Flash Floods in Vermont
On Tuesday, heaving rainfall led to flash flood warnings in parts of northern Vermont. Various areas of the region received at least 6 inches of rain beginning on Monday night.
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In other areas, residents saw much more than 8 inches of rain, which quickly led to a dangerous flooding situation that destroyed their towns.
Police Rescue Stranded Residents
Throughout northern Vermont, police and emergency response teams worked overnight and into Tuesday to rescue dozens of residents who found themselves stranded.
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Many people were completely shocked by the violent flooding situation, as they didn’t expect the rainfall to be this tragic. Many neighbors also helped each other during this extreme situation.
Shelter in Place Alerts
Once the rain subsided, police in some areas issued a “shelter in place” advisory, as roads had been completely destroyed in various regions.
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For example, the police in St. Johnsbury, a town of 6,000 people, received one of these alerts as police surveyed the damage the rain and floods left behind.
Destruction in Vermont
Reporting coming out of Vermont after this rainfall is stunning, as many towns are dealing with massive destruction.
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Roads have been caved in, vehicles have been crushed or heavily damaged, and homes have even been pushed off of their foundations to tumble down hills. One person even explained that they managed to rush out of their home — right before it tore in half.
Neighbors Rescue Each Other
As the police and emergency response teams were overwhelmed with rescues, many neighbors worked together to save each other. One man revealed that he woke up to a neighbor pounding on his front door right before daybreak.
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This man then explained that he heard rushing water from a nearby brook that was overflowing, as well as the sound of boulders tumbling because of this water. This was the same sound he heard earlier this month when Hurricane Beryl storms swept through the region.
Incredibly Dangerous Floods
Another man detailed how he woke up at 2:30 a.m. after hearing boulders rolling down his street, thanks to these fierce floodwaters.
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He quickly got to work helping his neighbors evacuate and collecting their essential medications. After rescuing one neighbor, he escaped the home only 20 minutes before the house broke right in half.
Yet Another Disaster in Vermont
This recent flooding emergency comes only a few weeks after Hurricane Beryl storms decimated the area, leaving vehicles smashed and homes destroyed.
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Many utility poles and power lines ended up broken, and roads were severely damaged. Residents have explained that this latest storm only adds to this recent tragedy.
Vermont’s Difficult Last Few Years
These two recent catastrophic storms also come about one year after Vermont struggled to deal with severe flooding in 2023.
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In just the last year alone, Vermont has had to deal with four flooding events that have left residents stunned.
Why Is It Flooding More in Vermont Now?
Experts have explained that Vermont now has more and more disastrous flooding events because of climate change and the state’s geography, which features many hills and mountains.
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Greater rainfall from climate change allows the steep terrain of the state to deal with more difficult flooding events than it may have seen in the past.
Other Factors
Experts have also explained that, because it is raining in the region more now, the soil is more frequently saturated. This increases the chance of flooding.
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Finally, Vermont has long tried to manipulate its waters, such as its streams and rivers, which now play a part in flooding when these areas overflow quickly.
An Unexpected, Apocalyptic Tragedy
One St. Johnsbury resident, Vanessa Allen, explained how she knew that it was supposed to rain — but she didn’t expect this much flooding.
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“It looks apocalyptic. There are huge craters. … And the water is still rushing down the road now,” she said. “It’s just all unbelievable how bad the roads are. We’re trapped. We can’t go anywhere.”