Eagle Time Staff
Waters receded Tuesday, Dec. 19, across Vermont and New Hampshire after Monday’s storms, but not without leaving damage and power outages behind.
“Seeing homes and businesses surrounded by water once again has been heartbreaking,” Vermont Gov. Phil Scott said on Tuesday. “I feel for those that are just getting back on their feet after this summer’s flooding they are now dealing with water in their homes and businesses again. I can’t imagine the toll that has on anyone.”
While streams rose across the state, but the storm’s impact was far less than in July.
The worst damage was reported in Waterbury, the Okemo Valley and Mad River Valley, said Agency of Commerce and Community Development Secretary Lindsay Kurrle.
State crews were working with the towns of Chester, Ludlow, Wardsboro, Brattleboro, Springfield, Strafford, Jamaica, Randolph, as well as several communities in the Mad River Valley and greater Montpelier area to address river concerns and damage on Tuesday.
Out of 40 roads closed during Monday’s storm, only seven — in Milton, South Burlington, Berlin, Barre, Cambridge and Hardwick — remained closed Tuesday evening. Partial closures were in place in Weathersfield, Stowe and South Randolph.
“Thankfully, the state has received no reports of deaths or injuries resulting directly from the flood,” said Public Safety Commissioner Jennifer Morrison.
Swift-water rescue teams made 12 rescues.
“Three people were rescued from a home in Jamaica, and there were nine separate rescues [for drivers] caught in flood waters,” Morrsion said. “Our teams also assisted in some voluntary evacuations from residences that were threatened by, but not inundated.”
“Those returning to their flooded homes should be mindful of potential hazards,” Morrison said. “Turn off the power to your home if you can do so safely, and have the system inspected by a licensed electrician. Ensure that your food is not spoiled and your water is safe to drink.”
“Vermonters are resilient and tough, and they have stepped up time and time again,” Scott said. “And we will need you to help your neighbors once again. I am calling on anyone who is able to reach out to those who might need a hand and help your communities.
New Hampshire
In New Hampshire, on Tuesday, Gov. Chris Sununu announced that state teams were working closely with local officials to assess damage and begin cleanup.
Electric utility Eversource reported that it restored power to more than 84,000 customers in the state, 26,000 of whom faced outages shorter than 5 minutes, which were resolved using smart switching.
With hundreds of crews deployed, Eversource predicted Tuesday afternoon that the last customers would have service restored by 10 p.m.
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