard by Irene.  
Many of our friends have been looking for reports on our family and our community after flood damage cause by irene.  The damage was significant.  In a town of 430 people, 9 homes were lost completely, many other homes and roads were damaged, and the town was cut off from the outside world.  We were spared the loss of family, friends and neighbors, and began rebuilding immediately

Hard working volunteers in this town have done amazing things.  We cry sometimes because we cannot believe the strength and generosity of our neighbors, sometimes because we are tired and overwhelmed.  We laugh, for the same reasons.

Crews have worked day and night to patch roads, reach stranded people, set up a makeshift medical facility, check on neighbors, cook meals, set up "school" every day on the green, get supplies into town, shore up neighbors homes, sort through water damaged belongings, organize propane and gasoline distribution, hand out foor and water, slog through paperwork and much much more.

This community that was always self reliant, strong, ingenious and generous has proven itself (like so many other Vermont towns) to be even more so when faced with challenge.  So take that Irene!

UPDATE: 9.6.11 - here's a VPR report from our town today http://www.vpr.net/news_detail/91895/

"Vermont is a state I love... I love Vermont because of her hills and valleys, her scenery and invigorating climate, but most of all, I love her because of her indomitable people. They are a race of pioneers who almost impoverished themselves for love of others. If ever the spirit of liberty should vanish from the rest of the Union, it could be restored by the generous share held by the people in this brave little State of Vermont." ~Calvin Coolidge, after the floods of 1927