( CNN ) -- For many Vermonters , the devastating floods in Colorado are a stark reminder of the disaster Vermont experienced just two years ago as a result of Tropical Storm Irene . I remember being in shock as I made my way across our battered state , seeing so many of our most treasured features -- our covered bridges , fertile farmland , historic downtowns , and winding rural roads -- destroyed by the tremendous force of floodwater . The storm 's 60-mph winds and up to 11 inches of rain damaged 3,500 homes and businesses , 500 miles of state roads and 200 bridges . And tragically , six lives were lost , including those of a father and son , city employees who were checking on the community 's wastewater treatment facility . Colorado floods : Stories of grief , generosity and gratitude . In the days , weeks and months that followed Irene , Vermont state government joined together with our local and federal government , nonprofits , and legions of volunteers to get people and communities back on their feet as quickly as possible . At the Agency of Natural Resources , we responded to spills of hazardous waste , gasoline and oil . We helped communities repair drinking water and sewage treatment systems . We supported our transportation agency and our cities and towns as they quickly rebuilt roads and bridges . We responded to calls to address the large accumulations of gravel , tree trunks , cars , refrigerators , propane tanks and endless amounts of debris that threatened to cause further damage to bridges , roads and homes , or presented a risk of harm to public health and safety . How to help . From that emergency response , we learned a few critical lessons that I offer for our counterparts in Colorado : . Sleep and eat . This flood emergency response will continue for many weeks . It is a marathon , not a sprint , and you and your staff can only be helpful if you take care of your own basic needs . Ask for help . Many folks want to help , including experts who are prepared to pitch in at a moment 's notice . Take some time to think carefully about where you could use the extra boots on the ground and ask for assistance . Communicate . The first casualty of a crisis is information . Make sure you have the facts before you act . Talk to the folks in the field . Share relevant information with the emergency response directors . Let the public know what you know through updates and guidance from your experts . You can not communicate too much . Build back with resilience in mind . Two years after Irene , we are still recovering . Communities are still rebuilding roads and bridges . Some destroyed houses can still be seen , too damaged to repair . Perhaps as a consequence of global climate disruption we are seeing significant increases in the frequency and intensity of storms in Vermont so that even as we rebuild , many of our communities have faced additional flooding since Irene . From these facts , we have learned that it is important to look ahead and rebuild with future resilience to flooding in mind . Once the water goes down , everyone will have the same initial instinct to quickly replace everything and restore communities to the way they were before the flood . Sometimes that instinct is correct . Putting a road or bridge back as soon as possible may be critical to a community 's ability to ensure that its citizens can get emergency services and food . But other times , the desire to put everything back just the way it was before is misplaced . We discovered in Vermont that much of the damage we experienced after Irene mirrored damage from flooding in 1927 and again in the 1970s , because we rebuilt in the same way and in the same places . We are trying not to repeat that mistake . So when we rebuild our roads , culverts , bridges and wastewater and drinking water systems , we are taking into account the more intense weather events we can expect in the future , and we are building this infrastructure to withstand future flooding . We are also taking advantage of our natural assets to make us more flood-resilient by giving our rivers room to move and by protecting our natural systems such as floodplains , wetlands and vegetation along river corridors . This will provide critical flood protections for our communities . For the moment , however , we in Vermont know well that the first priority in Colorado must be to rescue those whose lives are at risk , to reconnect communities and families that have been cut off by the disaster , and to ensure that every person has a place to stay and food to eat . We also know that this first emergency response will be just the first step on what will be a long and challenging journey . For all of these reasons , our hearts and prayers are with all Coloradans . The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Deb Markowitz .
Deb Markowitz : Vermonters ' hearts and prayers are with flood victims in Colorado . She says Vermont learned lessons from the epic floods from Tropical Storm Irene . Markowitz : One lesson is to resist temptation to build back in the same form as before .