WATERBURY, Vt. (WCAX) – Floodwaters washed out roads and cut off communities in our region on Monday, as a dynamic and fast-moving storm hit Vermont.
“This is an all hands on deck response,” Gov. Phil Scott, R-Vermont, said at a news conference Monday morning.
The governor and his team updated Vermonters on the deluge, which has caused widespread flooding and road washouts.
Some of the worst-hit areas in Vermont on Monday included Londonderry, Weston and Ludlow.
Swift-water and search-and-rescue teams are working around the clock. Vermont Emergency Management officials said Monday evening those crews conducted more than 50 rescues and evacuated more people and pets from flooded homes.
“All our evacuations are vulnerable populations that do not want to leave. That’s what we’re seeing here, as well,” said Mike Cannon, the coordinator of Vermont’s Urban Search and Rescue.
Leaders say reaching small towns along the spine of the Green Mountains inundated with water is a challenge.
“This is particularly going to be difficult for us with the long rain event that we are going to experience,” Cannon said.
So they called in backup. Teams are coming from Massachusetts and North Carolina to help.
“They bring a large water rescue component, as well as a search component to go into communities later on to do some searching and welfare checks. We know that’s going to go on for several days,” Cannon said.
Leaders remind Vermonters not to drive or walk across flooded roadways, to keep generators outdoors and to turn off your circuit breaker if you evacuate your home. Click here for more flood safety tips from Vermont Emergency Management.
“We want to make sure we prioritize life and safety,” the governor said. “The rest can be replaced as we’ve proven with Irene.”
Governor Scott called this storm the most significant rain event since Tropical Storm Irene 12 years ago. But unlike Irene, he says this is over a longer period where Irene happened in 12 hours.
“We have not seen rainfall like this since Irene, and in some places, it will surpass even that,” Scott said. “This is going on we’re getting just as much rain if not more, and it’s going on for days. That’s my concern; it’s not just the initial damage, it’s the wave, the second wave and the third wave.”
With the rain still falling and many rivers expected to crest Tuesday, emergency officials are calling on Vermonters to plan ahead and use common sense.
SHELTERS OPEN
If you need shelter or any kind of help, call 211.
The American Red Cross opened a regional disaster shelter at the Barre City Auditorium on Monday for residents displaced by the storms and flooding. That’s at 16 Auditorium Hill in Barre.
The Hyde Park Town Fire Station at 212 Centerville Road will open at 5 p.m. Monday as an overnight emergency shelter for residents. Walk-ins are welcome and more information is available by contacting EMD Roland Boivin at 802-279-7129.
VT. CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION CALLS ON FEMA FOR HELP
The governor says FEMA is sending help and he expects a disaster declaration, which helps us access funds to rebuild.
Members of Vermont’s congressional delegation are working to help with flood recovery.
Sen. Bernie Sanders says he’s already talked to FEMA to make sure Vermont gets help to recover from this storm.
“When people have seen damage to their homes, they don’t want to spend their lives filling out forms. They need help as soon as possible. We hope to get that. The delegation will be on the phone to the White House hopefully within a short time. Getting the White House to support a declaration of emergency so that we can get the kind of federal resources that we need,” said Sanders, I-Vermont.
Sanders went on to say we have a lot of work in front of us but if we stand together, we will come out of it OK.
Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vermont, weighed in on Twitter, saying Vermonters can call his office for flood assistance.
My team is also here to assist with federal agencies. Vermonters can call my Burlington office at 802-863-2525 to ask questions and get connected to resources.
Remember, call 911 if you’re in immediate danger.
He also tweeted out the Vermont emergency management team’s resources link.
In a statement, Rep. Becca Balint, D-Vermont, said, in part: “My focus right now is ensuring Vermonters stay safe and know that my office is here to support with any resources people may need… I’m in contact with Governor Scott’s office and will be coordinating with him to determine what federal resources may be needed to assist in emergency response and future recovery.”
Vermonters can call 211 if you need assistance with evacuations or any flood related emergencies. Vermont Alert delivers updated weather, road, and other warnings via text or email. You can register for free at https://t.co/c0q5q7HqiG. pic.twitter.com/0Vj3wGnPTw
ROAD AND TRANSPORTATION CLOSURES
Here is a look at some of the major road closings as of Monday morning:
Again, you can find all the latest road closures on New England 511.
The Agency of Transportation also closed state rail trails due to the flooding and potential hazards on the trails. Click here for the latest updates on the rail trails.
Some bus and train travel was also interrupted by the severe weather.
The Ethan Allen Express and Vermonter are temporarily suspended. Amtrak said alternative transportation would only be provided to northbound passengers.
And GMT suspended Washington County bus service, including My Ride service, through Tuesday due to the flooding.
The Montpelier Link Express is running but cannot make it to the Montpelier Transit Center, with all stops ending at the National Life Building. All Montpelier Link Express trips are canceled for Tuesday with the exception of the 8:05 a.m. inbound Richmond P&R departure to Burlington, which will serve UVMMC and the Downtown Transit Center.
FLOOD SAFETY TIPS
Vermont Emergency Management reminds people to never drive or walk through floodwaters. More tips from Emergency Management:
IRENE’S LEGACY
On August 28, 2011, the remains of Hurricane Irene hit Vermont as a tropical storm, dumping up to 7 inches of rain in less than a 24-hour period. It was the worst weather disaster to strike Vermont since the Flood of 1927.
A lot of the rain from Irene was centered over the spine of the Green Mountain. It resulted in catastrophic flash flooding as the huge amount of water overwhelmed small streams and culverts, racing down mountainsides and wiping out roads and bridges. In the valleys, swollen rivers jumped their banks and flooded neighborhoods in low-lying areas.
Among the devastation:
SHARE YOUR FLOOD PHOTOS
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