In July 2023, on my 12th day as executive director of Kellogg-Hubbard Library (KHL) in Montpelier, Vermont, there was a massive flood. I had barely learned where to hang my coat, let alone how to process payroll, before I was dealt an unforeseeable crisis.
In just 48 hours, the Winooski River overflowed its banks and inundated the capital city. The river crested overnight on July 11, at more than three feet above major flood stage, the second highest reading on record. The basement of KHL, in the heart of downtown, filled with seven and a half feet of water.
When we were finally able to reach the building 24 hours later, we discovered overturned oil tanks, book-sale books soaking in contaminated waters, and every system that makes our building function—electrical, phone and internet, heating, the elevator, and others—damaged or destroyed. The estimated total cost to rebuild: $1.5 million. Our flood insurance policy, generous donors, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency are covering the cost. But beyond the financial strain, staffers at KHL and I still had much to do to pick up the pieces. The past year has taught us how to balance recovering from disaster while remaining a pillar for the community in a time of need.
At first we attempted to secure an alternate facility for the resulting three-month closure, but we decided instead to pivot to curbside pickup—a familiar system from the pandemic—which lasted until we reopened KHL with temporary systems in early October 2023. Armed with headlamps and two working power outlets, we circulated 32,000 items during that time, about two-thirds of our normal volume. We managed to power our outdoor Wi-Fi nodes and set up a computer for patron use on our front steps. We moved all our normal programming to nearby parks and local schools. Throughout this time, we had the heartwarming support of our community. One 8-year-old patron collected donations in lieu of presents for her birthday and wrote to us, “I hope you can reopen soon,” signing the letter “your biggest fan.”
The past year has taught us how to balance recovering from disaster while remaining a pillar for the community.
The flood served as a wake-up call. While we had emergency procedures in place, they proved insufficient for the actual situation. We are rewriting them to include specific action steps for different scenarios, including the possibility of the river cresting above certain levels again. We’re also outlining short- and medium-term plans rather than just an immediate response, and we are maintaining a relationship with a disaster recovery contractor, so we aren’t left scrambling next time.
We’ve witnessed the power of fostering local relationships. A connection at the state helped us clear a regulatory logjam that had prevented us from pumping water out of the basement. Montpelier’s downtown association sent 150 volunteers to clean up. Former US Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), a lifelong library patron, participated in a fundraising video. Our former executive director stepped in to take care of day-to-day finances while I attended to disaster-related issues.
A surprising silver lining is that the flood accelerated the timeline for a planned capital campaign for renovations. If the building has been ripped apart anyway, why not add those new meeting room spaces? But recovery takes time. Nearly a year later, only a fraction of the reconstruction work has been completed. Yet KHL has kept locals updated through email, social media, frequent press coverage, and a dedicated section on our website.
More than anything, the flood demonstrated the value of the library to the community. Our reopening on October 7, 2023, was glorious, with hundreds coming to celebrate. In the face of adversity, our community rallied, proving that even the greatest challenges can be opportunities for growth, resilience, and unity.
