- Hi, I'm.

- Eric Ford for Made Here.

Director Wendy Reynolds - turns the camera.

- Towards her own small town of Proctorsvile, -Vermont, - after the 2023 floods with.

- The film The Forgotten.

Produced -throughout the flood and its aftermath, the film showcases - nine different stories.

- From residents - that lived through.

- The Year-Long ordeal.

- You can watch The Forgotten.

- And other great Made Here - films and streaming.

- On our website and through the PBS app.

- Enjoy the film.

- And thanks for watching.

- Rain is expected to.

- Continue in the northeast.

- Already, life threatening.

- Flooding has been observed, - and we're looking.

- At potentially catastrophic flooding in some areas.

Wherever the river flows, life will flourish with great schools of fish.

- For the river -is changing the.

- Salt sea into freshwater.

Where the river flows, life abounds.

- As fishermen -will stand shoulder.

- To shoulder on the shore to cast their nets.

I can't talk now.

-But this will tell you.

Where we're at.

Right here.

I can't.

This is unbelievable.

Watch her airway crying out loud.

Yeah.

It's time to evacuate.

It's time to tell me.

What's your treat?

Going to go pack, bag.

Get the hell out of here.

- I just can't believe.

- We're doing this again.

- Look.

- Look at these warehouses.

- Being totally taken over.

- By water.

- A town.

- Cut off from each other.

Not able to get to people to find out -if they're okay.

This is the river right now.

- It's right.

- Up next to the road.

- The road hasn't gone.

- Under yet, -but both sides are under, -and it's still flowing - right through the old.

- Parking lot in their yard pretty heavily.

This sucks.

Very good.

About six.

- I got a phone call.

- From the boyfriend.

- He sounded very panicked.

- Are you all right?

Okay.

Yeah.

It's just it's flooding.

Go look outside.

- Said.

-Well, it's in the far back.

- Field right now.

Dog and I -were still in bed.

- And all I remember.

- Is hearing from downstairs.

- Wendy, -we got to go at a flag.

- On the end of the porch.

- It was tangled up, and I.

- Went out and untangled it.

- And I looked down.

- And I thought, what is that down there?

I don't look right.

- And I was looking down.

- The back of the house, - the weather gate.

- And the fence was.

So I got the flag -untangled.

What in the house -went down?

- Well, the window is just.

- Almost above.

- They're locked.

-And I.

- Said, that is the river.

So it's time to leave.

-Jamie, -who lives in the back unit, - she came up the stairs.

- Knocking on my door -really hard and I thought, -oh my God, know she's got Riley.

Her daughter's handicapped.

And so I thought, -oh my God, something's -wrong with Riley.

-And then she just said, -look out the window.

- And I realized it very.

- Clear the deck down there.

- So I didn't want to.

- Lose my chairs.

- So I took the rugs, I took.

- I drove my car down there -and loaded it in, -thinking I should really.

There was no help, - but I really didn't.

- Think I needed it.

As long as I got it up -here.

So I won low and I got up, - and then I went back down.

- To get the next, - and the water -started.

- To come around my car because I was more panicked - about getting everything.

- Out of the yard.

- And I thought it was going.

- To be like spring - when we had some water.

- Come off - my truck was parked.

- Over here by the garage, and by the time -I got to that, - the water was up.

- Just below my knees.

- My boots came just above.

- My ankles.

-I was terrified, -absolutely terrified.

- And they came to pick me up.

- And I said, the dog has - to go.

- And they had two ATVs.

-And it was to me, -it was still terrifying.

She didn't care, I did.

I said, Can Chris carry Riley up the stairs - because they were going.

- To be flooded in a second.

And so like, we'll get up here - and then we'll figure it.

- Out from here.

- There was a river.

- Running through the road.

The water was hitting up against the building, -kind of on the stoop -where I am right now.

All I remember is Jeremiah.

- Walking up -to the house.

- Like, knee deep in water.

- We all knew.

- It had been flooded or I did.

My house was fine.

- So onto Depot Street.

- I went to help all the locals.

The water came up -really fast - and the decision to let.

- The birds out or not came, and I was - really not sure what to do.

- Because - we all know chickens.

- Are not big swimmers.

They do a little, little bit for a while, -but there's really nowhere -for them to go down here.

- The first responders came.

- And do it.

You were the canoe people.

-Somebody asked me, -we need a canoe when it's - little step.

- And when, you know, - but I don't know.

- Where they are.

- And then you came.

- Across the green.

- We tied off a whole bunch.

- Of other things to trees or what have you, -but we didn't have time - to do that.

- With the canoes, so stuff - and thrown it on the car.

- And luckily we did that - because we were able.

- To lend it - to the fire department.

- To evacuate, - a disabled girl.

- And her family that live right -up the road from us.

And just to watch that.

Just happened.

You feel so useless.

- And you watch.

- All these people doing.

Whatever they can -to help you and to help others get to safety.

And it was.

It was kind of - a bizarre moment in time.

- Where everything - kind of stopped.

- And we all just cared for, and then everything receded -until, what, 4 -or 5 that night.

And then it - all hell broke loose up.

- Until about 30 minutes ago.

- Look at how much this rain.

- Has just exploded over the region there - some areas could see.

- Some very heavy rain in excess of three inches.

Can't get there from here.

A phrase people in central - and southern Vermont.

- Have been hearing all day.

- You can see this.

- River behind me on 103 is moving fast.

- And that that bridge.

- Is about to wash out, - making Ludlow.

- Even more isolated.

- We have not seen rainfall.

- Like this since Irene, - and in some places.

- It will surpass even that.

- When I saw the.

- First water coming through, - I thought that was.

- It was over.

And then?

- Then a second.

- Wave came through.

It was just devastating.

- I mean, I came back here.

- Thinking it wasn't too bad.

A lot of water.

- But then the fire.

- Department came and asked me to come up, - and I went back to Diane's.

- And listened to the rain - and rain, and bringing to.

- A head was going to down.

And then the second barrage - of rain came.

- And the dams let loose.

- Then eventually we saw the.

- Coops start floating away.

We couldn't get to them.

Yeah.

-Within like, you know, -it was like 20s.

I was completely trapped - in this whole thing.

- Was surrounded by water.

- And it.

- Was like class five rapids.

I called -the fire department.

-They were like, well, -we we cannot get to you.

I was overwhelmed, -I just kept - looking at our street.

- And just shaking my head.

You know, I was like, it's just disaster.

- Then we had to move.

- From the church to the schoolhouse -because one of the other -evacuation sites - also needed.

- To come to the church, - because they were starting.

- To take on water.

- So we had my neighbors.

- And myself, my dogs.

Centura.

Churchill's awesome.

And the irony is, - they have a picture of.

- The 1927 flood on her wall.

- And so you can see.

- The schoolhouse - and the gigantic cliff.

- Of dirt in front of it.

- So we didn't quite.

- Get that bad, but it was - it was pretty late.

- Night, early morning, lots of unsettling - coming back -to discover.

- Lots of devastation.

Yeah.

So that was our.

- Yeah.

- The day into the next day.

- I remember when I think.

- I was 3 or 4 years old.

- My father.

- Driving down the street in the flood of 74.

I was shocked -it was two days - before I could come down.

- Because couldn't - get into Ludlow.

- From where I was.

-And everybody's like, well, -take trails - if you want to get down.

- To your family with the water crossings - the way there are, -you can't go.

- Through the woods on trails -either.

- I was kind of shocked at.

- How bad it was.

You even get in this one?

- Yeah.

- To see if anything's alive.

But I would -highly doubt it.

- And I.

- Don't hear a single peep.

- You go.

- Jackie.

- This is what -the house looks like.

- Right at the moment.

That the deck -steps are gone.

-Besides, -steps are compromised.

Everything's gone -underneath the water.

So we're from -Ted's house now.

I was sick to my stomach right now.

This storm was a lot worse.

And Irene, - by the time I got back down.

- Here, it was just.

Basements were full.

Water everywhere.

Is was just mass -destruction.

And I haven't seen anything - like that.

- Since I've been here.

And as I came down, - other people wouldn't.

- Even give me eye contact.

So I knew it was bad.

So.

So the driveway was gone.

- Just like an eye mask.

- Nothing really.

- It's just.

-I didn't.

- Want to do it again.

- When we.

- Finally got to the house.

I kind of just broke down.

Because as much as you mentally prepare for it.

And as much as I can tell myself, it's just things.

It's just a house.

It doesn't matter.

We're all safe.

I don't think.

I didn't, I couldn't prepare myself -for the shock.

- What was it like.

- When you first showed up the next day?

Sad.

Um.

-Im a huge animal lover, -so just seeing that.

- That was hard.

- It's still hard.

I feel like a big SOB.

It's just, you know, farming, -you know, -sometimes you lose animals, -but not like this.

This is really hard to - to deal with.

- Because my nine year - old had hopes.

- Through the night.

-No, mommy, -they're in the very top.

- They're in the loft.

- They're going to be okay.

- And it just hurt so bad.

- To have to tell him, -you know, -all that hope is gone.

- As it was, I.

- Lost the use of a tractor.

The water dug a hole - and sat down in it.

- And drowned them.

But we were lucky.

- I guess -we're the only people.

- In this section - of the street that didn't.

- Get water in my house.

It's, Been kind of a hard time.

Not blowing -my own horn, but I'm 90 years old, and I just can't.

I'm like the old cowboy.

-If I can't -do it from a horse, -I'm not going to do it.

And that does my horse.

So.

I was up at four, -and I came down, -and I was taken pictures - with my iPad.

- Of everybody's property -and then just asked, Terry, -do you need.

- I got a pump?

-Let's pump out.

- Your basement.

- So.

And.

- That's when it all began.

And we kind of went -into like, we got a big job -ahead of us.

- Let's just try to move.

- Forward and be helpful.

2:00 here we are.

That went down.

Maybe a step, but, - so just trying to get some.

- Stuff out of the basement.

That's our freezer - full of all the stuff.

- For my garden.

-Yes.

Shovel, muck, -clean scrub, cut all of it.

- And then it was a.

- Trickle down effect.

We got basements pumped.

- Then we had to empty.

- Basements and debris and stuff, and then - we trucked all the stuff.

- To the dome.

It was like a blur, literally a blur.

I remember losing days.

It was Thursday - and I thought it was.

- Wednesday or something.

I think Wednesday, - I said -cried on the porch.

- Just because of the goodness of people.

- So everybody.

- Swung into action.

Jeremiah was over here.

He was everywhere.

And, the church.

And it was just -one day went into the next, -and I got used to getting - a breakfast sandwich.

- In the morning.

- Having just needed people.

- To deliver water -and food out back roads, -which we were able -to feed those workers, too, -which was really nice.

I saw guys that looked like - big, rugged, hardened dudes.

- Get teary eyed just at the generosity - that somebody was looking.

- Out for them and thinking -more than just, -you're getting paid to do your job.

- It's the kids from.

- The church helped a lot, - and they got to witness.

- A lot of that appreciation.

- People just got out.

- And start doing things.

- They're like, they weren't.

- Waiting for permission.

- They weren't waiting to be.

- Told what to do.

I'd probably be -at the very first stages.

Right now - if I didn't have help.

- From the community.

- You know, we're it.

- We really are.

- I mean, the volunteers.

- Who came to help and us.

- It was a pretty amazing.

- Job done by the local.

- Baptist church.

- Becoming a disaster center.

- They had their pews.

- Filled with supplies - and acted as, shelter.

- For people - who had been forcefully.

- Evicted from their homes -by the storm.

That, See you later.

Yeah.

Good job.

Logan, - I'm really appreciative.

- Of all your help, but.

What stuff?

A flood like this takes years -to recover from.

I mean, it's just not like -you can just throw -everything back together.

- Really?

- Quite eerily quiet on the street this morning.

It's 830 on Saturday.

It's just like a quiet war zone.

Maybe everyone's out to breakfast.

- It went from crowds.

- Of people here helping to.

If we had tumbleweeds, - they would have been.

- Rolling down the streets.

There's nobody here.

I drove down here today, - and I've seen.

- So much improvement -in so many other places, -because - it's about a 45 minute.

- Drive from my place.

- So I got to watch.

- A lot of different areas - in different.

- Stages improve and what you guys get forgotten is what it looks like -to me.

Cabott -such as small Town.

It's like the little sub - town off.

- To the side of Ludlow, - so people don't think of it.

- Much.

- I guess they think.

- A singleton's are one stop -shopping and guns, -ammo, whiskey.

And they don't think of -the rest of the people down -here.

So.

But we're here.

We're all still here.

- Because everybody else.

- Can take for granted that - their bread.

- Is on a clean countertop, - and they can open a drawer.

- And have it be cleaned -and get a knife out, -whereas with your place, -nothing's clean, -nothing's usable, you know, -and it's people -don't understand.

The devastation that people -are still living in.

-And somebody asked me, -oh, everything all back to normal -up there.

I was like, back to normal.

No, they're not, I said.

And that's -what made me upset.

One night I left down here -and I think it was about -a 12 hour day doing stuff, - and I was tired.

- And I was rolling home.

I got to Ludlow and I looked at one of the.

- Main Street.

- Bar hotels that was there, - and I saw all the.

- People having a great time -standing around thinking, -you should be dirty.

- You should be putting your.

- Drinks down and helping people around you -instead of ignoring the.

Huge piles of sand and dirt - and gravel.

- Right in front of where you're drinking -your beer hat, pretending.

Like everything's great.

- That's been one of the most.

- Frustrating parts is, so the government agencies are lovely in the sense - that they all tell.

- You we're here to help.

We want to help.

And, yes, - I know they want to come.

- And help -you do the intake piece, -which is lovely, -and do the data collection.

They're fabulous at that.

However, -some of their staff -are woefully underprepared, -to tell you the truth -when they say, oh, sure, -we can do that.

- We can.

- Cover that.

When Irene hit, FEMA came -around and I didn't - have flood insurance.

- At that point, - and they helped me out.

- A little bit right away.

So they've had time to - actually deal with.

- These types of disasters.

- And it seems like they're.

- Right back where they were.

- They're not nobody's doing.

- Anything financially.

You know, it's just - forums and emails.

- That never get answered.

- I had flood insurance.

- That covers the structure.

And the gentleman -who came on site to inspect -is, oh, - we can we'll cover.

- The basement stuff for you.

You can't.

-I already had read.

-The forums.

It says that they need help -with is the contents - because they cover.

- None of my outbuildings.

All of my tools were in it.

- That covers.

- None of the farming stuff.

- I think the government.

- Should have stepped up - and started writing checks.

- To these people, and then ask questions -later.

- I mean, nobody wants to.

- Take out loans.

-You know, 6.9% interest, -a disaster like this.

You need to jump -right on it.

And you can't wait months and months -and months, - and then winter.

- Is going to set in.

And a couple months.

- So a lot of people.

- Are going to be stuck.

-Again, -in a bit of a $40,000 -to clean out the basement.

And so I was kind of -panicky - and I went and tried.

- To get in touch with FEMA, - but they couldn't.

- Understand my situation because I'm in a condo.

- They won't have any idea of.

- If farmers will have help - until September ish, late.

- September ish.

- Yeah, it takes that long.

- To get in touch with -the federal government, -is the statement from one -of the young ladies.

- It's been, like.

- You said, over a month, - and I've called.

- My insurance company - on three different.

- Or four different occasions - to try to talk.

- To, so-called adjuster.

And I've left messages.

- I've actually called.

- My mortgage company and have them call them, - and they couldn't.

- Get Ahold of them.

It's like these people - just went into hiding.

- Or something because you filed a claim.

- Pretty much -everything in the basement.

- Was mine, because I'm - the only resident here.

- That this is my full time only house.

So, Yeah.

- I'm.

No.

-No more pictures.

- Of my children's childhood.

- The only basement is right.

- Under my unit, so it's pretty gross still.

- And we don't.

-I don't think we're going.

- To get cleaned out for, -I don't know, -another 3 or 4 weeks.

Yeah.

And, yeah.

- So I just.

- Sat on this bed over here, -and then just, I thought, -I didn't -think I would sleep, -and then I, - I passed out.

- Finally, and I woke up -and I was like, -it's kind of quiet.

I couldn't get back in.

- I don't even know.

- How many days.

-I mean, -I don't know about you, - but I've lost track of time.

- And the days and, and my unit is in -great shape - because it's the top.

- Two floors.

-But it is filled with mold, -I guess.

-I did a mold test, -and it's you know, - so it's not.

- Really habitable right now.

It's kind of crazy because, - obviously.

- Sitting here on a stoop that's still cockeyed - and there's still a lot of.

- Dirt and destruction around us.

Like, at this point, - I thought -we would have at least.

- Been at a point of rebuild, - but we're still.

- At a point of remediation.

So, I have a feeling it's - going to carry.

- For another week or two, - and then we'll finally.

- Get back on our feet.

But that's the part - they just don't realize.

- That even after 28, 30 straight days of effort, that you could still - be at a point -of waking up.

- And being amazed at - how much more work.

- Needs to be done, because the level of destruction.

That's still not over.

Last night -she heard the fire alarm go off.

- Scared me.

-So I was out here.

- Looking for the water and bondo while.

So it's been a year now, - and I have to say.

- I wish I was further along, - but when I look.

- At the neighbors -and other people, -I consider myself - lucky that I got this.

- Far along with it.

So let me show you around.

- So the water in the house.

- Got up to about this high, and then the door decided - it just didn't.

- Want to be there anymore - and kind of flopped off.

- That way.

- Imagine.

- That the water was right where that blue line is, - because that's.

- Where the water was.

- And if you draw a line.

- Straight through there, you realize that it goes three -quarters up the window.

The water was about 5 or 6ft deep here - in the back of the house.

- While it was running, ran for about 8 -or 10 hours, - so caused a massive amount.

- Of damage to the framing.

- All of this foundation.

- Has been replaced and is now poured concrete.

Oh, welcome.

Come on in.

Still not quite finished, but all of this is been redone.

About to have carpet put down.

-It's a long, -drawn out process.

Everything has to be done.

And then a lot of times -in a lot of cases, -it's on you.

It's pouring rain.

All.

That's right.

And especially what?

- You don't have power.

- And you don't have, you know, running water, - that you could use.

- Those things come in handy.

But the smell, the smell.

- Yeah, I still.

- Smell it sometimes.

I do totin -gas back and forth just - to keep the electricity.

- And the fans running.

- So what was -left of your house.

- Doesn't turn green and rot.

- It kind of.

- Gets on your nerves a bit.

-Almost got it out, -almost died.

It's like running -a marathon, not a 100 yard sprint.

And that's the part -that really wears on you, -because at mile 20 - you just want to sit down.

- And stop - and you realize there's.

- No stopping until you run through -the tape at the end, -or pass the guy with the stopwatch in his hand.

You know - where the water came.

- Through from the front of the house.

- This is where it blew.

- Through the wall.

So I decided to put a door there just to make it easier -to access the other -side of the house.

I took a negative, and I made it a positive - for the people.

- In the community.

They jumped right to it.

But everybody was so nice.

- Know, to see so many people.

- Pull together and have the opportunity - to actually.

- Not focus on your own life - and do something.

- That's bigger.

It wasn't -just about our house and about our stuff.

-It was, you know, -Mark needed help today and Terri needed -help.

And Skip -insists needed help and the crowd needed help.

I think it was great help.

- People realized.

- What was going on and concentrated - on the houses.

- At first that, okay, - this house can be up.

- And running.

- There's no reason why.

- These people - should also.

- Have to be at a shelter if they only need -this much.

- Let's all.

- Get on it and do that.

- But that's what we decided.

- To do.

In the spirit of it.

So we really -kind of inspired from, - there was a lot.

- Of moving around.

We weren't just staying -here, - just trying to hold on to.

- Whatever we could.

- We were -we were trying.

- To help our community - as much as our community.

- Was trying to help us.

Being able -to help each other, - knowing that we know.

- Our neighbors enough.

- We know each other.

- A lot better.

- Now I get a lot more names.

- Stuck in there now.

Helping other people - deal with their stuff.

- Has helped me - to take my mind off.

- Of my own stuff.

We are reassuring -each other.

So when I had a strong -moment for someone else -than later, - when I was having a moment.

- That I wasn't so strong, they were there to.

All the things that you wish for and hope for -in a small town, -in a rural area - like that's.

- The whole point of living.

Rural, -is that you have those - strong, connected.

- Social fibers that sustain - you and create.

- Deep relationships.

- This was like the humane.

- Part of like just people -being out -shoulder to shoulder, -helping others to recover - and not asking for.

- Anything in return.

- I think that's.

- The amazing part.

- And people show their true.

- Colors in disasters for sure.

- We used a lot of twisted.

- Humor to get through it.

We're collecting any jokes anyone has, -so please send me.

- Message me any of the good.

- Jokes you've come up with.

- My favorite out of.

- Everybody is Matt next door when the volunteers came.

Don't get that wet.

- They're cleaning everything.

- Up, so that's been a winner.

- Yeah, nobody.

- Wants any chicken nuggets.

-So that was a little soon, -but still a winner.

- Gave us some much needed.

- Break and tension that day.

- And it's it's.

- Been the laughter that has gotten me through.

- Jeremiah and Trevor.

- Across the way - just make me laugh.

- Almost every day.

So it's every.

And Amy does too.

- Like, -we were just loading stuff.

- Out of the crowd - and going down and.

- Putting it in the dumpster.

And so we had a parade.

- I pretended.

- I was a float, just - throwing to all.

- The children on the street, - because that's basically.

- What we were doing.

-So that, yeah, -it had to be there.

- I knew of most of.

- The people on the street.

I don't think I was -as close to the people as I am now.

Making new friends.

- Right, people?

-Hey, how bout you make.

- Friends?

We've lived here -since 2015, - and we've met more people.

- In the last month and all that time.

Yeah, I don't know.

-I don't know, I just, I, -I feel so grateful that I did see, - it's kind of like having.

- A living, like everybody - comes to help you.

- And tell you, you know, - that you're important.

- And you didn't have to die.

So Rodney is like my hero.

He'd come by and -and even if you were having -the roughest -part of the day, -he would just cheer you up, - you know?

- And you get a hug.

Why not - help the person.

- That needs help?

That's the way -it should be.

- Everybody should help.

- Everybody.

It doesn't seem to be -the norm - these days in this world.

- We're in.

But there's a few people that do the right thing.

My name is Angela Murphy.

My address is 136.

- Depot Street, Proctor's.

- Ville, Vermont.

- My name is Mike Harwood.

- And I live at 78.

-Depot Street, -Proctor's Ville, Vermont.

-Theresa McNamara, 95 -Depot Street, Crossville.

-Come on, -my name is Doug Marston.

- I live at 107 Depot Street.

- In Proctor's of one.

-Wendy Reynolds, 88 -Depot Street, Proctor's Ville, Vermont.

- Jenny Kelly.

- And I am 57 Depot Street.

Unit number two.

- Trevor Barlow, along with.

- My wife, Cheryl Backstrom.

-We own The Crow, -73 Depot Street.

-Jeremiah Tyrrell, 48 -Mountain View Road.

Properties film.

- I'm Rodney Ewing.

- And I live in Teignmouth.

-I grew up in Ludlow, -Cavendish, Mount Holly and I'm happy to help - there.

- It is just a Vermonter.

My name is -all of that.

May.

- I'm Edward.

- Nye, better known as Skip.

- She runs.

- The roost most of the time.

- The rest of the time a dog.

- Runs it right away.

-Live at 118 -Defoe Street in Bronxville.

- It's one of the best people.

- In the world.

I gather, and it's not.

I shouldn't say that, -but it's -not in Burlington, -Rutland, Montpelier, Saint.

Johnsbury, -or anywhere else.

- And, I don't believe any.

- Of them people up there.

Know we exist.

- But we sure.

- Got a hell of a lot done.

Vermont public.

- Partnering.

- With local filmmakers - to bring you.

- Stories made here.

-For more, -visit Vermont public.org.