Vermont marks fourth straight year of July flooding as recovery drags on

BARRE, Vt. (WCAX) – For the fourth consecutive year, Vermont communities have faced heavy and damaging rains in July, and across the state, communities are still rebuilding and redesigning to protect against future floods.

Central Vermont saw pelting rain Thursday. The heavy rains came as a surprise to Bob Nelson, a Nelson Hardware owner in Barre, and others in the city who had flashbacks on the eve of the devastating flooding three years ago.

“I could hear pounding on the roof of our house, and my wife and I go out onto the deck and the water is sheeting off over our gutter,” Nelson said. “It’s crazy; it’s the same day the last three years.”

Barre’s infrastructure and homes were largely spared, but the downtown took on about a foot of water.

“It’s a bit of a helpless feeling. All you can do is say a prayer and watch the water come up and hope it stops raining,” Barre Mayor Thom Lauzon said.

Barre has been working to upgrade culverts, remove debris, improve stormwater systems and more. But Lauzon said with limited dollars, it will take time to adjust to a future filled with flooding.

“We spent 75 years encroaching on the Stevens Branch and making it smaller. Now we’re going to take the next 75 years reversing that process,” Lauzon said.

Vermont has conducted some 250 home buyouts, paid out $40 million to families and shelled out some $200 million in infrastructure repairs.

“You always wish you were farther along than you are, but you’re also grateful for all of the hard work that’s gotten you here,” said Doug Farnham, Vermont’s chief recovery officer.

Farnham said most of Vermont’s small and medium flood recovery projects are complete or near complete, but the process with FEMA has been slow because of red tape.

“In many cases, we’re over three years into this. We’re not happy with how long it’s gone, but it’s consistent with the historical performance,” Farnham said.

He added that for Vermont’s downtowns, many of which are built in the floodplain, it will take many decades to build for the future.

Vermont may receive up to another $400 million for new wastewater plants in Hardwick, Johnson and Ludlow, and for upgrades in Montpelier’s Capitol Complex.