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| Flooding in Waitsfield today. Photo via X by@SidMyNBC5 |
WIDESPREAD DAMAGE
True, today's flooding is not as bad as the cataclysmic July flooding, but it's still really, really bad. Lots of roads are closed, there's evacuations going on, we've had water rescues, there's plenty of property damage, and it's not over yet.
"It's a real gut punch," said Gov. Phil Scott during a late afternoon press briefing. He noted that many flooded areas are the same spots hardest hit in July.
Pretty much every corner of Vermont is being affected by this. River levels and predicted crests are far above what had been expected as recently as dawn today. Scott said that although the water levels aren't as high as in July, the flooding is more widespread than it was in July.
Take beleaguered Montpelier, for instance. The city, as you know, was completely trashed by the devastating July floods. Everybody there was relaxing last night, as the Winooski River was expected to crest at 9.7 feet. That's far below flood stage.
Now, the river is forecast to crest this evening at 16.7 feet. That's a little less than a foot below major flood stage. Montpelier officials have asked residents to move their cars to higher ground. The area around the Bailey Avenue bridge and the approach to the Taylor Street bridge will go under water, if it hasn't already.
The flooding won't inundate downtown Montpelier, but could pour into basements in the business district, potentially causing a lot of damage to stock stored there.
The Mad River in Moretown actually reached major flood stage. Residents of Moretown village were told to evacuate. Residents of Waitsfield were told to stay home because so many town roads were under water.
Mad River flooding was not particularly serious in July. This time, it's much worse.
An emergency shelter is opening at Memorial Auditorium in Barre. That's another city that was catastrophically damaged in July. More damage is now occurring in Barre. Main Street between City Hall Park and Depot Square closed because flood waters were breaching storefronts as cars passed by, Vermont Public reported.
Some businesses in Londonderry damaged by flooding in July are being damaged again today.
The Whetstone Brook in West Brattleboro flooded several homes after four inches of rain fell on the area.
Mike Cannon with Vermont's Urban Search and Rescue Team said seven swift water rescue teams have been deployed around the state.
Vermont Department of Public Safety Commissioner Jennifer Morrison said swift water rescue teams have been deployed around the state. Three people were rescued from a flooded house in Jamaica, and another person was rescued from a car swept away by floodwaters in Waterbury. Another water rescue was ongoing as of 5 p.m.
"What we are experiencing today is dangerous, and there will be damage," Morrison said. She said many people, including herself are suffering flashbacks to the July flood, and she perceptively worried about Vermonters' mental health.
Amtrak has suspended operations in Vermont due to worries about damage from flooding.
Good luck traveling along Route 2. It was closed due to a mudslide in St. Johnsbury and due to high water in Marshfield, Plainfield, Middlesex, Waterbury, and Jonesville/Richmond.
Parts of major highways like Route 12 in Berlin Route 100 Rochester and Granville, 128 in Essex Center, Route 100 in Rochester, Route 14 in Hardwick, Route 118 in Berkshire, Route 11 in Londonderry, Route 131 in southern Vermont, among others.
Gov. Scott said the extent of today's flooding took him by surprise, as it probably did with nearly everyone, including myself.
WHAT HAPPENED AND FORECAST
This was a double-barreled storm, with the first wave being the worst. It spread torrential rains across Vermont this morning and early afternoon. Temperatures hit record high levels in all of Vermont except the northern Champlain Valley, and mountain snow melted immediately, adding to the runoff.
Rainfall was heavier than pretty much anyone expected. I don't have a lot of figures, but I know a lot of places had more than three inches of rain. Some numbers as of 5 p.m. include 3.12 inches in Bolton, 2.4 inches in Burlington
To add insult to injury, another wave of heavy rain moved through Vermont late this afternoon. As of 5:30 p.m. the rain had largely stopped in southern Vermont. Heavy rain was ongoing in northern Vermont but that should mostly end by 7 p.m.
However, there's a lot of runoff to make it downstream. Small streams and creeks have probably crested by now, or will soon.
Larger rivers will keep rising tonight, and will crest late tonight or early Tuesday. Flood warnings remain in effect all over Vermont.
It's probably best to stay off the road this evening, as you never know where the flooding is hitting. I've noticed several town roads across the state that don't usually flood are under water. When you're driving at night, you often don't see floodwaters ahead of you until it's too late.
High winds hit parts of Vermont during today's storm, cutting power to as many as 10,000 homes and businesses late this morning. Although winds might be gusty through tomorrow, they won't be damaging, so that's a glimmer of good news.
If you can find any optimism in this, the good news is we're getting a break from the extreme weather for a little while. Quiet weather is forecast through Christmas.
IN PERSPECTIVE
It wasn't just us in Vermont that got nailed by another round of destructive weather. The entire eastern United States suffered through this. Flash flooding was especially severe in South Carolina, New York and New Hampshire.
This storm was unusually strong, and especially unusually wet. It's rare indeed to have this much rain fall in New England during December.
Climate change has made damaging storms more intense and more frequent, and we saw that today here in Vermont. Of course I'll have more on that in the coming days as we pick up the pieces once again.
During his late afternoon press briefing, Gov. Scott said, "We'll get through this. Vermonters are tough."
He's right. But unfortunately we'll have to get learn to get through more and more dangerous and disheartening weather events in the age of climate change.
I guess we're in a brave new world. By that I mean, we'll need to be brave to live in it.
wa"We'll get through this, Vermonters are tough," Scott said.
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