Vermont man drowns at home as flooding claims first victim with more rain predicted – news
The towns of Londonderry and Weston remained largely inaccessible on Wednesday
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Vermont authorities confirmed the first flood-related death following catastrophic rain on Wednesday.
Some 117 rescues were made in Vermont as the towns of Londonderry and Weston remained largely inaccessible. Officials were beginning to assess how many homes had been destroyed and what the financial cost would be from damaged roads, bridges and railways.
Vermont Emergency Management confirmed on Thursday that 63-year-old Stephen Davoll died as a result of a drowning incident in his home on Wednesday. It is the first death linked to the historic floodings in the state.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared the floodings a “1-in-1,000-year weather event” caused by the climate crisis, after a woman died in the Empire State when she was swept away while trying to escape her home with her dog.
Vermont Governor Phil Scott said at a news conference that thunderstorms were expected to move into parts of the state by Thursday night, which could cause more flash flooding.
“The period we are more concerned about is Sunday because that could be more widespread and heavier, but not nearly on the scale of what we saw earlier in the week,” National Weather Service meteorologist Seth Kutikoff also said.
Vermont’s catastrophic flooding was visible from space
Vermont is beginning the long and gruelling clean-up from catastrophic flooding this week – the scale of which is so vast that it can be seen from space.
The Green Mountain State wasn’t alone: other Northeastern states are facing their own expensive recoveries from major, slow-moving storms which dumped months of rain on the region in a matter of days.
Louise Boyle filed this report.
Vermont’s catastrophic flooding is visible from space
Authorities warned residents to beware of potential sinkholes as flood waters recede and saturated ground settles
Numerous scattered showers and thunderstorms set to hit this evening
Vermont residents are poised for another deluge with the National Weather Service warning: “Scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms are expected this afternoon and evening. Some t-storms will be severe with damaging winds, large hail, and locally heavy rainfall.”
The storms are set to hit the state between 4pm and 8pm with saturated soils likely to exacerbate runoff and flooding.
Residents kayak through flooded town as Vermont hit by severe flooding
Residents kayaked through flooded streets in a Vermont town on Tuesday, 11 July, after torrential rain brought widespread flooding to the state the previous day. Footage shared by Twitter user @KenrickFischer shows residents paddling to get around in Waterbury, on the Winooski River about 13 miles northwest of Montpelier. The National Weather Service said that the river crested at 21.35ft early Tuesday at the Montpelier gauge, where the major flood stage is 17.5 feet. Though rain eased on Tuesday, many roads in the state have remained impassable.
NH senator praises first responders for assisting neighbouring Vermont
New Hampshire Senator Jeanne Shaheen has praised the National Guard and firefighters from her state for their assistance across the border in Vermont following the deluge that hit that state this week.
She tweeted: “Thanks to @NHNationalGuard and Bedford and Manchester firefighters for their quick response in assisting our neighbors in Vermont following the devastating floods. The bravery and dedication of swift water rescue crews are making a difference as we respond to this crisis.”
Chicago tornado cluster has thousands seeking shelter at O’Hare Airport
At least eight tornadoes and thunderstorms touched down in the greater Chicago area on Wednesday, setting off sirens and other warnings in America’s third-biggest city.
The National Weather Service issued an advisory for people in the Chicago area to seek shelter for the night after one tornado touched down near the O’Hare International Airport.
Shweta Sharma has the story.
Tornado cluster tears through Chicago as thousands shelter at O’Hare Airport
Residents advised to seek shelter through the night as tornadoes caused damage
Watch: Extraordinary amount of sediment washed down mountains by initial deluge
The Weather Channel’s Justin Michaels posted this video from Ludlow, Vermont, showing the huge amount of sediment piled up by the flooding this week, as more rain looms.
US town submerged by catastrophic flooding captured in drone footage
Drone footage captures flood devastation in the town of Ludlow, Vermont, after major, slow-moving storms dumped months of rain on the region in a matter of days. Video shared by @HenrysWeatherChannel on Tuesday 11 July shows houses, businesses and roads submerged by floodwater. The US state is now beginning the long and gruelling clean-up from the catastrophic weather event. “Make no mistake, the devastation and flooding we’re experiencing across Vermont is historic and catastrophic,” Vermont governor Phil Scott said on Wednesday. Communities in upstate New York, particularly in the Hudson Valley, have also been devastated by flooding in recent days.
Snow shovels repurposed to clear mud from floods
Volunteers pulled out their snow shovels Wednesday to clear inches of mud after torrential rain and flooding inundated communities across Vermont, trapping people in homes, closing roadways and littering streets and businesses with debris.
The water drained off most streets in the state capital of Montpelier, where the swollen Winooski River flooded basements and ground floors, destroying merchandise and furniture across the picturesque downtown. Other communities cleaned up as well from historic floods that were more destructive than Tropical Storm Irene in many places. Dozens of roads remained closed, and thousands of homes and businesses are damaged.
But with people still being rescued, high water still blocking some roads and new flash flood warnings issued with more rain on the way, the crisis is far from over, according to state Public Safety Commissioner Jennifer Morrison.
“Vermonters, keep your guard up, and do not take chances,” she said.
Morrison said urban search and swift water rescue teams came to the aid of least 32 people and numerous animals Tuesday night in northern Vermont’s Lamoille County, bringing the total to more than 200 rescues since Sunday, and more than 100 evacuations.
AP
Volunteers turned out in droves to help flooded businesses in Montpelier, a city of 8,000, shoveling mud, cleaning, and moving damaged items outside. “We’ve had so much enthusiasm for support for businesses downtown that most of the businesses have had to turn folks away,” said volunteer organizer Peter Walke.
Similar scenes played out in neighboring Barre and in Bridgewater, where the Ottauquechee River spilled its banks, and in Ludlow, where the Black River sent floodwaters surging into several restaurants co-owned by chef Andrew Molen. He said Sam’s Steakhouse is likely closed for good after the water inside reached nearly 7 feet (more than 2 meters) high.
“The only thing that’s probably gonna be salvageable is the silverware, and even then, after being in that muck for so long, you wash everything, do you really want to put that on the table? It’s pretty intense what happened,” Molen said.
Another of his restaurants, Mr. Darcy’s, had a couple feet of water inside, damaging the foundation. But Molen said he hasn’t focused on cleaning up yet, because the first order of business has been making sure local residents and first responders stay fed. His crew has been cooking at one of the restaurants that remains functional and using ATVs through standing water to bring the meals to a local community center.
AP
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