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Vermont Hit By Worst Flooding In Almost A Hundred Years Thanks To Irene

More about Bridgette P. LaVictoire
Posted by: Bridgette P. LaVictoire on August 28, 2011.Last revised on: August 29, 2011.

wcax.com/ Rutland, VT

28 August 2011
by Bridgette P. LaVictoire

Much of Vermont is underwater tonight as Hurricane Irene heads towards Canada. The now Tropical Storm has brought a lot of damage and as many as fifteen confirmed fatalities across the country. Currently, in Rutland, Vermont, which is where LezGetReal is headquartered, evacuations are on going to get as many people out of the areas near the Otter Creek as possible. The ironically named Water Street is currently under water. The Otter Creek broke its banks at about 4pm after nearly twenty-four hours worth of rainfall in the city. It began raining in Rutland at about 10pm Saturday night.

Route 7, which goes through Rutland, had both lanes inundated by water at one point, and according to Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin, there is not a single road that has not been damaged or completely destroyed by the flooding.

The Vermont National Guard is currently on the scene to try and get people in low laying areas of Rutland to safety. This is a scene repeated in numerous places across Vermont.

Vermont saw one probable fatality as a young woman was swept down the Deerfield River in Wilmington.

At 2pm, Governor Shumlin held a press conference in which he stated:

“It’s really important that Vermonters take this storm seriously and stay inside. Don’t stand next to rushing water, which is what she and her friend were doing at the time of her disappearance. Understand that we’re dealing with the forces of Mother Nature that don’t usually bless us in Vermont, thankfully. This is a hurricane, and we need to take it– we need to proceed with extraordinary caution and good judgment.”

Reports are that some 35,000 Vermonters are without power. According to WCAX:

Central Vermont Power Service: over 27,000 out
Green Mountain Power: about 3,000 out
Vermont Electrical Co-op: more than 4,700
Washington Electric: just under 1,000

The rain is still coming down. Various schools and businesses are expected to be closed tomorrow. Some, like Goddard College in Plainfield, were lucky in that their most recent residency, the Individualized Bachelor’s of Arts, came to a conclusion on 26 August. It is likely that many people were already on their way home by that point.

Parts of Vermont are still recovering from the floods this spring, and it is being estimated that this could be the worst flooding to hit Vermont since 1927.

With regards to Rutland, City Fire Lieutenant Jim Miles stated that it was “flooding like I’ve never seen; high, fast, way over the banks.” Even during this spring’s flooding, Rutland saw little in the way of impact.

On a personal note, LezGetReal’s headquarters- that is my house- is far enough from the Otter Creek so as to not need to be evacuated, nor have there been any power outages here. However, there has been some flooding in the lower areas of the property and there is about four feet of water in the area that makes up the back yard.

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36 Responses to Vermont Hit By Worst Flooding In Almost A Hundred Years Thanks To Irene

  1. Pingback: Hanging in there « Happenings on the Hill

  2. michael

    August 29, 2011 at 7:00 pm

    any news on camps on ferncliff rd, lake st. catherine?

    • Bridgette P. LaVictoire

      August 29, 2011 at 7:53 pm

      So far, no word, but that side of the county did not have a lot of devastation or flooding.

  3. Lisa

    August 29, 2011 at 5:34 pm

    I read Clement Road in Rutland was also flooded, does anyone know any news about the college of saint joseph (CSJ)?

    • Bridgette P. LaVictoire

      August 29, 2011 at 5:46 pm

      Last I had, Clement Road was flooded, but no news about CSJ being open or closed.

  4. Caroline

    August 29, 2011 at 3:31 pm

    Thanks so much! If you have anymore information about Proctor, please post!

  5. Caroline

    August 29, 2011 at 1:56 pm

    Thanks so much! Did the covered bridge get washed out in Proctor?

    • Bridgette P. LaVictoire

      August 29, 2011 at 2:10 pm

      Not that I’ve heard yet, but it has been hard to get any reliable information over all.

  6. Caroline

    August 29, 2011 at 1:28 pm

    How is Willow Street in Proctor? I have family down there? Did the houses flood on the street?

    • Bridgette P. LaVictoire

      August 29, 2011 at 1:40 pm

      So far, all I can find is that there was some minor flooding in Proctor near the marble bridge. I wish I had more news to pass along.

  7. Lynn Tolleson Goen

    August 29, 2011 at 12:00 pm

    How is the Lake Bomoseen area? I know I mispelled that but I’m a little worried about some loved ones that live in that area.

    • Bridgette P. LaVictoire

      August 29, 2011 at 12:01 pm

      That area appears to be fine. There does not seem to have been any major flooding near the lake.

  8. Bridgette P. LaVictoire

    August 29, 2011 at 10:12 am

    I want to thank everyone who has been helping relay information. I was asleep, and when I got up, the net was down.

    Thank you, everyone.

  9. guest

    August 29, 2011 at 9:32 am

    AS of late last night/early this morning poultney was doing ok, some w/out power but not the extensive flooding that was happening towards rutland. hope this helps

    • Johnc

      August 29, 2011 at 9:49 am

      Thank you very much for the news on Poultney.

  10. Johnc

    August 29, 2011 at 9:10 am

    Hello
    Any news on Poultney or Poultney Green?
    Thanks

  11. Karol

    August 29, 2011 at 6:53 am

    Has anyone heard what happened to the folks in Bridgewater? I have relatives there and have not heard from them since 2 pm yesterday. If they were evacuated do you know where they would have gone?

    • Karol

      August 29, 2011 at 8:01 am

      I’ve since heard that my folks are all OK. Thanks

  12. Sirkka Wirkki

    August 29, 2011 at 2:45 am

    Do you know where the assisted living home in Rutland (Loretto Home) was evacuated to? My mom and I have not been able to get in touch with my grandmother.

    • Paula

      August 29, 2011 at 7:10 am

      I heard on Rutland Herald twitter site that Loretto Home was evacuated yesterday afternoon to Rutland Regional Medical Center.

  13. Alx

    August 29, 2011 at 1:20 am

    anything further on Bennington? The new freshmen just arrived there.

  14. Cindy

    August 29, 2011 at 12:39 am

    Stowe, Vermont. Exactly how bad is it? I haven’t been able to get through any family or friends

    • Bridgette P. LaVictoire

      August 29, 2011 at 12:50 am

      The VTran map does not show any problems up there in terms of flooding, but that does not mean that telephones and electricity are not out. I’m about half the state south of there, so I’m not sure how bad it is in Stowe. I wish I had better news.

  15. Kathy

    August 28, 2011 at 10:37 pm

    Thanks for the info…relatives must be without power because I’m getting no responses. Sounds like those in Rutland are not flooded, cousin in Woodstock replied 4 hours ago, not since. Fingers crossed! Thanks!

  16. Dolores

    August 28, 2011 at 10:17 pm

    To Deeka English – I just spoke to my friend on Rt. 4A in Hydeville. She said Hydeville, which is part of Castleton, and Fair Haven are okay. All the flooding seems to be over toward West Rutland and Rutland.

    If your family has a cellphone try that number. That’s how I got through.

    Good luck….

  17. Gayle

    August 28, 2011 at 10:10 pm

    Do you know how the river in Proctor / Pittsford by the covered bridge is?

    • Bridgette P. LaVictoire

      August 28, 2011 at 10:11 pm

      I don’t know, I’m sorry. I was told by my father that there are roads out in Pittsford.

  18. Kathy

    August 28, 2011 at 10:00 pm

    I have relatives in Rutland (and Woodstock)…any news of what areas are flooded near Hwy 4 and Main, or over in Woodstock?

    • Bridgette P. LaVictoire

      August 28, 2011 at 10:10 pm

      US 4 Through Woodstock is closed from Prosper to Route 106. Route 4 and Main in Rutland is open, but I would not be surprised if Route 4 is closed towards Center Rutland. I hope that helps.

  19. Deeka English

    August 28, 2011 at 9:49 pm

    Thank you so much!!

    • Bridgette P. LaVictoire

      August 28, 2011 at 9:57 pm

      You are most welcome, and I really do hope that your relatives are alright.

  20. Deeka English

    August 28, 2011 at 9:23 pm

    Thank you for the reply and prayers – do you know if Fair Haven was evacuated as well as Rutland?

    • Bridgette P. LaVictoire

      August 28, 2011 at 9:46 pm

      It appears that Fair Haven is not at risk of major flooding. CVPS is not showing that the roads are closed there. I’ve been trying to get into the Vermont Emergency Management page, but that is not coming up. I’m going to post it though and hope that it comes up soon. http://www.dps.state.vt.us/vem/

  21. Deeka English

    August 28, 2011 at 9:02 pm

    Can anyone tell me anything about Fair Haven? I have family there and haven’t been able to reach them. Thank you!

    • Bridgette P. LaVictoire

      August 28, 2011 at 9:04 pm

      I wish I could. I think that we’ve got a lot of lines down. I hope that they are alright. Right now, the roads are washed out north and south of Rutland. I hope that you hear from them soon, and if any of your family come upon this blog, I hope they leave a message.

      Best wishes and prayers.