Lisa and Gary Alexander lived for more than 30 years in their home in Bethel, which once belonged to Gary’s grandpar- ents. In August, the Irene flood washed away that home, leaving them waiting in an apartment in Randolph for FEMA buyout money to come through. (Herald / Tim Calabro) Gary and Lisa Alexander now live in a cozy upstairs apartment they rented in a house on Pleasant Street in Ran- dolph.

Before the afternoon of Sunday, Aug. 28, they lived in their own home on Spring Hollow Road in Bethel, near Gilead Brook. That is, until the flood- waters of Tropical Storm Irene swept their house away.

The Alexanders recently sat and told their story of devastation and recovery at a wooden table in their kitchen. The table was a donation to them from the Bethel Flood Relief Center.

“That morning we were taking turns keeping an eye on the brook.” Lisa said. “By 1 p.m., we were nervous. We have lived there for 32 years and have seen high water before, but nothing like this. This water was black.

“We didn’t want to take chances, so we packed big tubs with pictures, im- portant papers, and clothes. We took these and the pets to Gary’s mother’s house in Randolph. We then got a call from our youngest daughter and her boyfriend, saying they were at the house and the ground under the porch was undermined. Her boyfriend grabbed a wedding picture and a cam- era bag for us and got out of the house. We had to go back to get a couple ve- hicles and save a camper and utility trailer.

“We saw the house tip and slide into the river. In less than 20 seconds, the house was out of sight. We lived on shock and adrenaline for the first week after it happened.”

Their recovery effort began the day after the flood when they went to the river to try to find pieces of their house. The first item found was a daughter’s graduation cap and gown on the lawn. The Alexanders did have some belong- ings, such as Christmas ornaments and a lawnmower, that were spared from the flood. These items were in the ga- rage where the floodwater reached up to, but didn’t enter, the structure. All they found of their house along the bank of Gilead Brook were pieces of flooring and a sink. They stopped scav- enging for debris by the first week of October, but said they would resume again in the spring.

“We called FEMA right away, the 211 number,” said Lisa. “They were quick. Someone was there for us within a day or two. The amount FEMA gives you is a good amount, but it is no- where near enough to replace a whole house. There was a fundraiser for us at Whitcomb High School, and Gary’s workplace, Dead River held one for us too. Where I work, The Family Place, knows I had a lot of Pampered Chef items, so they threw a Pampered Chef fundraiser at work. We have had huge donations of clothes and toiletries. We have also been given furniture. People have been really generous giving us stuff.”

Gary said he has been disappointed with the lack of communication and monetary assistance from the state.

“We have gotten zero dollars from any relief organization so far,” he said. “I’m going to talk to a pastor from Bris- tol who said he could help connect us with a case manager. A couple weeks ago, Governor Shumlin was taking calls on VPR. I emailed my questions to the governor and they read them over the air. It was probably a little harsh, but it got his attention anyway.”

“It has been ridiculous trying to find out by watching TV, going online, or listening to the radio to find out when and to whom this money will be distrib- uted,” Lisa added.

The Alexanders have applied for the Hazard Mitigation Buy-Out program.

“It’s a pretty good deal because they will pay you up to 75% of the assessed value of your home,” Gary said.

If the property is purchased in this program, all remaining structures will be removed and the property will be handed over to the town. The property can never be purchased for develop- ment again.

The future is uncertain for the Alex- anders.

“We haven’t really figured out what we are going to do next,” they said. “We don’t know if we will buy land and build, buy another house, or even stay in the community.”