LYNDON, Vt. (AP) — Vermont Gets Respite from Flood Warnings as US Senator Pushes for Disaster Aid Package
LYNDON, Vt. (AP) — Vermont residents breathed a collective sigh of relief on Thursday as the National Weather Service lifted flood warnings, following a series of destructive storms that had ravaged the state. The respite comes as U.S. Senator Peter Welch is urging Congress to pass a comprehensive disaster aid package to support not only Vermont but communities nationwide grappling with the aftermath of wildfires, floods, hurricanes, and tornadoes.
The recent downpours, which had been particularly severe on Wednesday night, affected parts of Vermont and neighboring New Hampshire. St. Johnsbury, Vermont, which had received over 8 inches (20 centimeters) of rain on Tuesday, saw a more moderate rainfall of less than an inch on Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.
Vermont Governor Phil Scott addressed the state at a news conference on Wednesday, highlighting the devastating impact of the latest storms. "This time, it’s especially bad after workers spent the past three weeks working furiously to recover from the last flooding," Scott said. "It feels much worse than a punch or a kick. It’s simply demoralizing. But we can’t give up. We’ve got to stick together and fight back against the feeling of defeat."
Preliminary assessments by state officials indicate that approximately 50 homes were either destroyed or severely damaged. The storms also resulted in the closure of more than half a dozen roads, a lightning strike that disrupted water services in part of St. Johnsbury, and contamination of several wells serving the village of Lyndonville due to flooding.
In response to these ongoing challenges, Democratic U.S. Senator Peter Welch took to the Senate floor on Wednesday night to advocate for a supplemental disaster aid package. "We can’t recover without that federal help," Welch emphasized. "I just can’t stress this enough. We need Congress to step up. And we need the help of all of us here because, well, it’s Vermont this time, it may be New Hampshire next time. It may be Texas next month. And I believe all of us have to help one another when an event occurs causing such harm to people we represent. And it’s through no fault of their own."
Vermont had already faced significant flooding earlier in July, attributed to the remnants of Hurricane Beryl. That event had similarly devastated infrastructure, including roads and bridges, and inundated numerous farms. The recent flooding marks a grim anniversary, occurring exactly a year after another severe flooding episode that affected Vermont and several other states.
As Vermont begins the arduous process of recovery, the urgency for a robust federal response remains paramount, underscoring the broader need for a national strategy to address the escalating impacts of climate-related disasters.