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Flash flood warnings were in effect for parts of Caledonia and
Essex counties until Tuesday evening, said the National Weather
Service, which warned that the situation was life-threatening
and residents should seek higher ground.
Between five to eight inches of rain have fallen in the area,
according to the service.
Severe storms have become more commonplace for Vermonters in the
past few years as extreme weather across the U.S. grows in
frequency and intensity, a symptom of global, human-driven
climate change, scientists say.
Much of the flooding was concentrated in Lyndonville and St.
Johnsbury, near the state capital of Montpelier. Ten swift-water
rescue teams conducted roughly two dozen rescues in the area
last night, according to Vermont Emergency Management.
St. Johnsbury police issued a shelter in place order Tuesday
morning for the town's 7,000 residents. Lyndonville's population
is just over 1,000.
"It’s too early to determine the extent of damage, a lot of
areas are still underwater," said Vermont Emergency Management
spokesperson Mark Bosma on Tuesday.
Photos and videos on social media and local news channels showed
flooded and partially collapsed roads, toppled trees and homes
swept off their foundations.
The destruction follows intense flash flooding in Vermont caused
by the remnants of Hurricane Beryl three weeks ago, resulting in
the death of two people in the state.
The flooding on July 11 fell on the first anniversary of a
catastrophic flood in Montpelier that shut down roadways and
trapped the city's 8,000 residents in their homes.
(Reporting by Liya Cui, Editing by Nick Zieminski)
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