Folklife in the Wake of a Natural Disaster
Montpelier residents observe the North Branch flooding over the School Street Bridge on July 11th.
As towns across Vermont have grappled with the massive impacts of heavy rainfall and flooding in the past week, there have been many comparisons to what the state experienced in 2011 during and after Tropical Storm Irene. In the weeks and months following Irene, Vermont Folklife received calls and emails from people who were in the midst of dealing with the hard labor of cleaning up and moving on from flood damage, but who were also witnessing countless small acts of kindness and resiliency in their communities. They were looking for a way to recognize and hold on to what they were experiencing on an individual and local level, even as state and national news channels were covering the large-scale disaster. When and where it was possible, and with the input and guidance of local community members, our staff found ways to respond.
As our state continues to recover and heal from the 2023 floods, we are re-sharing some of the resources that Vermont Folklife developed for times of crisis. Listed below are guides on how to conduct interviews, which were developed during the first months of the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as interview advice and media that resulted from our work in the wake of Irene. Listening back to these recordings, we hear them as important records of an historic moment, but they also mark moments of community connection, pride, and ingenuity—finding time to slow down, observe, and listen to each other. Even in a large-scale event, every person has a unique perspective. They are all important. If you are feeling the urge to document what is happening in your community now, we also offer some resources below and invite you to reach out to us with questions and ideas.
Advice for Interviewing in the Wake of Natural Disaster - We reshare this blog post compiled by former VT Folklife Fellow, Aylie Baker in response to Tropical Storm Irene, Fall 2011.
Irene Documentation - Explore podcasts, exhibits, and more discussing Tropical Storm Irene in our Folklife Portal.
Advice on Interviewing, In-Person Recording, & Remote Recording - Much of our cultural documentation work happens through interviewing. An interview is a conversation—but admittedly a bit of a one-sided (and unusually self-conscious) conversation. At Vermont Folklife we’ve been conducting interviews with Vermonters since 1984, and over this time we’ve developed an approach (and philosophy!) for doing it. In these pages we share some of our thoughts about the interview process, as well as technical advice for sound recording.
