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The state of Vermont is reeling after it’s capital and surrounding areas were inundated with a flood of Biblical proportions. Most of Montpelier, especially the downtown area, has been evacuated. Other nearby communities in low-lying geography have suffered a similar fate. Massive amounts of rain have swollen the Winooski River to the point the Wrightsville Dam is about to overflow, if the dam holds. This will be the first time in it’s history that water channels through the spillway and officials have no idea how much damage could occur downstream.
Vermont capitol under water
As “intense rainstorms” thundered through the Northeastern United States on July 10, the Vermont capital of Montpelier watched it’s streets become rivers, then lakes. It forced evacuations in several communities and the entire downtown area of Montpelier is closed until the damage can be assessed. That can’t happen until all the water goes away.
While the rain isn’t coming down as hard as it was, there is a historical amount of water which still has to go somewhere. Officials and engineers are keeping their fingers crossed that the Wrightsville Dam is able to withstand the strain.
It’s looking inevitable that water will start flowing through the dam’s spillway and that has authorities almost as nervous as a collapse.
Friends, this is directly at the bottom of the hill from us in Barre. We're very fortunate to only have some minor basement flooding. https://t.co/Q0d4ueVc68
— Chris Meiman (@chrismeiman) July 10, 2023
Folks downstream have never, ever seen water running through that drainage channel and probably left quite a lot of things lying in the path of what will soon be a tsunami-like wave of water. According to Governor Phil Scott, it’s a catastrophe. “Make no mistake, the devastation and flooding we’re experiencing across Vermont is historic and catastrophic.”
Worse than Irene
Local residents will forget all about Tropical Storm Irene which blasted through in August of 2011 after what happened this time. They got flooding in some areas that were deeper than what they got then. Irene “left entire communities submerged, killing more than 40 people in several Eastern states.”
The state of Vermont is telling everyone to boil their water before they drink it. The water supply has been pretty well contaminated. As far as damages go, the insurance companies are about to hit their re-insurers for a bundle.
As noted by Governor Scott the flooding has already “claimed thousands of homes and businesses” The Montpelier was “hammered by a record-setting 5.28 inches of rainfall,” the National Weather Service relates.
Wrightsville Reservoir only a foot away from being overtopped and still rising while swift water rescue teams are driving through downtown in boats. #Vermont #flooding #floods #Montpelier @jpetramala pic.twitter.com/yHL4Zmw89h
— WxChasing- Brandon Clement (@bclemms) July 11, 2023
The entire state of Vermont “remains under a state of emergency, with water in downtown Montpelier running from knee to waist deep, residents stranded in their homes and businesses and roads closed.” EMS has already chalked up “more than 100 rescues.” Some weren’t so lucky.
EMS advises that if you’re stranded sit tight and make the best you can of what you’ve got. “In many areas, the water conditions remain too dangerous for rescue by boat.”
New Hampshire has crews standing by with more boats and some “Black Hawk helicopters to assist with the response to the flooding in Vermont,” their Governor Chris Sununu assures. For now the “Montpelier Police Department relocated its dispatch, police and fire operations due to heavy flooding in the basement of City Hall and the fire and police departments.“
