Resilient Main Streets

The Role of Social Infrastructure for Climate Preparedness and Adaptation in Montpelier, VT

After a day of heavy rains, in the early morning July 11, 2023 the city of Montpellier, VT woke to find itself under water. The businesses of downtown Montpellier were submerged under 5-8ft of toxic water. The catastrophic flood made headlines across the country and around the world as the latest climate disaster, and rang off warning bells here in our small state of Rhode Island marked by its 400 miles of coastline. With water as our defining feature, it’s only a matter of time before our Main Streets contend with similar flooding. But if we prepare by making our Main Streets more resilient now, our Main Streets will ultimately survive and even prosper when our greatest fears are realized.

Within a year, 90% of downtown Montpelier’s 140 businesses impacted by the flood reopened, and the downtown is once again a beloved gathering spot for residents and a favorite destination for tourists — this time prepared for when the next flood hits. How could this be? Montpelier’s speedy response and recovery was possible because they had an operating Main Street Program, Montpelier Alive, that was able to step in to offer leadership at a moment’s notice when it was needed most.

A strong Main Street Program is especially well positioned to lead a Main Street’s climate disaster recovery efforts for several reasons. Perhaps most important is that the core of such programs is the intentional investments made in developing relationships with business owners and community members over time — building trust that’s critical for effective leadership. Well run Main Street Programs are also effective and practiced at volunteer coordination, and as nonprofits can lead necessary fundraising efforts that allow the organization to jump into action at a pace that government entities simply can’t manage.

Effective response to climate disasters relies on the strength of trusted partnerships, and relationship building is at the center of any strong Main Street Program — both with business owners and with the city in the form of public-private partnerships. Building these relationships before disaster strikes is more meaningful than anything, so that in a time of need everyone is able to work together as a team to respond quickly and effectively.

In addition to building relationships with business owners and city officials, it’s also important to build relationships with community members, as it takes everyone working together to respond to a climate disaster. Being seen as a trusted entity by community members before disaster strikes, will give community members confidence in your organization when your leadership is needed most. Disaster response necessitates a large volunteer force, and having some volunteers working regularly with you before a disaster will be a helpful starting place to grow upon when needed.

On the morning of the flood, in coordination with city officials, Montpelier Alive posted a call for volunteers and signup form on their website. As soon as they were able to find higher ground, they started a Volunteer Hub. Over the course of months, over 4,000 volunteers would come through the Volunteer Hub prepared to help in clean-up and rebuilding efforts.

The Volunteer Hub became the central location for: