Vermonters' lend a hand after Irene

MORETOWN, Vt. (AP) - For all the death, devastation and heartache inflicted on Vermont by Tropical Storm Irene, a bright spot is emerging from the aftermath: Countless of acts of kindness and generosity.

A spirit of generosity and kindness sometimes referred to as "the Vermont way" has generated community house-guttings, citizen-led road rebuilding projects, missions of mercy for stranded homeowners and volunteer cleaning efforts at schools.

Golf course mechanic Joe Colburn saw floodwaters reach 32 inches in his home along the White River in Royalton. Since then, he's had a flood of volunteers helping him clean out his damages — including strangers, area teenagers, even other flood victims.

He says it was that kindness — not the destruction of his home and the loss of his possessions — that brought tears to his eyes.