Vermont man drowns at home as flooding claims first victim with more rain predicted – live
Vermont authorities confirmed the first flood-related death following catastrophic rain on Wednesday.
Some 117 rescues were made in Vermont as the towns of Londonderry and Weston remained largely inaccessible. Officials were beginning to assess how many homes had been destroyed and what the financial cost would be from damaged roads, bridges and railways.
Vermont Emergency Management confirmed on Thursday that 63-year-old Stephen Davoll died as a result of a drowning incident in his home on Wednesday. It is the first death linked to the historic floodings in the state.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared the floodings a “1-in-1,000-year weather event” caused by the climate crisis, after a woman died in the Empire State when she was swept away while trying to escape her home with her dog.
Vermont Governor Phil Scott said at a news conference that thunderstorms were expected to move into parts of the state by Thursday night, which could cause more flash flooding.
“The period we are more concerned about is Sunday because that could be more widespread and heavier, but not nearly on the scale of what we saw earlier in the week,” National Weather Service meteorologist Seth Kutikoff also said.
Key Points
Travel disrupted as 13 million people in the US north-east under flood alert
One killed, 50 rescued so far as US northeast faces extreme downpour and flooding
Governor says Vermont downpour 'worse than Irene'
Watch: Drone footage shows Montepelier underwater as dam threatened
Woman died in New York as she tried to escape flooding
08:00 , Andrea Blanco
One death in New York was blamed on the storm — a woman whose body was found after she was swept away in Fort Montgomery, a small Hudson River community about 45 miles north of New York City.
Gov Phil Scott said he planned to submit a request for a major disaster declaration to President Joe Biden. “It’s separate from, and in addition to, the federal emergency declaration the president already signed” on Tuesday, he said. If approved, the declaration would provide federal support for recovering communities.
In Vermont’s small state capital of Montpelier, where the swollen Winooski River had flooded downtown, the elevator at City Hall was damaged, making the building inaccessible, spokesperson Evelyn Prim said.
“Cleanup from the hazardous floodwater damage in City Hall is expected to take several months. Because of this, City Hall will be closing until further notice,” she said.
AP
People return to devastated houses after water recedes
06:00 , Andrea Blanco
Residents in Vermont are returning home to find their houses and belongings damaged after severe flooding left the capital city Montpelier as a swirling, brown waterway.
One resident posted a video of their front yard with the entry door blocked with mud and stones and car stuck.
Vermont residents clean up from historic flooding
05:00 , Andrea Blanco
WATCH: Vermont Governor Phil Scott calls flooding 'historic' and vows to clean up damage
04:00 , Andrea Blanco
Vermont slowly turns to recovery after being hit by flood from slow-moving storm
03:00 , Andrea Blanco
Floodwaters receded in Vermont cities and towns pummeled by a storm that delivered two months of rain in two days, allowing officials to focus on recovering from a disaster that trapped residents in homes, closed roadways and choked streets and businesses with mud and debris.
In the capital city of Montpelier, where streets were flooded Tuesday by the swollen Winooski River, officials said that water levels at a dam just upstream appeared to be stable.
“It looks like it won’t breach. That is good. That is one less thing we have to have on our front burner,” Montpelier Town Manager Bill Fraser said.
Fraser said the dam remains a lingering concern but with the water receding the city was shifting to recovery mode. Public works employees were expected out Wednesday to start removing mud and debris downtown and building inspections will start as businesses begin cleaning up their properties.
The slow-moving storm reached New England after hitting parts of New York and Connecticut on Sunday. Some communities received between 7 and 9 inches (18 centimeters and 23 centimeters) of rain. Towns in southwest New Hampshire had heavy flooding and road washouts, and the Connecticut River was expected to crest above flood stage Wednesday in Hartford and towns to the south.
AP
VOICES: Vermont floods prove that there’s no place to hide from the climate crisis
02:00 , Andrea Blanco
“Nature and climate change will always be one step ahead of us,” writes David Calloway, founder of Callaway Climate Insights.
Vermont floods prove that there’s no place to hide from the climate crisis
Vermont’s catastrophic flooding is visible from space
01:00 , Andrea Blanco
Vermont is beginning the long and gruelling clean-up from catastrophic flooding this week – the scale of which is so vast that it can be seen from space.
The Green Mountain State wasn’t alone: other Northeastern states are facing their own expensive recoveries from major, slow-moving storms which dumped months of rain on the region in a matter of days.
The Independent’s Louise Boyle has more:
Vermont’s catastrophic flooding is visible from space
WATCH: Drone footage shows Vermont town underwater
Friday 14 July 2023 00:00 , Andrea Blanco
Vermont braces for more rain in wake of historic flooding
Thursday 13 July 2023 23:30 , Andrea Blanco
Vermont prepared for the next round of storms — and possibly a tornado — as people took advantage of calm weather Thursday to clean up from historic flooding that damaged thousands of homes, businesses and roads, and left some residents stranded.
As floodwaters receded, the good news was that there were no new rescue missions, dams were holding up and more roads reopened.
The bad news was that strong thunderstorms were expected to move into parts of the state by Thursday night, which could cause more flash flooding, Gov. Phil Scott said at a news conference. Conditions could spawn a tornado, he said. And the state could get more heavy rain over the weekend.
First flood-related death in Vermont confirmed
Thursday 13 July 2023 23:17 , Andrea Blanco
Vermont Emergency Management confirmed on Thursday that 63-year-old Stephen Davoll died as a result of a drowning incident in his home on Wednesday. It is the first death linked to the historic floodings in the state.
In Vermont, communities were cleaning up from the floods that were more destructive in some places than 2011’s Tropical Storm Irene and regarded as the worst natural disaster since the 1927 floods, which killed dozens of people and caused widespread destruction.
Officials were beginning to assess how many homes had been destroyed and what the financial cost would be from damaged roads, bridges and railways.
National Weather Service shares protocol to prepare for flash floods
Thursday 13 July 2023 22:30 , Andrea Blanco
Will you be ready for sudden flash floods? Stay #WeatherReady by enabling weather alerts on your phone. If flooding occurs while you’re outdoors, immediately get to higher ground, and NEVER enter flood waters in a vehicle or on foot. https://t.co/uucDwbLg9C pic.twitter.com/9jQZ5pzZ8h
— National Weather Service (@NWS) July 13, 2023
Snow shovels repurposed to clear mud from floods
Thursday 13 July 2023 21:52 , Andrea Blanco
Volunteers pulled out their snow shovels Wednesday to clear inches of mud after torrential rain and flooding inundated communities across Vermont, trapping people in homes, closing roadways and littering streets and businesses with debris.
The water drained off most streets in the state capital of Montpelier, where the swollen Winooski River flooded basements and ground floors, destroying merchandise and furniture across the picturesque downtown. Other communities cleaned up as well from historic floods that were more destructive than Tropical Storm Irene in many places. Dozens of roads remained closed, and thousands of homes and businesses are damaged.
But with people still being rescued, high water still blocking some roads and new flash flood warnings issued with more rain on the way, the crisis is far from over, according to state Public Safety Commissioner Jennifer Morrison.
“Vermonters, keep your guard up, and do not take chances,” she said.
Morrison said urban search and swift water rescue teams came to the aid of least 32 people and numerous animals Tuesday night in northern Vermont’s Lamoille County, bringing the total to more than 200 rescues since Sunday, and more than 100 evacuations.
Vermont under severe thunderstorm watch
Thursday 13 July 2023 21:37 , Andrea Blanco
“This isn’t over, and it won’t be over after this storm,” Gov. Phil Scott said on Thursday. “Today I will submit the request for President Biden for a major disaster declaration, which, if approved, would provide federal disaster relief funds, which would be very helpful to communities in the recovery phase.”
Rains and severe weather forecast for southern Vermont
Thursday 13 July 2023 21:12 , Andrea Blanco
Vermont residents are poised for another deluge with the National Weather Service warning: “Scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms are expected this afternoon and evening. Some t-storms will be severe with damaging winds, large hail, and locally heavy rainfall.”
The storms are set to hit the state between 4pm and 8pm with saturated soils likely to exacerbate runoff and flooding.
Rains expected for Vermont and US northeast
Thursday 13 July 2023 20:48 , Andrea Blanco
While stifling temperatures have gripped many parts of the country, Vermont and other Northeastern states barely have had time to recover from historic flooding in recent days when the National Weather Service forecast more heavy rainfall across parts of New England in the coming days, where rivers and streams are already running high.
Possible renewed flooding in Easter New York, according to Weather Service
Thursday 13 July 2023 20:20 , Andrea Blanco
“Showers and thunderstorms moving across the region Thursday afternoon through early Friday may produce renewed flooding in Eastern New York and Western New England,” the National Weather Service said on Thursday.
Showers and thunderstorms moving across the region Thursday afternoon through early Friday may produce renewed flooding in Eastern New York and Western New England. pic.twitter.com/Eox8Rnym9E
— NWS Northeast RFC (@NWSNERFC) July 13, 2023
People return to devastated houses after water recedes
Thursday 13 July 2023 20:00 , Andrea Blanco
Residents in Vermont are returning home to find their houses and belongings damaged after severe flooding left the capital city Montpelier as a swirling, brown waterway.
One resident posted a video of their front yard with the entry door blocked with mud and stones and car stuck.
Finally got to return to the house and get my stuff — here’s the aftermath of yesterday’s mudslide and flood in Ludlow, Vermont. Grateful I got out when I did! Don’t think I’ll be moving that truck anytime soon… pic.twitter.com/BROrWyccOr
— alisha durgin (@babygotbckcntry) July 12, 2023
Road reparation continues in Orange County after floods
Thursday 13 July 2023 19:36 , Andrea Blanco
Debora Kopald, who lives in the Town of Highland in Orange County, New York, — where a woman died after she was swept away while trying to escape her home with her dog, told The Independent that all road roads were either washed out or covered with boulders on Monday.
“I live at the end of ... a hill- and there is only one way out - and part of the road caved in - they are telling us not to drive on the rest [because] it might cave in all the way. It’s a fire hazard and very serious,” Ms Kopald said.
Weather conditions have improved in Orange County, as Vermont gears for storms set to hit the state between 4pm and 8pm.
WATCH: Residents kayak through flooded town as Vermont hit by severe flooding
Thursday 13 July 2023 19:05 , Andrea Blanco
Dangerous heat wave baking US Southwest brings triple digit temperatures
Thursday 13 July 2023 18:45 , Oliver O'Connell
After a historically wet winter and a cloudy spring, California‘s summer was in full swing Thursday as a heat wave that’s been scorching much of the US Southwest brings triple-digit temperatures and an increased risk of wildfires.
Blistering conditions will build Friday and throughout the weekend in the central and southern parts of California, where many residents should prepare for the hottest weather of the year, the National Weather Service warned.
Midday highs were mostly expected to be above 100 degrees (37.7 C), and desert areas could reach 120 (48.8 C), forecasters said. Little relief was expected overnight when temperatures could remain in the 80s (above 26.6 C). An excessive heat watch was in effect through Sunday for interior Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties.
Read more...
Dangerous heat wave baking US Southwest brings triple digit temperatures, fire risk to California
Thursday 13 July 2023 18:30 , Oliver O'Connell
Volunteers turned out in droves to help flooded businesses in Montpelier, a city of 8,000, shoveling mud, cleaning, and moving damaged items outside. “We’ve had so much enthusiasm for support for businesses downtown that most of the businesses have had to turn folks away,” said volunteer organizer Peter Walke.
Similar scenes played out in neighboring Barre and in Bridgewater, where the Ottauquechee River spilled its banks, and in Ludlow, where the Black River sent floodwaters surging into several restaurants co-owned by chef Andrew Molen. He said Sam’s Steakhouse is likely closed for good after the water inside reached nearly 7 feet (more than 2 meters) high.
“The only thing that’s probably gonna be salvageable is the silverware, and even then, after being in that muck for so long, you wash everything, do you really want to put that on the table? It’s pretty intense what happened,” Molen said.
Another of his restaurants, Mr. Darcy’s, had a couple feet of water inside, damaging the foundation. But Molen said he hasn’t focused on cleaning up yet, because the first order of business has been making sure local residents and first responders stay fed. His crew has been cooking at one of the restaurants that remains functional and using ATVs through standing water to bring the meals to a local community center.
AP
Snow shovels repurposed to clear mud from floods
Thursday 13 July 2023 18:15 , Oliver O'Connell
Volunteers pulled out their snow shovels Wednesday to clear inches of mud after torrential rain and flooding inundated communities across Vermont, trapping people in homes, closing roadways and littering streets and businesses with debris.
The water drained off most streets in the state capital of Montpelier, where the swollen Winooski River flooded basements and ground floors, destroying merchandise and furniture across the picturesque downtown. Other communities cleaned up as well from historic floods that were more destructive than Tropical Storm Irene in many places. Dozens of roads remained closed, and thousands of homes and businesses are damaged.
But with people still being rescued, high water still blocking some roads and new flash flood warnings issued with more rain on the way, the crisis is far from over, according to state Public Safety Commissioner Jennifer Morrison.
“Vermonters, keep your guard up, and do not take chances,” she said.
Morrison said urban search and swift water rescue teams came to the aid of least 32 people and numerous animals Tuesday night in northern Vermont’s Lamoille County, bringing the total to more than 200 rescues since Sunday, and more than 100 evacuations.
AP
Thursday 13 July 2023 17:30 , Oliver O'Connell
US town submerged by catastrophic flooding captured in drone footage
Watch: Extraordinary amount of sediment washed down mountains by initial deluge
Thursday 13 July 2023 17:00 , Oliver O'Connell
The Weather Channel’s Justin Michaels posted this video from Ludlow, Vermont, showing the huge amount of sediment piled up by the flooding this week, as more rain looms.
WATCH 👀 The amount of sediment that came down from the Green Mountains in Ludlow, VT is extraordinary. With more flooding rain forecast, it’s a race against the clock to get as much done as possible before the rain begins again. @weatherchannel is storytelling in Vermont. pic.twitter.com/qRb9sY8Uzn
— Justin Michaels (@JMichaelsNews) July 13, 2023
Chicago tornado cluster has thousands seeking shelter at O’Hare Airport
Thursday 13 July 2023 16:44 , Oliver O'Connell
At least eight tornadoes and thunderstorms touched down in the greater Chicago area on Wednesday, setting off sirens and other warnings in America’s third-biggest city.
The National Weather Service issued an advisory for people in the Chicago area to seek shelter for the night after one tornado touched down near the O’Hare International Airport.
Shweta Sharma has the story.
Tornado cluster tears through Chicago as thousands shelter at O’Hare Airport
Reminder: Never attempt to drive a flooded road
Thursday 13 July 2023 16:30 , Oliver O'Connell
With storms passing through today, the risk of additional flash flooding exists especially for the eastern half of the state into Vermont.
**Remember**
Never attempt to drive through a flooded road.
It takes just 12” of moving water to sweep a car away.#NYwx pic.twitter.com/ewq1xo3Vc9— Jack Durkin (@DurkinWeather) July 13, 2023
NH senator praises first responders for assisting neighbouring Vermont
Thursday 13 July 2023 16:15 , Oliver O'Connell
New Hampshire Senator Jeanne Shaheen has praised the National Guard and firefighters from her state for their assistance across the border in Vermont following the deluge that hit that state this week.
She tweeted: “Thanks to @NHNationalGuard and Bedford and Manchester firefighters for their quick response in assisting our neighbors in Vermont following the devastating floods. The bravery and dedication of swift water rescue crews are making a difference as we respond to this crisis.”
Thanks to @NHNationalGuard and Bedford and Manchester firefighters for their quick response in assisting our neighbors in Vermont following the devastating floods. The bravery and dedication of swift water rescue crews are making a difference as we respond to this crisis.…
— Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (@SenatorShaheen) July 13, 2023
Thursday 13 July 2023 16:00 , Oliver O'Connell
Residents kayak through flooded town as Vermont hit by severe flooding
Numerous scattered showers and thunderstorms set to hit this evening
Thursday 13 July 2023 15:25 , Oliver O'Connell
Vermont residents are poised for another deluge with the National Weather Service warning: “Scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms are expected this afternoon and evening. Some t-storms will be severe with damaging winds, large hail, and locally heavy rainfall.”
The storms are set to hit the state between 4pm and 8pm with saturated soils likely to exacerbate runoff and flooding.
Scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms are expected this afternoon and evening. Some t-storms will be severe with damaging winds, large hail, and locally heavy rainfall. Please ensure you have a way to receive our warnings today and keep an eye on the sky! #NYwx #VTwx pic.twitter.com/SGUb4AbiFX
— NWS Burlington (@NWSBurlington) July 13, 2023
Vermont’s catastrophic flooding was visible from space
Thursday 13 July 2023 15:15 , Oliver O'Connell
Vermont is beginning the long and gruelling clean-up from catastrophic flooding this week – the scale of which is so vast that it can be seen from space.
The Green Mountain State wasn’t alone: other Northeastern states are facing their own expensive recoveries from major, slow-moving storms which dumped months of rain on the region in a matter of days.
Louise Boyle filed this report.
Vermont’s catastrophic flooding is visible from space
US faced ‘12 separate billion-dollar weather and climate disasters’ in 2023, says NOAA
Thursday 13 July 2023 14:29 , Stuti Mishra
In 2023 so far, the US has faced “12 separate billion-dollar weather and climate disasters,” according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
The US government’s climate and environment body said that June 2023 was record hot for some parts of the US, while other locations were roiled by severe weather and poor air quality.
So far, the average temperature for the contiguous US was 49.2 degrees F, (1.7 degrees above the 20th-century average), ranking as the 21st-warmest year based on the data of first six months.
Till 11 July, there have been 12 confirmed climate disaster events, NOAA said, with losses exceeding $1 billion each.
Land temperatures in Spain surpass 60C amid deadly heat
Thursday 13 July 2023 13:29 , Stuti Mishra
As deadly heat engulfs southern US, the temperatures across the Mediterranean are also set to break records.
The temperature of the ground in some areas of Spain has hit more than 60C during the deadly heatwave sweeping Europe, satellite recordings have shown.
It was so hot that a heat map that highlights scorching temperatures in red turned even darker – to black.
Temperature records have been broken on most of the continent, including France, Switzerland, Germany and Italy, where highs of 40C were recorded again on Wednesday.
Read more:
Land temperatures in Spain surpass record 60C in deadly heatwave
Eight tornadoes touch down in four Chicago counties
Thursday 13 July 2023 12:29 , Stuti Mishra
Extreme weather also threatened the Chicago area, where at least eight tornadoes touched down in four counties in northeastern Illinois.
One tornado touched down near Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport on Wednesday evening, prompting passengers to take shelter and disrupting hundreds of flights. There were no immediate reports of injuries.
A confirmed tornado was on the ground around 7pm, according to the National Weather Service in Chicago.
“This tornado has been touching the ground intermittently so far and is moving east. There are additional circulations along the line south of O’Hare. Seek shelter if in the warned area,” it said.
The view from Chicago Midway Airport as a tornado-warned storm pushed through moments ago.
Over 1.7 million people in the Chicago area were included within this tornado warning.
Video sent in by: Taylor Mobley#weather #tornado #stormhour #ilwx #wx pic.twitter.com/DO56S1lBza— Nash Rhodes (@NashWX) July 12, 2023
Death Valley can see 'highest temperature on Earth', expert warns
Thursday 13 July 2023 11:29 , Stuti Mishra
The southern parts of the US is bracing for potentially deadly heat with much of the area under an excessive heat warning.
The National Weather Service issued excessive heat advisories, watches and warnings for areas where about 100 million Americans live. The sweltering conditions are expected to worsen over the weekend and continue into next week.
Meteorologist Colin McCarthy warned on Twitter that Death Valley, one of the hottest places on the planet, can see temperatures "soar up to 131F (55C), which, if recorded by a weather station, would be the highest temperature ever reliably recorded on Earth".
The National Weather Service is now forecasting Death Valley to soar up to 131°F (55°C), which, if recorded by a weather station, would be the highest temperature ever reliably recorded on Earth. pic.twitter.com/Jonl9GBfzB
— Colin McCarthy (@US_Stormwatch) July 13, 2023
The records show Furnace Creek Ranch in Death Valley recording a temperature of 134.1F (56.7C) in July 1913, which is considered the highest temperature recorded on Earth, however, that reading has been under question by scientists with several meteorological experts asserting that there were irregularities.
More rains expected for Vermont and US northeast
Thursday 13 July 2023 10:29 , Stuti Mishra
While stifling temperatures have gripped many parts of the country, Vermont and other Northeastern states barely have had time to recover from historic flooding in recent days when the National Weather Service forecast more heavy rainfall across parts of New England in the coming days, where rivers and streams are already running high.
Excessive heat is baking US Southwest and expected to get worse
Thursday 13 July 2023 09:29 , Stuti Mishra
A prolonged heat wave blanketed a swath of the US stretching from California to South Florida on Wednesday, with forecasters expecting temperatures that could shatter records in parts of the Southwest in the coming days.
The National Weather Service issued excessive heat advisories, watches and warnings for areas where about 100 million Americans live. The sweltering conditions are expected to worsen over the weekend and continue into next week.
People return to devastated houses after water recedes
Thursday 13 July 2023 08:29 , Stuti Mishra
Residents in Vermont are returning home to find their houses and belongings damaged after severe flooding left the capital city Montpelier as a swirling, brown waterway.
One resident posted a video of their front yard with the entry door blocked with mud and stones and car stuck.
Finally got to return to the house and get my stuff — here’s the aftermath of yesterday’s mudslide and flood in Ludlow, Vermont. Grateful I got out when I did! Don’t think I’ll be moving that truck anytime soon… pic.twitter.com/BROrWyccOr
— alisha durgin (@babygotbckcntry) July 12, 2023
City of Montpelier warns of sinkholes after flooding
Thursday 13 July 2023 07:29 , Louise Boyle
Officials in the Vermont city of Montpelier warned residents to beware of potential sinkholes as flood waters recede and saturated ground settles.
“Sinkholes can develop fast and without warning. Do not walk or drive around closed roads or barricades. Please also obey traffic signals and be on the lookout for deep potholes filled with water that may damage or incapacitate your vehicle,” the city said.
Watch: Bernie Sanders calls Vermont flooding 'worst natural disaster since 1927'
Thursday 13 July 2023 06:29 , Louise Boyle
Pictured: Clean-up continues in Vermont
Thursday 13 July 2023 05:29 , Stuti Mishra