Vermont's summer floods strike again, washing out roads and homes
Fire Chief Kyle Seymour described how the "incredibly strong, quick-moving" storm overwhelmed culverts and streams within an hour. While less widespread than 2023's catastrophic floods, this marks the third consecutive year of major summer flooding, leaving officials exhausted.
Vermont's steep valleys and wetter climate make it a flooding hotspot, explains the National Weather Service. Rainfall has increased by 6 inches annually since the 1960s, while mountainous terrain funnels water into narrow lowland communities.
Thursday's downpour stemmed from tropical moisture colliding with a stalled front, similar to 2023's disaster.
In Lyndonville, floodwaters ripped foundations from homes so quickly that one house began collapsing during a rescue. "That house was heading into the river soon," Fire Chief Jeff Corrow said after helping evacuate a couple and their dog.
Scientists warn such events may increase by 52% by 2100 as climate change intensifies downpours.
For families like Michael and Margaret Fix, the floods brought terror and uncertainty. The Sutton couple, who once helped flood victims, fled upstairs as water filled their downstairs, awaiting rescue crews who guided them out a window. Now, they face rebuilding without flood insurance.
Statewide, damage assessments continue, but early reports show washed-out roads in Lyndon, Stowe, and the Northeast Kingdom. In Addison County, high winds tore off part of a high school roof.
The emotional toll runs deep: "It's horrible we're hit again," said Sutton resident Lydia Mello, surveying her neighbor's foundationless home.
Vermont is racing to adapt amid recurring floods. After 2023's disaster, the state passed the Flood Safety Act to limit riverside development starting in 2028.
Programs like RIVER (Resilience Initiative for Vermont Empowerment and Recovery) help towns pursue buyouts, federally funded home demolitions that convert flood zones to open space.
But with over 300 buyout applications pending and Vermont's severe housing shortage, relocating residents remains challenging.
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Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Flash floods once again hit Vermont, damaging homes and roads
SUTTON: Communities in rural parts of Vermont on Friday woke up once again to damaged homes and washed-out roads due to heavy rainfall and flash flooding, making it the third consecutive summer that severe floods have inundated parts of the state. Up to 5 inches (13 centimeters) of rain fell in just a few hours on Thursday, prompting rapid flooding as local waterways began to swell, said Robert Haynes, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service's Burlington office. Nearly 20 homes were cut off in the small town of Sutton as a local brook quickly rose from its banks and surrounded buildings, Fire Chief Kyle Seymour said. His crews were called out to help rescue people from two homes, which required help from swift-water rescue teams called in from neighboring communities. "This was an incredibly strong, quick-moving localized heavy water," Seymour said. "It overwhelmed all of our road culverts, all of our streams, all of our rivers. But the actual weather event lasted three hours, with the bulk of the rain concentrated within one hour." Though the severity of the storms wasn't as widespread compared to the past two years, local officials were still surveying the extent of the damage Friday morning and shaking their heads that they were dealing with flood recovery for three years in a row. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo "When I started seeing the reporters saying it wasn't going to be that bad, I didn't believe it," Seymour said, adding that at least one member of his crew has contemplated retiring after experiencing such repeated flood emergencies. Michelle Tanner stood Friday on what used to be her driveway, dismayed that for the third time her property was washed out by flooding. She and her family have lived in Sutton for 25 years and want to continue doing so, but fear what another flood might do. "We don't know if the house will make it again," Tanner said. "We'll see what happens. We don't want to start all over, though I guess we are." Tanner's daughter, Tanika Allard, said taking in the flood damage once again made her tear up. "This year by far did the worst amount of damage with the least amount of rain, which didn't make a whole lot of sense," she said. According to the National Weather Service, Vermont's experience with floods can be traced to both ongoing climate change and the state's mountainous geography. Greater rainfall and increased moisture availability have made the state's steep terrain more susceptible to flooding. Elsewhere in Vermont, heavy winds blew off a significant portion of a high school's roof in Addison County. Meanwhile, flash flooding also occurred in Massachusetts on Thursday after rains dumped more than 7 inches (18 centimeters) of rain in some areas. Some businesses were flooded in the town of Weymouth, which saw the bulk of the rain and flooding while commuters faced delays as highways and streets south of Boston flooded.
Mint
a day ago
- Mint
Vermont's summer floods strike again, washing out roads and homes
Vermont faced another summer of flash floods Thursday as up to 5 inches of rain fell in just hours, overwhelming rivers and roads. The small town of Sutton saw nearly 20 homes cut off when Calendar Brook overflowed, trapping residents who needed rescue by swift-water teams from neighboring towns. Fire Chief Kyle Seymour described how the "incredibly strong, quick-moving" storm overwhelmed culverts and streams within an hour. While less widespread than 2023's catastrophic floods, this marks the third consecutive year of major summer flooding, leaving officials exhausted. Vermont's steep valleys and wetter climate make it a flooding hotspot, explains the National Weather Service. Rainfall has increased by 6 inches annually since the 1960s, while mountainous terrain funnels water into narrow lowland communities. Thursday's downpour stemmed from tropical moisture colliding with a stalled front, similar to 2023's disaster. In Lyndonville, floodwaters ripped foundations from homes so quickly that one house began collapsing during a rescue. "That house was heading into the river soon," Fire Chief Jeff Corrow said after helping evacuate a couple and their dog. Scientists warn such events may increase by 52% by 2100 as climate change intensifies downpours. For families like Michael and Margaret Fix, the floods brought terror and uncertainty. The Sutton couple, who once helped flood victims, fled upstairs as water filled their downstairs, awaiting rescue crews who guided them out a window. Now, they face rebuilding without flood insurance. Statewide, damage assessments continue, but early reports show washed-out roads in Lyndon, Stowe, and the Northeast Kingdom. In Addison County, high winds tore off part of a high school roof. The emotional toll runs deep: "It's horrible we're hit again," said Sutton resident Lydia Mello, surveying her neighbor's foundationless home. Vermont is racing to adapt amid recurring floods. After 2023's disaster, the state passed the Flood Safety Act to limit riverside development starting in 2028. Programs like RIVER (Resilience Initiative for Vermont Empowerment and Recovery) help towns pursue buyouts, federally funded home demolitions that convert flood zones to open space. But with over 300 buyout applications pending and Vermont's severe housing shortage, relocating residents remains challenging.
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Williamson County officials give a flooding update, cleanup assistance hotline setup
The 'catastrophic' floods that ravaged Williamson County and other parts of Central Texas over the July 4 weekend have killed at least 120 people in the state. Williamson County officials say they are now down to one missing person from the weekend floods. With more than 120 lives lost, including children, and thousands of homes damaged or destroyed, the community faces an uphill battle to recover. This tragedy has also sparked significant conversations about disaster preparedness and the availability of federal aid for affected communities. ALSO READ: Trump's State department firing begins: Over 1,300 jobs slashed in latest layoff wave Woman swept away in flood The 64-year-old Sherry Richardson dialled 911 around 3.30 am Saturday to seek help as water started coming into her home in Liberty Hill. While she was still on the phone with a dispatcher, the water began creeping up the stairs of the cabin where she lived so she retreated to the second floor, said her daughter Deliah Greenslet, according to Autsin-American Statesman. The dispatcher lost contact with Richardson about 15 minutes after the call began, said Greenslet. Live Events "There was 30 feet of water in her house," said Greenslet. She said he later found out that the whole cabin was swept away with her mother inside of it into a creek that fed into the San Gabriel River. Searchers on Sunday found Richardson's body and the remains of her beloved Yorkie, Omie Mae, about a mile from where her house originally stood, Greenslet said. "I am heartbroken," said Greenslet. ALSO READ: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton accused of adultery in divorce petition. Did his secret affair break his marriage? "Mom was my best friend and confidante and the rock for our family, and I will really miss her," she said. "She loved music, she loved the Beatles and she had a tattoo of some of the Beatles lyrics on her." She said she was never alerted about the potential flooding in the area but if she had known she would have asked her mother to spend the night with her. She said she knows there have been budget cuts at the National Weather Service and feels like its being dismantled. "What can we do as a nation, as a country to prevent this sort of thing from happening in the future?" she said. "Why don't we have warning systems that are better than phones saying there's a flash flood warning?" As of Wednesday, July 9, Williamson County has confirmed a total of three deaths, according to Fox7 Austin. There were 54 structures that were destroyed or severely damaged by floodwaters. The focus is now on documenting residential damage. Debris removal sites and dumpsters are being set up around Liberty Hill. ALSO READ: White House under fire for bizarre 'Superman Trump' image, Internet says 'delete this, it's cringe' The county has set up a cleanup assistance hotline at 512-201-4814. County Judge Steven Snell and EMA Director Bruce Clements said the search is going on in Leander and urged those coming to help with the clean-up to work with recognized organizations. "If you want to volunteer, please don't freelance and go out on your own. It can be dangerous out there, so please be part of an organized effort that's already underway. There are trusted folks who are there to organize and give you safety gear, people like the Austin Disaster Relief Network at and there are others as well. But find an organized effort and don't go out on your own, because that can really be rather dangerous," said Clements.
