UPDATE as of August 24, 2023: As colder weather approaches, Covenant OPC’s Vermont effort plans to take a break, with the hopes of restarting sometime in the spring. Please stay tuned for that! 

Background on this effort:

The communities in and around Barre and nearby Montpelier, Vermont were hit with historic and catastrophic flooding of the Winooski River, following more than 8” of rain on July 12, 2023. Pastor Carl Durham reports that, while the members of Covenant OPC in Barre, VT, were spared, there is great need in both Barre and Montpelier, VT and local efforts are underway to organize teams to participate in disaster response effort.

On Friday, July 14, a group (VDOC) Vermont Disaster Oversight Committee met via Zoom to discuss the response needs. Pastor Durham, elder Mike Breen, deacon Craig Comstock and member Dan Bair of Covenant OPC, Barre, VT, along with PDC Chairman Mike Shingler from the Presbytery of New York and New England, OPC Disaster Response Coordinator, David Nakhla and Committee on Diaconal Ministries Disaster Response Subcommittee member John Voss met to discuss the path forward. Although there are no immediate needs from the local church, Covenant OPC is working to help their neighbors, and you can help!

The scope of the damage caused to homes throughout Vermont grows daily. Every morning at 8 am there is a prayer at the flagpole in front of the Barre Auditorium. Many pastors and church members are attending the meeting, their hope is that it grows daily to the point of city wide notice.  

Video of a local road swept away by the floodwaters can be found here.

To keep updated on the effort, go to: https://opcdisasterresponse.org/category/disaster-response/vermont-flooding/.