Rescues Continue Alongside Recovery

By Layla Kalinen
EAGLE TIMES STAFF
On Tuesday morning, Gov. Phil Scott, Public Safety Commissioner Jennifer Morrison, Transportation Secretary Joe Flynn and recently appointed Chief (Flood) Recovery Officer Doug Farnham held a press conference to update Vermonters on the state’s progress recovering from recent floods.

“As you know, Thursday night and Friday we had heavy rains in parts of Addison County and, in fact, it was a month’s worth of rain, 6 inches in just three hours, and Rutland swift water teams, who are pre-deployed, completed over 20 rescue operations,” the governor said.

“It’s hard to believe that it’s only been about a month since we experienced the first severe flooding,” Scott continued. “Admittedly, it seems like it’s been much longer but we have teams across the state that have continued to respond to the many challenges and intense storms we experience almost every day.”

Commissioner Morrison said Emergency Operations Center workers, volunteers and “many, many others” were focused on clean-up efforts aimed at removing debris. She praised the “incredibly challenging work” done by municipal road crews.

Addressing the impact of recent rains on the state’s recovery efforts, Morrison said rescue teams evacuated nearly three dozen residents from areas of Middlebury and Rutland. “This brings the number of lives rescued to 216 in the past month. Additionally, teams have assisted with 162 evacuations. For context, a normal year sees approximately 6 or so rescues and approximately 30 evacuations during the same time frame.”

Morrison said HAZMAT teams have been involved in much of the cleanup. Overturned propane tanks and major sewage leaks have been a priority focus of their efforts.

“In the past month, hazmat teams have responded to 90 calls. For context, last year, in 2022, there were 135 total calls… [Since the floods], our rapid assessment teams have inspected 880 homes and businesses. In short, the Department of Public Safety, assisted by both in-state and out-of-state partners, has completed more missions this past month than we normally see in many years combined…We will continue to have urban search and rescue assets, which includes swift water rescue teams, staged in the Western part of the state.”

Morrison reported high levels of damage in the seven affected counties. Washington County was especially hard hit, accounting for one third of the 6,000 damage reports called in from around the state to 2-1-1. She also said that more than 4,400 tons of debris had been removed by work crews. Morrison announced that four new recovery centers will be opened this week, including at the Jamaica Fire Department, the first in Windham County.

Secretary Flynn shared damage data from the floods and recovery efforts. He said more than 1,100 roads and bridges were damaged. “We have, so far, used 366,000 pounds of rock, installed 7,000 feet of guardrail and worked on 236 slopes or slides. Again, all just on the state network,” he said.

Flynn said residents could visit https://traitrails.vermont.gov/trail-updates offered residents the website for updated information on rail trail repair and recovery.

Governor Scott announced that the state is using American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) disaster recovery funds in Caledonia, Chittenden, Lamoille, Rutland, Washington, Windham and Windsor counties. He said Farnham will coordinate ARPA, FEMA and other funding for the recovery efforts.

“We know we have a long road ahead but I’m confident Vermonters will continue to pull together and keep Vermont strong.”