WAITSFIELD — Around 10:15 a.m. in downtown Waitsfield, Francis Faillace, of Warren, sat with his 2-year-old son, Bennett, watching the Mad River rush by in front of them as they shared a mixed berry smoothie from a cafe. Faillace said he was taking Bennett along for the day because his son’s child care was canceled ahead of the heavy rain.
The last time Faillace could recall seeing the river run this high through Waitsfield was during Tropical Storm Irene, he said, adding that he told employees at his construction business who live farther south to stay home Monday.
Looking out over the murky water and speaking over heavy rain, Faillace said he has been advising clients not to buy property along rivers in the region because of the increase in major flooding he has seen.
“In one sense, it’s alarming,” he said. “But on the other side, it’s a new reality.”
