Updated 11:45 a.m. Monday, August 29
Editor’s note: Jeff Potter, Olga Peters, Thelma O’Brien, and Randolph T. Holhut of The Commons and Anne Galloway of VTDigger.org contributed to this report.
BRATTLEBORO—The skies over southern Vermont were sunny on Monday morning as the region struggles to deal with what is being called the worst flooding to hit the state in nearly a century.
Torrential rains from Tropical Storm Irene caused major flooding and power outages all over Windham County.
Runoff from the 4-7 inches of rain that fell between Saturday night and Sunday has filled virtually every river in Vermont to overflowing.
Water swept through the downtowns of Brattleboro, Grafton, Londonderry, Jamaica, Wilmington, and Dover with alarming speed.
At least one person may be dead from the storm. According to Vermont State Police, a 21-year-old woman is missing after she was swept away by the Deerfield River in Wilmington on Sunday. Reportedly, she and her boyfriend were watching the raging waters when she disappeared.
Wilmington remains completely cut off, as Routes 9 and 100 have been closed due to road washouts. Heavy damage is reported in the downtown area.
Gov. Peter Shumlin told Vermont Public Radio Monday morning that “we’re going to be digging out for a long time.”
“Irene whacked us really hard,” Shumlin said, adding that Vermont was extremely well prepared, but “everything we anticipated happened, and we were on the run.”
Shumlin warned Vermonters to stay put. Infrastructure has eroded and roads have been destabilized. Officials need time to make sure buildings and roads are safe.
Shumlin and Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., are touring the flood damage by helicopter Monday.
President Obama signed a disaster declaration for Vermont on Monday, and said the federal government will offer any assistance the state needs to recover from Irene.
Hundreds of roads around the state have been washed away, and according to Transportation Secretary Brian Searles, at least six state highway bridges have been destroyed.
Water rescues were necessary in Newfane and Grafton on Sunday due to flash flooding.
Nearly 6,400 Green Mountain Power and Central Vermont Public Service customers in Windham County are without power as of 10 a.m. Monday. At the peak of the storm on Sunday, more than 13,000 customers lost power.
State offices are closed today and the scheduled first day of school was cancelled in more than 140 districts around the state.
The Brattleboro Selectboard has scheduled an emergcncy meeting for 12 noon Monday at the Municipal Center to discuss storm damage. A special public information meeting is scheduled for Monday at 3 p.m. at the Municipal Center.
Whetstone Brook in Brattleboro turned into a raging torrent on Sunday as Flat, Elm and Frost streets were flooded.
The following bridges/roads in Brattleboro remain closed as of Monday morning: Sections of Flat Street, Frost Street, Elm Street and Williams Street; Westgate Drive, George Miller Drive, Glen Street, Dettman Drive, Aikley Road, Cooke Road, Melchen Road and Ames Hill.
Route 9 is remains closed from Citizens Bridge in Brattleboro to Bennington.
The West River is running high, and has closed the West Dummerston Covered Bridge. According to the Vermont Agency of Transportation, the bridge abutments are severely eroded and the bridge appears to be no longer safe for traffic.
The village of Saxtons River saw flooding of historic proportions. According to the weather service, the Saxtons River was at 19.7 feet early Sunday night. That was well above the flood stage of 10 feet, and broke the all-time record of 17.9 feet set during the Hurricane of 1938. The water receded by late Sunday night and was down to 5 feet by Monday morning.
The Williams River in Rockingham rose to 17.4 feet on Sunday night, breaking the old record of 9,98 feet set in 1993. Flood stage is 8 feet. The river also receded quickly and was down to 5.4 feet as of 10 a.m. Monday. A covered bridge spanning the river was washed away on Sunday by the flood waters.
Other rivers in the region are expected to keep rising on Monday, according to the weather service.
The Connecticut River at North Walpole, N.H., was at 31.34 feet as of 10 a.m. Monday, and is expected to rise to 35.3 feet by Monday night. Flood stage at that site is 28 feet.
If the river gets that high, it would be the third-highest crest of all time at that site. Only the 1936 (43.8 feet) and the 1938 (39,1 feet) floods were worse. The river is expected to overflow its banks from Bellows Falls to Brattleboro before dropping below flood stage by Tuesday morning.
Flooding and road closures have been reported in Athens, Dover, Guilford, Newfane, Jacksonsville, Jamaica, Putney, Rockingham, Townshend, Wardsboro, and Westminster.
Vermont National Guard Quick Response Teams have been sent to Bennington, Brattleboro and Westminster in response to a Vermont State Emergency Management request for Personnel and High Water Vehicle support due to extremely dangerous rising water in the area.
Vermont Emergency Management requested Vermont National Guard to support any required evacuations of citizens residing in threatened areas and to provide personnel for traffic control in areas where roads have been either washed out or are under water.
Between 30 and 60 personnel and 16 High Water Vehicles reported to the Brattleboro Fire Station and the Bennington and Westminster armories where they will support operations in conjunction with the Vermont Emergency Management and local authorities.
Shelters available
The Town of Brattleboro has opened its Emergency Operations Center. The Red Cross has opened a shelter at the Brattleboro Union High School. Morningside Shelter has opened its overflow shelter at First Baptist Church on Main Street.
Shelters are also available in Athens, at the Community Church; Dummerston, at the Congregational Church; West Dummerston, at the fire station; Newfane, at Newbrook Fire Station; Dover, at the Elementary School; West Dover, at the Grand Summit Hotel at Mount Snow; Wardsboro, at the Town Hall; and Jamaica, at the Masonic Hall.
Flynn said two Federal Emergency Management Agency officials are in Vermont to provide assistance during the storm, the sheriffs’ association and municipal officials are coordinating with the state.
It’s possible that some residents will need to be “self-reliant” for a few days. That’s because power outages could last at least several days. Power outages could last for several days. Residents should have five days of water (for drinking and other uses), non-perishable foods, medications, health care supplies, flashlights and batteries on hand. Residents should establish a care plan for animals. A more detailed emergency checklist is available online.
Brattleboro town officials say they will continue to monitor the weather situation and will release updated information as necessary. Tune into WTSA 96.7 FM for updated information. Call 911 only for emergencies. For information call 211. It is possible that during the height of the storm, emergency personnel may be delayed or unable to respond to all calls.
Having prepared as they could over the past few days, road crews are standing by.
“We have spent the week clearing debris from ditches and culverts,” says Reed Webster, assistant road foreman for Westminster, said Saturday. “We’ll be on the roads doing what we can when it hits.”
