Rapid Rains Wreak Havok: Vermont Grapples With ‘Catastrophic Flooding’
The Northeastern United States found itself submerged on Tuesday, with relentless rains triggering catastrophic flooding in regions, most severely in Vermont.
Swift-water rescue teams were in a race against time, rescuing trapped residents from inundated homes and communities.
In Vermont, the downpour was alarming with rainfall measuring up to nine inches leading to President Joe Biden declaring a state of emergency.
The National Weather Service flagged concerns of considerable to catastrophic flooding unravelling, warning that road washouts might intensify throughout the day.
High-risk regions for flooding include those near rivers, creeks, streams, and low-lying locales.
Vermont’s Governor, Phil Scott, cautioned residents that the situation was far from over, with water levels continuing to rise in some areas, with over 100 rescues already completed by Tuesday morning.
Local authorities urged residents to heed warnings and avoid worst-hit locales, such as downtown Montpelier.
The crisis stretched emergency services, leading to the dysfunction or limited availability of emergency response systems in Vermont’s capital.
Notably, three radio towers integral for dispatching ambulances and fire crews in Washington County were reported to be non-functional.
Roads throughout Vermont faced extensive flooding and parts of Interstate 89 between Montpelier and Middlesex were temporarily closed.
The flooding was so extreme that social media posts depicted water coursing through the streets of cities like rushing rivers, and people kayaking through Montpelier.
Meanwhile, New York state also saw significant rainfall, with some areas reporting over 8 inches.
The inundation led to widespread road closures across the counties and resulted in Governor Kathy Hochul issuing a state of emergency for Orange and Ontario counties.
The flooding’s lethal potential was tragically confirmed in New York’s Hudson Valley. Pamela Nugent, 43, lost her life as she attempted to flee her inundated residence, along with her pet dog, in Fort Montgomery, north of New York City.
The threat level escalated further when Montpelier Town Manager, Bill Fraser, warned that the Wrightsville Dam was nearing its capacity. Out-of-state rescue teams from North Carolina, Michigan, and Connecticut joined the urgent rescue operations in Vermont.
The teams managed to perform more than 50 rescues by Tuesday morning.
The devastation was palpable in towns like Ludlow and Londonderry. In Ludlow, a supermarket and shopping center were obliterated.
The damage extended to Chester as well, where a resident was rescued from a flooded creek.
In response to the crisis, President Biden consented to the Federal Emergency Management Agency coordinating all disaster relief efforts.
The move allows both state and federal authorities enhanced flexibility to allocate vitally required resources and equipment for the disaster response.
Amidst this chaos, nearly 4 million people across parts of New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine were facing flood warnings, watches, or alerts.
At present, six swift-water rescue teams have been activated in New York state as the Northeast braces for further onslaught of rain.
With the flooding showing no signs of letting up, Vermonters and other Northeast residents have been forced to deal with the sudden displacement, financial losses and threats to their safety.
Businesses, infrastructure, and homes have been swept away or severely damaged in the floodwaters, leaving residents unsettled and struggling to take stock of their losses.
In Ludlow, business owner Troy Caruso shared his view of the town saying, “It’s flooded beyond belief.” Noting the urgent state of his golf course, restaurants, and motel due to the flooding.
Meanwhile, Vermont state Rep. Kelly Pajala recounted her own experience of the deluge, which necessitated a swift evacuation from her apartment building on the West River in Londonderry.
Local services are spread thin and stretched to the breaking point in their efforts to manage the crisis.
In Montpelier, dispatch, police, and fire department employees were relocated to a water treatment facility due to heavy flooding at their original stations.
The police department appealed to the public to reserve emergency calls for only critical instances due to the services reaching “max capacity.”
Across the Northeast, the consequences of this geographic disaster continue to mount. As the rain continues to fall, the number of residents facing flood warnings reaches into the millions, and additional aid is being summoned to address the situation.
As yet, recovery from this ‘catastrophic flooding’ is a slow and arduous process. We’ll keep you updated as this story develops.
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USA TODAY
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