At around 2:30 p.m., Tyler Stratton stood by the disappearing bank of the Winooski River in Richmond, hoping the water wouldn’t reach his restaurant.
“Once it crosses the bank, this becomes the river,” said Stratton, owner of Stone’s Throw Pizza, gesturing toward the sloping area off Bridge Street. “Another foot and a half and we won’t be standing here.”
Lilith Sweet, the restaurant’s general manager, and Nick Myers, the sous chef, live above the red building, which sits about 500 feet from the riverbank. As they watched the trees and debris tumbling down the swift-flowing river, they admitted to being a little worried about what’s in store.
In 2019, the river wiped out his new garden, Stratton recalled. This time, he fears the water will flood the restaurant.
Half an hour later, the river had swelled some more, with flooding visible on both sides of Bridge Street. A crew from Richmond Rescue stopped by the park near the pizza restaurant and scanned the rushing body of water, which carried debris — from tree limbs and a tire to a gray inflatable chair.
“It’s definitely going to flood,” said Alex Knakal, a paramedic. “As soon as the water passes over the road, they will close and post detours,” he said. “They will keep it open if they can.”
Highway Foreman Peter Gosselin was keeping a close watch on the river from a red truck parked near Bridge Street and loaded with road signs.
“Everyone’s on alert, the fire department is standing by,” he said.
At around 4 p.m., water overtook Bridge Street, and crews closed the road.
