Updated at 2:49 p.m.
Vermont remained in active response mode with multiple rescues ongoing, officials said Wednesday morning, even as the state’s rivers continued to recede.
“The hardest-hit area currently is Lamoille County, where we rescued 32 people and numerous animals overnight,” Public Safety Commissioner Jen Morrison said at a press conference Wednesday morning in Berlin. She said that most of those incidents had taken place in Jeffersonville.
Swift water rescue teams had conducted more than 200 rescues statewide since Sunday, she said, and evacuated more than 100 people.
As of 8 a.m. Wednesday, according to Morrison, the state was unaware of any deaths caused by the flooding and its aftermath, but she warned that the danger had not passed.
“We need to remain vigilant in the days to come, as many disaster-related deaths occur after the acute phase and during cleanup and recovery,” she said. “Vermonters, keep your guard up and do not take chances.”
Even as the state began to dry out, officials cautioned that more water could be on its way. The National Weather Service has already issued a flood watch for Thursday and warned that Vermont could see even more rainfall on Friday. The state is expecting another 1 to 2 inches those days, Gov. Phil Scott said at Wednesday’s press conference.
“This may not be over,” he said. “With rain in the forecast and nowhere for it to go, we could see waters rise again.”
Given the forecast, Scott said, one of his “biggest concerns” remained the Wrightsville Dam, which came within a foot of its capacity on Tuesday, threatening Montpelier just downstream. “We’ll see what happens Thursday and Friday, but we’re monitoring the situation,” he said.
Scott was joined at the press conference by all three members of Vermont’s congressional delegation — Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., and Rep. Becca Balint, D-Vt. — as well as Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Deanne Criswell. Scott and Criswell were scheduled to survey flood damage by helicopter later Wednesday and then rejoin the delegation in Barre to assess the storm’s impact there.
“This isn’t a dog-and-pony show,” Scott said. “We have work to do this afternoon.”
Criswell said that President Joe Biden’s approval of Scott’s request for a federal emergency declaration would hasten the delivery of resources to the state.
“Today is about understanding what those impacts are — understanding what the total extent of damage is across Vermont — so we can make sure that we are turning on the right programs and bringing the right resources in here to support the ongoing recovery efforts,” Criswell said.
The FEMA administrator urged Vermonters to “stay vigilant” as they began their recovery efforts. And she advised those who suffered property damage to take photos and document what was destroyed.
“FEMA’s going to be here to support Vermont, to support the governor and all of your needs as you transition from response into the recovery phase,” she said. “We will be here with you.”
