When Disaster Strikes, Community Is the Strongest Shelter

As weather-related disasters grow more frequent, one truth stands out: strong community bonds are the best form of emergency preparedness.

On August 28, 2011, Tropical Storm Irene slammed into tiny Pittsfield, Vermont. Roads north and south were washed away. Power was gone. Phones were dead. The town was suddenly an island — cut off from the world.

But what happened next was extraordinary.
Neighbors became lifelines. The local library turned into a medical clinic. The volunteer firehouse became a hub for food and water distribution. Families held freezer-emptying cookouts on the green, and kids gathered for makeshift classes and soccer games. Bicycles and ATVs replaced cars — and hugs replaced nods as the everyday greeting.

Filmmaker Marion Abrams, along with 36 Pittsfield residents, captures this incredible story in Flood Bound — a film about resilience, kindness, and the quiet heroism that surfaces when ordinary people face the unthinkable. Pittsfield’s spirit reminds us that self-reliance and generosity aren’t just values — they’re survival tools.

“Flood Bound is a fascinating, gripping movie… You feel their courage, their fear, and their astonishment. It’s one stirring conversation and a portrait of a town rising to meet crisis with heart.”
— Jeanne Winner

Get this film into as many hands as possible. It’s inspiring, uplifting, and will renew your faith in humanity.