Irene brings worst flooding in century to Vermont

AP ^ | 29 Aug 2011 | Dave Gram

[Palter]

Almost a dozen New England towns were rendered virtual islands Monday as floodwaters from the remnants of Hurricane Irene reshaped parts of Vermont and upstate New York, turning placid rivers into raging torrents and some streets into treacherous mud bogs.

Hundreds of roads remained closed, dozens of bridges were gone and entire towns were cut off from assistance in the worst flooding some areas have seen in a century.

A day earlier, Irene dumped up to 11 inches on parts of Vermont and more than 13 inches on some areas of New York — a deluge that quickly overwhelmed waterways, storm sewers and drainage systems. At one point, the floodwaters were rising so fast that Vermont officials feared they might have to take the extraordinary step of flooding the state capital of Montpelier to relieve pressure on a dam.

"We prepared for the worst and we got the worst in central and southern Vermont," Gov. Peter Shumlin said. "It's just devastating — whole communities under water. ... We're tough folks here in Vermont, but Irene really ... hit us hard."

The destruction was etched across the landscape: highways washed out by fast-moving water, bridges and homes crumpled into heaps of broken planks and streets filled with mud thick enough to stop heavy duty vehicles in their tracks.

The images were much the same in upstate New York, where buildings that had withstood a century of hard winters and spring floods were carried away. The floodwaters upended cars and trucks and sent trees tumbling down rivers like matchsticks.

"We were expecting heavy rains," said Bobbi-Jean Jeun of Clarksville, a rural hamlet near Albany. "We were expecting flooding. We weren't expecting devastation."

[Westbrook]

> which means you won’t be posting to complain about your
> travails

Look, we’re not complaining. Most of us were just reporting our status, when we were barraged with all this “we have it worse than you” crap.

Not only do we feel bad for your parents and all the people who suffered that storm, but we put our bloody money where our mouth is and contributed to reconstruction efforts. Many of us went down there to help with their hands. There wasn’t a church in our area that didn’t send people to help in MO and LA.

And thee are some folks up here who have it as bad as your folks did.

So, enough already.

If all you can do is send prayers and concern, we welcome that. But if you want to ride a high horse and condemn us as whining weaklings, then get lost.

[Westbrook]

Finally a human response from somebody outside of the Northeast US.

Thank you, my brother, and rest assured that we all pray and mourn for you when your region suffers.

We are the church.

We rejoice when you rejoice.

We suffer when you suffer.

And we learn more from the suffering than from the rejoicing.

God bless and keep you.

[AD from SpringBay]

There is another thread similar to this one but it talks to the power outages in Connecticut. Having read through the comments I find it interesting that we no longer seem to be united states. Our thinking is now quite regional as in, "This is what happened in my neck of the woods," or, "FEMA didn't do jack for us when this happened," or, "The media only gave us a quick mention so why should I worry about what's going on in your state?"

A house divided against itself will not stand, or something like that. How have these seeds of division been planted and how far will they grow to undermine the foundations of who we are as a nation?

[Westbrook]

Wow, another rational response.

Let’s hope it’s a trend.

I agree with you wholeheartedly.

[10thAmendmentGuy]

Poor native Vermonters. They had their state stolen from them by socialist hippies. Now, this. My mother-in-law lived in Vermont - all of her friends left the state in the last 10-15 years.

The hippies haven't gotten the guns yet, however. Vermont has constitutional carry and you can carry concealed or open carry without a permit in either case. They also have state laws that pre-empt local communities from enacting stricter gun control than exists at the state level.

[Doe Eyes]

There are some in this forum who think this is no big deal.

I've been reading the posts lately. There was no hurricane. At most, a thunderstorm.

The whole deal was a product of the Liberal Press and Obama to take peoples mind off the economy.

[10thAmendmentGuy]

It is very sad indeed. Full disclosure: I live in New York. I remember when they passed homosexual marriage here in the spring, and I was lurking on here and read some of the comments condemning people who lived here without realizing that many of us don't support homosexual marriage. McCain did win 36% of the vote here in 2008. Nearly 4 in 10 New Yorkers voted against Obama.

Even in Vermont, McCain still got more than 30% of the vote. People shouldn't blame us for the sins of our liberal politicians and liberal voters. We're simply outvoted, time after time.

[SZonian]

Shameful and way over the line, but coming from a noob, I don’t know that I would put much, if any stock in what he’s saying.

It’s not much, but know that I’m praying for you guys. I witnessed what a stalled TD (Alberto in ‘94) could do while I was in SC. It’s not pretty. The immense power of water and the damage it can cause is not something to underestimate by any means.

Take care FRiend,
SZ

[AD from SpringBay]

I am in Illinois and feel your pain.

[Westbrook]

> The whole deal was a product of the Liberal Press and Obama
> to take peoples mind off the economy.

Be sure to tell that to the folks who lost everything in the floods, the folks who will be isolated for days or even weeks by the flooding, the millions who have no power tonight, and the relatives of the so very few dead and injured.

I’m sure they’ll appreciate your stunningly compelling analysis.

[Darnright]

Peter, what condition is Rutland in? I’ve got family up there.

[Nonsense Unlimited]

- I’ve been reading the posts lately. There was no hurricane. At most, a thunderstorm.

It doesn’t matter if the flooding is caused by a hurricane, , a tsunami, a thunderstorm or excessive ice packs melting.
When your home ends up with 3 feet of mud in it, it’s a nightmare.

There will always be people who care, they just get harder to find as the world grows colder.

God bless.

[MS.BEHAVIN]

Thunderstorm, my A$$.
You don’t live up here, so it’s no big deal to YOU.
You have no idea what you are talking about.

Westbrook and I and other Northeast Freepers have been through alot with this storm, hurricane or not.
It caused extensive flooding and damage, and our Vermont friends got the worst of it.

It doesn’t matter which state is liberal, conservative or otherwise.
People are suffering.

How about offering prayers and or support instead of a smarmy attitude?

[Westbrook]

Thank you, FRiend.

We know we didn’t get it as bad as some folks, but bad is bad. Destruction is destruction. Loss is loss.

And it’s turning out worse than anticipated for folks near the rivers.

[logitech]

I have only read some of the comments on FR. Today is the 6th anniv of Katrina. I know how you feel. If it didn’t happen to NYC or New Orleans, who gives a cr@p? Join the invisible club.
Keith in Gulfport,MS

PS. On the good side, I still can see the Gulf from my porch because the houses between me and the beach don’t exist anymore.

[rlmorel]

Well, you have my prayers and support from this MA resident.

I do believe it was overhyped being an east coast storm, even as it came through my state, but I changed my tune pretty damn quickly when I saw what it is doing to Vermont.

Stay safe up there.

[luckystarmom]

I have an aunt and 2nd cousin who were elderly and went without electricy for over 3 weeks post Rita in East TExas. They did not have generators.

[rjeffries]

All of this stuff that needs to be taken care of. Your 9 kids you mentioned and all those farm animals. There’s nothing else to do right now besides posting on an internet forum? Glad you have your priorities straight.

[robowombat]

People pooh poohing this storm are being delusional. I saw firsthand what damage a much less significant storm, Isabella, did in the Chesapeake Bay area in 2003. The most long lasting problem is going to be restoring the many rural roads that have been washed out. Even with a more competent state government in Vermont than we had in Louisiana I am pretty certain this is going to be a project that will take years rater than a year to fix. Sorry to be the bearer of gloomy tidings but flooding especially flooding with scouring force is unbelievably destructive. Organized pressure by the rural people will keep the city mice in Burlington and Montpelier from forgetting your problems. Good luck, you will need it.

[MS.BEHAVIN]

Thank you.
We got out of it pretty lucky, this time.

Yes, it WAS over-hyped, but it did some real and terrible damage, and 18 people lost their lives in this storm.

I am praying for all affected by it, and Vermont especially.
Take care!