SUTTON, Vt. — The rural communities of Vermont were hit once again on Friday with damaged homes and impassable roads due to torrential rain and flash flooding. This marks the third summer in a row where severe floods have struck parts of the state.
Heavy downpours on Thursday dropped nearly 5 inches (13 centimeters) of rain in a matter of hours, causing local waterways to rise rapidly, explained Robert Haynes, a meteorologist from the National Weather Service in Burlington.
In the small town of Sutton, almost 20 homes became isolated when a local brook burst its banks and encircled buildings, reported Fire Chief Kyle Seymour. Emergency teams, assisted by swift-water rescue crews from nearby areas, responded to assist evacuations from two residences.
“The water was forceful and came on fast,” Seymour noted. “It overwhelmed every road culvert, stream, and river. The actual weather event lasted just three hours, with the heaviest rain falling in one hour.” Despite the storms being less widespread than in previous years, authorities were still evaluating the damage on Friday morning and lamenting the fact they are dealing with floods for the third year running.
“When I heard some reports downplaying the severity, I was skeptical,” Seymour mentioned, disclosing that one of his team members is considering retirement due to repeated flooding crises.
Across town, Michelle Tanner stood at what was once her driveway, concerned about her property enduring its third flood. Having lived in Sutton for 25 years, she and her family wish to stay, yet they are anxious about potential future floods.
“We’re not sure if our home can withstand another event,” Tanner expressed. “We’ll wait and see. We don’t want to start from scratch, though it seems we might have to.”
Tanner’s daughter, Tanika Allard, shared her distress over the damage. “This year caused the most damage with the least rain, which was baffling,” she noted.
The National Weather Service attributes Vermont’s flooding challenges to both ongoing climate change and the mountainous geography of the state. Increased rainfall and moisture levels make the state’s steep landscapes especially prone to flooding.
Other parts of Vermont also suffered, as strong winds ripped a significant part of a high school roof off in Addison County. Meanwhile, in Massachusetts on Thursday, flash flooding occurred after rains of more than 7 inches (18 centimeters) drenched some areas. Businesses in Weymouth, the hardest-hit area, experienced flooding, and commuters encountered delays as highways and roads south of Boston were submerged.