Downstream
A 10-part series looking at what’s changed — and what hasn’t — one year after catastrophic floods swept through Vermont.
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Downstream: Part 10
With $90M, Vermont has a big opportunity to reduce flood risks, but there’s no ‘silver bullet’
If Vermont can use the money effectively, “I think we will be in good shape,” one planner said. “Will we be ahead of the curve? I don’t think so. There’s just that much need out there.”
Downstream: Parts 1-9
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A look back at our coverage of the July 2023 floods
Deluge in Vermont floods mountain towns and riversides, leading to rescues and evacuations
The deluge stranded residents in some of the hardest hit towns as rivers swelled and roads were damaged around the state.
PHOTOS: Vermont’s capital under floodwaters
VTDigger reporters and photographers captured images of Montpelier submerged.
Vermont’s flooding this week is historic. What role did climate change play?
The deluge “is an absolutely classic climate change event,” said Bill McKibben, an activist and environmental studies professor at Middlebury College.
How will the ‘Flood of 2023’ rank in history — and does it foretell the future?
The storm was no match for Vermont’s “Great Flood of 1927,” a 36-hour deluge would have damaged up to $4 billion in property today. But the latest rainfall could be a sign of things to come.
After Irene, Vermont ‘built back smarter.’ It has more work to do.
Innumerable examples show how post-Irene resiliency planning and projects made a difference when disaster struck anew. But much of Vermont’s essential infrastructure remains in harm’s way.
Vermont was already experiencing a housing crunch. Then came the summer floods.
Even if Vermonters can’t yet put an exact number on homes lost to the floods, it’s clear that the flooding will exacerbate the state’s housing shortage, likely placing even greater pressure on an already tight rental market.
Before you move on…
When catastrophic floods swept through Vermont one year ago, VTDigger’s reporters were on the ground documenting the destruction alongside emergency responders and desperate residents. And unlike national news, we didn’t disappear when the waters receded. In this nine-part Downstream series, we’re looking at what’s changed — and what hasn’t — one year later.
It’s clear that, especially in times of crisis and recovery, trustworthy local journalism is an essential public service. VTDigger’s newsroom exists only thanks to donations from you, our readers. If you value this coverage but you haven’t helped support it recently, or ever, we’re asking you to do so now.
