WATERBURY, Vt. -
People all across the area are preparing for Hurricane Sandy. Some towns report they have already set-up shelters or have them ready to go.
In Waterbury, Vermont Thursday, homeowner Anne Imhoff is watching the forecast for Sandy.
"Sure, I'm concerned," says Imhoff.
That's because a year ago, Tropical Storm Irene devastated Waterbury and damaged Imhoff's home of 25-years. It cost $40,000 to fix and improve it.
"Do you feel like this time are you better prepared? Is your home better prepared?" asked FOX 44/ ABC 22.
"I hope so," says Imhoff.
That's not the case for everyone in Waterbury. At least one home has been raised up and better able to handle flood waters. But just across the way, another home, like many here in town has yet to be repaired.
"We're not completely ready but we're better than we were before," says Bill Shepeluk, Waterbury municipal manager.
Shepeluk says they're learned a lot from Irene, including setting up emergency shelters.
"We didn't have enough cots, blankets. We didn't have enough food. We have that stuff now," says Shepeluk.
Now he says they are working to ready the basics including the water and sewer systems.
Imhoff says she'll also be busy this weekend, putting away things that are outside, battening down her home, and then waiting.
"You just cross your fingers and hope," says Imhoff.
The municipal manager says not everything is ready. Waterbury received a grant for a generator to fully power the school, which is used as a shelter, but that's not in place yet.
Elsewhere in Vermont, other towns are preparing for Sandy's possible arrival.
In Wilmington, the town manager says they've already met with emergency responders and have set up a commander center.
In Williamstown, the town manager says they picked up 25 cots for a shelter, if it's needed, and will meet with emergency responders Friday.
In Rutland, the mayor says they are optimistic they're ready.
"Preparations are ongoing and they are important. We need to be prepared for every eventuality and that way when the thing we don't expect happens we'll be able to react to it," says Mayor Chris Louras, City of Rutland.
The mayor says Irene actually proved overall the city has learned from another storm. That was the so called Nor'Hurricane in 2007.
