I hate it when we make the national news like this.
Queechee Covered Bridge:
Unfortunately, the Queechee Covered Bridge was wiped-out by floodwaters.
From CNN:
Numerous "swift-water" rescue teams were dispatched Sunday night around Vermont, where state emergency management spokesman Mark Bosma said some small towns were "entirely covered with water" and people, including a woman who was in labor, were stranded in schools and cars.
Vermont State Police Capt. Ray Keefe said Wilmington is "cut off," hundreds of roads had been closed, and some homes were washed off foundations and into lakes. And "conditions continue to worsen dramatically" in Vermont's capital of Montpelier, city manager William Fraser said Sunday night, noting National Weather Service warnings of rising river waters that have spurred evacuations and will cause "major flooding" downtown early Monday morning.
More below.
In addition, one woman is "feared dead" in Vermont after being swept away in raging waters in Wilmington, Bosma said.
Wilmington:
Wilmington, later in the day:
We were hit hard because we had a very wet spring, and soaking rains last week. The ground was already saturated. It's highly possible that we'll lose more wind-weakened trees, so people should take care in wooded areas until the ground dries out.
From the LA Times:
State authorities' main focus was evacuating residents in flooded areas. Swift water rescue teams responded to calls throughout the day Sunday, and the National Guard brought in high water trucks that were dispatched upstate.
“Even with all those assets we haven’t been able to get to everyone yet,” Bosma said. “Some people have just had to wait it out until the water subsided.”
Bosma said residents from low-lying areas were being advised to stay with friends who live on higher ground, “but on the other side of the coin, if you don’t need to be on the roads — stay off the roads.”
“People are becoming stranded on the road when they hit floodwaters,” Bosma said, “and there just aren’t enough emergency responders to get to everyone.”
The Vermont Agency of Transportation has updated information on roads effected by flooding:
Alert - Interstate 91
Interstate 91 southbound: from Exit 5: Westminster State Highway; Back westminster Road to Exit 6: VT 103
road closed because of flooding —
last updated yesterday at 2:37 PM EDT
Alert - US 2
US 2: between Huntington Road and Bolton Valley Access Road
road closed because of flooding —
Comment: Jonesville area of rte 2 closed for flooding.
last updated yesterday at 8:03 PM EDT
Alert - US 2
US 2: from VT 214 to VT 232
road closed, flooding —
last updated yesterday at 7:31 PM EDT
Alert - US 4
US 4: from US 7 to before VT 100
road blocked because of flooding —
last updated yesterday at 2:07 PM EDT
Alert - US 4
US 4: from Prosper Road to VT 106
road closed because of flooding —
last updated yesterday at 3:50 PM EDT
Alert - US 5
US 5: at Westminster State Highway
local road closures in area —
Comment: The Vilas Bridge between Route 5 in Bellows Falls, VT and Route 12 in North Walpole, NH remains closed. Detour via the Bridge on Chruch Street.
last updated March 23
Alert - US 5
US 5: between VT 103 and VT 11
road blocked because of flooding —
last updated yesterday at 7:10 PM EDT
Alert - US 5
US 5: between Railroad Row and US 4, VT 14
road closed because of flooding —
last updated yesterday at 10:20 PM EDT
Alert - US 5
US 5: from Wilder State Highway to Wilder State Highway
local road closures in area due to bridge construction work — until November 1
Comment: Bridge replacement will take place on Passumpsic Avenue between Norwich Avenue and Wilder Dam Road in the Town of Wilder. Detour via Gillette Street.
last updated April 4
Alert - US 5
US 5: at Alt US 5 3; Main Street
road blocked because of flooding —
last updated today at 12:54 AM EDT
Alert - US 7
US 7: from VT 313 to VT 11
road closed, all lanes blocked, debris on roadway —
last updated yesterday at 2:43 PM EDT
Alert - US 7
US 7: between VT 7B and VT 7B
road closed —
Comment: Bridge closed due to washout.
last updated yesterday at 3:41 PM EDT
Alert - US 7
US 7: at Field Avenue
road blocked because of flooding —
last updated yesterday at 2:47 PM EDT
Alert - US 7
US 7: between Mcconnell Road and VT 73
flooding —
last updated yesterday at 4:52 PM EDT
Alert - US 7
US 7: between Lake Dunmore Road and VT 116
road blocked, flooding —
last updated yesterday at 6:23 PM EDT
Alert - US 302
US 302: from VT 232 to US 5
road closed, debris on roadway, flooding —
last updated yesterday at 10:48 PM EDT
Alert - Vermont 5A
Vermont 5A: at US 5
road closed because of flooding —
last updated yesterday at 6:47 PM EDT
Alert - Vermont 9
Vermont 9: at VT 100
road closed to traffic because of flooding —
Comment: Audio Text: Route 9 in Wilmington is closed due to flooding.
last updated yesterday at 11:50 AM EDT
Alert - Vermont 12A
Vermont 12A: from VT 12 to VT 12
road closed because of flooding —
Comment: Audio Text: Northfield to Randolph CLOSED due to flooding. Not passable.
last updated yesterday at 4:31 PM EDT
Alert - Vermont 12
Vermont 12: from US 4 to VT 107
road blocked because of flooding —
last updated yesterday at 1:01 PM EDT
Alert - Vermont 12
Vermont 12: from VT 12A to Business VT 2, US 2; State Street
road closed because of flooding —
last updated yesterday at 5:11 PM EDT
Alert - Vermont 12
Vermont 12: from after School Street to VT 15A
road closed, flooding —
last updated yesterday at 6:06 PM EDT
Alert - Vermont 14
Vermont 14: from VT 65 to before Graniteville Road
flooding —
last updated yesterday at 4:42 PM EDT
Alert - Vermont 14
Vermont 14: between North Calais Road and Cabot Road
road closed because of flooding —
last updated yesterday at 6:18 PM EDT
Alert - Vermont 14
Vermont 14: between VT 15 and North Craftsbury Road
road closed because of flooding —
last updated yesterday at 8:41 PM EDT
Alert - Vermont 15
Vermont 15: between VT 15A and Wild Branch Road
road closed because of flooding —
Comment: Wolcott village to be evacuated
last updated yesterday at 9:33 PM EDT
Alert - Vermont 16
Vermont 16: between I-91 and Roaring Brook Road
road closed because of flooding —
last updated yesterday at 6:21 PM EDT
Alert - Vermont 17
Vermont 17: from VT 116 to Huntington Road
road closed because of flooding —
last updated yesterday at 4:03 PM EDT
Alert - Vermont 22A
Vermont 22A: from VT 73 to VT 74
road closed because of flooding —
last updated yesterday at 5:02 PM EDT
Alert - Vermont 30
Vermont 30: at VT 133
road closed because of flooding —
last updated yesterday at 3:04 PM EDT
Alert - Vermont 30
Vermont 30: from VT 100 to VT 100
road closed to traffic because of flooding —
last updated yesterday at 1:13 PM EDT
Alert - Vermont 30
Vermont 30: at West Dummerston Covered Bridge Road
road closed to traffic because of damage to bridge —
last updated yesterday at 2:12 PM EDT
Alert - Vermont 65
Vermont 65: from after West Street to Stone Road
bridge closed
Comment: The "Floating Bridge" in Brookfield is closed and will remain closed to all but pedestrian traffic for the foreseeable future.
last updated June 8
Alert - Vermont 73
Vermont 73: from Mcconnell Road to VT 100
road closed because of flooding —
last updated yesterday at 4:45 PM EDT
Alert - Vermont 74
Vermont 74: after VT 22A
bridge closed because of bridge maintenance work — starting 5:00 AM, 09/12/11 until October 30
Comment: Bridge #2 over the Lemon Fair River will be closed effective 9/12/11 for deck replacement. Detour via VT Routes 22A, 125 and 30.
last updated August 26
Alert - Vermont 100B
Vermont 100B: from VT 100 to after Junction Road
road closed because of flooding —
last updated yesterday at 5:29 PM EDT
Alert - Vermont 100C
Vermont 100C: at VT 15
roadway reduced to one lane due to a mudslide
Comment: A slide has caused some instability of the roadway along Route 100C in Johnson Village a short distance from Route 15. The roadway is being reduced to one lane. Drive with caution in the area.
last updated May 23
Alert - Vermont 100
Vermont 100: at VT 8
road closed to traffic because of flooding —
last updated yesterday at 10:56 AM EDT
Alert - Vermont 100
Vermont 100 in both directions: from after VT 9 to Upper Handle Road
road closed to traffic because of flooding —
Comment: Audio Text: Route 100 closed north of Route 9 in Wilmington due to flooding.
last updated yesterday at 9:53 AM EDT
Alert - Vermont 100
Vermont 100: from VT 155 to VT 103
road blocked because of flooding —
last updated yesterday at 11:47 AM EDT
Alert - Vermont 100
Vermont 100: from US 4 to VT 107
road blocked because of flooding —
last updated yesterday at 12:57 PM EDT
Alert - Vermont 100
Vermont 100: from VT 107 to German Flats Road
road closed because of flooding —
last updated yesterday at 5:18 PM EDT
Alert - Vermont 100
Vermont 100: from after German Flats Road to US 2
road closed because of flooding —
last updated yesterday at 5:30 PM EDT
Alert - Vermont 100
Vermont 100: at VT 17
road closed because of flooding —
last updated yesterday at 5:27 PM EDT
Alert - Vermont 103
Vermont 103: from after Belmont Road; Cold River Road to VT 100
road blocked because of flooding —
last updated yesterday at 12:08 PM EDT
Alert - Vermont 103
Vermont 103: from VT 10 to VT 11
road blocked because of flooding —
last updated yesterday at 12:04 PM EDT
Alert - Vermont 105
Vermont 105: from VT 120 to VT 236
roadway reduced to one lane because of flooding —
last updated today at 4:17 AM EDT
Alert - Vermont 105
Vermont 105: between VT 114 and Lakeshore Drive
bridge closed because of flooding —
last updated yesterday at 8:39 PM EDT
Alert - Vermont 107
Vermont 107: from VT 100 to VT 12
road blocked because of flooding —
last updated yesterday at 1:59 PM EDT
Alert - Vermont 116
Vermont 116: from VT 125 to VT 17
road closed, flooding —
last updated yesterday at 4:12 PM EDT
Alert - Vermont 118
Vermont 118: from VT 105 to VT 242
road blocked because of flooding —
last updated yesterday at 5:55 PM EDT
Alert - Vermont 118
Vermont 118: after VT 109
road blocked, flooding —
last updated yesterday at 5:57 PM EDT
Alert - Vermont 122
Vermont 122: from Berry Hill Road to US 5, VT 114
road closed because of flooding —
last updated today at 12:51 AM EDT
Alert - Vermont 122
Vermont 122: at Wheelock Road
flooding —
last updated yesterday at 4:54 PM EDT
Alert - Vermont 122
Vermont 122: from after Wheelock Road to I-91
roadway reduced to one lane due to storm damage —
Comment: Audio Text: Route 122 just north of I 91, the road is reduced to one lane due to a slope failure from the recent rains. Use caution in the area, and be prepared for delays.
last updated May 11
Alert - Vermont 125
Vermont 125: from VT 116 to VT 100
road blocked because of flooding —
last updated yesterday at 2:41 PM EDT
Alert - Vermont 125
Vermont 125: at VT 100
bridge closed, flooding —
last updated yesterday at 5:14 PM EDT
Alert - Vermont 149
Vermont 149: at VT 30
road closed because of flooding —
last updated yesterday at 3:06 PM EDT
Alert - Vermont 242
Vermont 242: between VT 118 and Cross Road
roadway reduced to one lane because of flooding —
last updated yesterday at 8:36 PM EDT
Please check the Vermont Agency of Transportation site for road updates before you venture out. If you don't have to travel, it might be a good idea to stay home.
I will be updating this, but I want to get the information about road conditions out.
Update: 5:54 AM
I'm watching the sun rise over the Green Mountains. I do this on a regular basis. There's still heavy cloud cover.... some of the ugliest clouds I've seen in my five years of watching the sun rise from this location. They are obscuring the tops of Killington and Pico peaks.
One of our trees toppled. When there's more light, I'll head out to survey the damage. Thankfully, it's calm out. After the last 30 hours, this is a relief. What's ominous, though, is that by this time of morning, the bird chorus is in full morning song. All I hear is one crow in the distance.
Update: 6:20 AM From WCAX-TV
Gov. Peter Shumlin sent out a message to Vermonters during the Channel 3 News at 6 p.m.
"The message from me: Vermonters, let's use common sense. The worst could still lie ahead of us. Downed powerlines, flooded roads, do not drive into standing water. We can replace roads, we can replace bridges and buildings, we cannot replace people," said Shumlin, D-Vermont.
Update: 6:27 AM From the WCAX-VT Facebook page:
State officials tell Jennifer Reading the Marshfield Dam will not have to be released. Big relief for those down river.
Update: 6:37 AM Otter Creek poured into Rutland.
"We went door to door yesterday on Clover Street. We knew there was going to be an issue with Clover Street because historically that's the portion of town that gets hit with flooding," Mayor Chris Louras said.
Louras held an emergency meeting with the board of alderman Sunday evening. He says there are three major areas the city is focused on at this point in time.
The first is the Moonbrook area near Combination Pond. Crews began evacuating that area around 8 p.m. and continued to evacuate throughout the night.
The second area of concern is Patches Dam owned by CVPS. Officials say they've been watching the dam closely all day.
Another area of concern is the Dorr Drive Bridge over Otter Creek. The bridge, as we reported this spring, is considered structurally deficient by the state.
Otter Creek is at record levels cresting at over 16 feet-- twice the flood stage of 8 feet.
Conditions only worsened in Rutland County Sunday night. Castleton College is completely underwater and won't reopen until Tuesday. We also know the Brandon House of Pizza on Route 7 and Route 73 has come off of its foundation and is in the middle of the road which is closed. Meanwhile, many remain stranded as the city scrambles to evacuate the homes devastated by Irene.
Update: 6:49 AM Vermont state offices closed.
Public Safety: State Offices Closed
Due to weather conditions, all state offices have been authorized to be completely closed on Monday August 29, 2011. Only specifically authorized critical staff members should report for work at their designated alternate work sites. The state is expected to re-open
at regularly scheduled hours on Tuesday, August 30th.
All employees should pay close attention to news and website updates before leaving for a state office on Tuesday August 30th
Update: 7:00 AM Governor Shumlin declared a State of Emergency on Saturday.
Update: 7:30 AM Emergency Management was forced to leave its headquarters in Waterbury due to flooding last night. The operation center was moved to Burlington.
Update: 7:35 AM Here's a map of power outages in Vermont. Over 50,000 people are without power.
V-Trans has stranded road crews due to roads being washed-out.
Update: 7:50 AM I'm sure we won't know for days how the aftermath of Hurricane Irene compares, but until this point (and possibly into the future) the Great Flood of 1927was the worst natural disaster in Vermont history.
Update: 8:09 AM The morning bird chorus is late, but finally started singing. Sun's breaking through the clouds.
Update: 8:27 AM Vermont Emergency Management will be posting an updated report at 8:30 AM.
Homeowners are encouraged to call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or visit www.disasterassistance.gov to register for Individual Disaster Assistance from FEMA. FEMA Joint Field Office open in Burlington for disasters DR 1995 and DR 4001. Disaster Recovery Centers are open in St. Johnsbury and Barre to assist applicants for federal disaster assistance.
Update: 8:57 AM Via kamarvt -
Mendon VT here. We cannot get out.
We are literally marooned.
This is sobering; there is no way to get out of this valley, and it is not a matter of waiting for floodwaters to recede; they have already taken the major roads with them.
Rt 4, a major east/west artery thru the Green mountains is missing large sections right near my home. the Wheelerville brook became a raging torrent and has scraped Rt 4 away from the cliff face. It is simply not there anymore.
Further up toward Killington the road has buckled as both shoulders succumbed to runoff. the road has been eaten away all along Sherburne Pass. Heading east, the road has been bisected by a flash flood that gouged a major chasm right across all three lanes, demolished a home, and damaged the church across what used to be the street.
In Bridgewater, Woodstock, and points east, floods are, well, biblical. Photos from the flats just west of Woodstock show massive propane tanks floating by the top of the farmer's market sign.
So Rt 4 is out and will be out for months, it appears.
South via Rt 7 is no better. The Cold River took out the double bridges along the divided section of Rt 7, and wreaked havoc in Wallingford. Detouring via Cold River rd is impossible; the river removed sections of those roads as well.
It wouldn't matter anyway. Rt 103 in Cuttingsville and Ludlow is a lake. I do not know how much destruction to the roads has occurred, but the water was moving pretty quickly, so it is likely the surface is gone there as well.
North via rt 7 dead ends in Brandon, where the water has rearranged the real estate, putting the House of Pizza in the middle of Rt 7.
Brando Gap is also out, as the rivers that run adjacent to Rt 73 have done their worst as well.
Savvy Vermonters could normally piece together some sort of escape via logging roads, etc, but none of those would have survived the torrents that came out of the mountains yesterday.
We are looking at the worst flooding event in Vermont history, at least for the central portion of the state. Things south of here don't look any better, but they may not be cut off as we are. For an extended time, we will be dealing with severe infrastructure problems; Rts 4 & 7 are the main arteries for the entire central part of the state, and they are not merely flooded, they are gone.
Returning to work is something that will happen, i believe, in a matter of weeks or months, not days.
(I should mention that Mrs kamarvt and I are fine, our property is unscathed, and we somehow still have power, though we did lose internet for about 12 hrs overnight).
Update: 10:03 AM Some Daily Kos users in Vermont who have checked-in or otherwise communicated that they are safe:
Ana Thema
beltane
Blueslide
Brooklyn Voice
carolyn urban
earicicle
fat old man
Gil Janus
Green Mountain Flatlander
greenbird
itzik shpitzik
kamarvt
kestrel9000
Lady Kestrel
Lunch Lady
Mnemosyne
PatRiots
radical simplicity
Remembering Jello
Update: 10:24 AM National Weather Service - Northeast River Forecast Center
Here's a great map that is regularly updated for observed and forecast river conditions. Current conditions include rivers with major, moderate, minor, and no flooding.
Update: 11:47 AM Two places to find immediate info. from people in Vermont: Via huttotex and greenbird: Twitter hashtag #VTIrene ,and WCAX-TV on Facebook. I have a slow Internet connection, so can't access Twitter.
Update: 12:55 PM radical simplicity has also posted a check-in post for Vermont Daily Kos users. There's also some important information there about the difference between 511 and 211 phone numbers.
Update: 1:44 PM For folks who can access Twitter: @VTGovernor is using #VTIrene and #VTResponse hashtags.
Update: 2:01 PM radical simplicity has created a LotsaHelpingHands page for Vermont DKos to help coordinate volunteer efforts. It is intended to be a state-wide clearing house.
Updated: 3:15 PM Hannah posted in tribute to two covered bridges lost.
Update: 3:30 PM Via Aunte Ra: Vermont Volunteer Resource.
In learning from my work as a volunteer after Katrina, it’s hard to want to help, but not know where to start. As Vermont cleans up from Irene, this will be an open source page to get help requests connected with those who want to help.
Update: 3:40 PM Via Carolyn Urban:
Statement from the White House:
The President today declared an emergency exists in the State of Vermont and ordered federal aid to supplement state and local response efforts due to the emergency conditions resulting from Hurricane Irene beginning on August 26, 2011, and continuing.
The President's action authorizes the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to coordinate all disaster relief efforts which have the purpose of alleviating the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population, and to provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures, authorized under Title V of the Stafford Act, to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety, and to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in the State of Vermont.
Specifically, FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize, and provide at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency. Emergency protective measures, limited to direct federal assistance, will be provided at 75 percent federal funding.
Update: 7:27 PM Time for a musical interlude. Here's a story of a hurricane with a happy ending.
Update: 8:00 PM Some seem to think that Big City Media doesn't care about VT people. Well, we made the front page of the New York Times. It seems the Gray Lady has a heart of gold.
(Please feel free to add corrections or new information in the comments, and I'll post it here.)
