By Paul Bean
The flooding of July 10-11 has apparently caused at least one fatality: a Peacham motorist, state officials told press this morning.
A body was found in a car swept away by the floods. Authorities have yet to determine if flooding, or some other reason, was the cause of death.
The rains fell most of the day yesterday and last night. Flash flooding was seen in many towns in Washington, Orange and Caledonia counties.
“It’s not lost on us the irony of the floods hitting us on the same exact day in many of the towns as the flood did last year…we are ready, our response and tools are even better than they were last year,” said Governor Phil Scott.
Public Safety Commissioner Jennifer Morrison gave the press a blow by blow account on the worst of the flooding: Moretown, Plainfield, Lydonville, Williamstoon, Bolton, and Barre were hit the hardest. The Winooski river won’t crest until later this evening, she warned.
There is one report of an unconfirmed flood-related fatality, likely to be from Peacham, however the exact cause of death is at this time unknown. It appears that someone died in a vehicle that was swept away in water, officials said. But authorities will conduct an autopsy to determine whether (for example) the victim suffered a heart attack before the flood carried away the car.
Seven towns experienced purposeful sewage Treatment Plant overflow releases: Rutland, Middlebury, St. Albans, St Johnsbury, Montpelier, and Burlington
Tom Lauzon, the Mayor of Barre, spoke today about the damages in his downtown and he said: “Water rose very very quickly in the course of maybe an hour and a half. It’s tough, it’s tough to watch. I stand here a bit discouraged, but I am very proud… As I stand here today, and I am sure everyone is hard at work and we are getting this done… I know we’re all going to take care of each other.”
Flood financial impact less than last year
“It doesn’t appear to have the magnitude on a financial standpoint as the flood did last year,” said Governor Scott.
When asked about federal help: “We will have to see… I would assume there would be some public assistance along with federal,” said Governor Scott.
Secretary of Transportation Raymond Flynn reported 54 state roads are closed, with 6 bridges damaged. There is significant rail damage in Middlesex on the Amtrak line.
VDC asked Governor Scott, “In the wake of persistent flooding in Vermont, a growing number of our readers and Vermonters are concerned about Geoengineering, persistent weather and climate modification appearing in the skies above Vermont, do you have any comment on that?”
His reply:
“Climate change is real, and we all need to come to grips with that, no matter your political persuasion, and deal with it. We need to build back, stronger, safer, and smarter than we have before. From my standpoint I think these events are caused by carbon emissions… and we need to prepare for what’s going to continue over the next number of years, regardless of what our strategy is to counteract that… We need to increase the capacity to store the water during these intense storms…”
The Vermont Army National Guard is involved with multiple secondary helicopter rescues, Scott said.