Political Quotes

“my State of Vermont has been hit very hard by Hurricane Irene. Widespread flooding caused a number of deaths, the loss of many homes and businesses, and hundreds of millions-- perhaps $1 billion--in damage to property and infrastructure. I have visited many of the most hard-hit towns, and I have been shocked and moved by the extent of the damage I saw. Irene will go down in history as one of the very worst natural disasters ever to hit the State of Vermont. Let me share a few facts with you about the extent of the damage. Already, more than 5,200 Vermonters have registered with FEMA. Remember, we are a State of only 630,000 people and approximately 200,000 households, and yet more than 5,200 Vermonters have already registered with FEMA. More than 700 homes were severely damaged or completely destroyed-- 700 in a State which has about 200,000 households. Between 1,500 and 2,000 families have been displaced, their housing uncertain as we approach Vermont's brutally cold winter season. It is beginning to get cold in Vermont. More than 73,000 homes were left without electricity--one-third of all of the homes in our State. Tens of thousands of Vermonters lost their phone service, and in some areas these services still have not been fully restored. More than 2,000 roads were badly damaged--2,000 roads--including 135 segments of State highways. More than 300 bridges--300 bridges--were damaged.…”