In July, John and Jenny Mackenzie, along with their twin daughters, dog, and two guinea pigs, had to flee their Vermont home as floodwaters from the remnants of Hurricane Beryl surged around them. The last sight they saw before abandoning their 19th-century home was their vehicles being swept away by the rising waters. Their property, a two-story wooden house built in the 1800s, became an island surrounded by floodwaters, with trees crashing into it and water pouring into the basement and first floor.
“We were in a horror movie at that point,” John Mackenzie recalled of the chaotic scene on the night of July 10. “It was surreal.”
The Mackenzies lost everything: their home, two vehicles, a barn, and most of their belongings. Since the storm, which claimed two lives when vehicles were swept away, the family has been staying temporarily with friends. They are still trying to figure out their next steps, but finding a permanent home in a state already struggling with a housing shortage has been a major challenge. Government assistance programs to buy out flood-damaged homes often take a year or more to process and are not always guaranteed.
However, after months of hardship, the Mackenzies are starting a new chapter. Thanks to the generosity of friends, family, and members of their community, they’ve managed to secure a new house just in time for Thanksgiving. The community rallied behind them, providing both financial support and physical help in salvaging belongings. Within days of the disaster, volunteers helped transport their items to safety, and an online fundraiser raised over $160,000 through more than 950 donations.
“It’s unbelievable the way people supported us,” said John Mackenzie, 49. “We’re incredibly grateful.”
The donations enabled the Mackenzies to purchase used vehicles and maintain their teaching jobs. Jenny Mackenzie, 50, expressed how meaningful it was to know that so many people were thinking of them. “It doesn’t replace everything we’ve lost, but it’s an amazing amount, and it speaks to the love and support we’ve received,” she said.
The Mackenzies had lived in their Peacham home for 21 years, raising their daughters, Lila and Kate, there. “Losing the house after 21 years is huge, but for our daughters, this was the only home they ever knew,” John Mackenzie said. “We want to recreate a home for them.”
Despite their efforts, the Mackenzies are struggling to afford a new place in Peacham. Housing costs in the small town have skyrocketed, pushing them to look for options elsewhere. The couple applied for a buyout through federal and state programs, but they learned recently that their property may not qualify for assistance. They have to submit additional documentation, but much of their paperwork was lost in the flood.
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If the FEMA buyout fails, the state will review their case for a potential state buyout early next year. Without this assistance, Jenny Mackenzie said, they may not be able to stay in their new home.
As severe weather events like the one that hit Vermont become more frequent due to climate change, experts predict that catastrophic flooding could become an ongoing threat. Vermont’s rural communities, especially those along the Green Mountains’ rivers and streams, are particularly vulnerable.
Unable to find a suitable home in Peacham, the Mackenzies expanded their search and found a new property in Craftsbury, about 30 miles away. The white farmhouse, built in the same year as their previous home, reminds them of their old house. Though the new location means longer commutes to work and school, the family is hopeful.
“We felt it was important to keep moving forward, to create a new home,” Jenny Mackenzie explained. After purchasing the property, she planted some daffodils, a task she had always enjoyed before the flood. She received daffodils from a friend who had rescued them from the old house, adding a sense of continuity to their new life.
Though they lost their cherished antique piano and some other irreplaceable items, the Mackenzies are rebuilding. Their rocking chairs and couches are being reupholstered by a friend, and the support they’ve received from the community has been overwhelming.
“This experience has opened us up to receiving help in ways we never expected,” John Mackenzie said. “It’s humbling, and we’re incredibly thankful for everything we’ve received.”