Vermont man drowns at home as flooding claims first victim with more rain predicted – news

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'

Pictured: Clean-up continues in Vermont

Thursday 13 July 2023 05:29 , Stuti Mishra

Watch: Bernie Sanders calls Vermont flooding 'worst natural disaster since 1927'

Thursday 13 July 2023 06:29 , Louise Boyle

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

Thursday 13 July 2023 16:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Residents kayak through flooded town as Vermont hit by severe flooding

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.”

Reminder: Never attempt to drive a flooded road

Thursday 13 July 2023 16:30 , Oliver O'Connell

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

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.

Thursday 13 July 2023 17:30 , Oliver O'Connell

US town submerged by catastrophic flooding captured in drone footage

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 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

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

WATCH: Residents kayak through flooded town as Vermont hit by severe flooding

Thursday 13 July 2023 19:05 , Andrea Blanco

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.”

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.

National Weather Service shares protocol to prepare for flash floods

Thursday 13 July 2023 22:30 , Andrea Blanco

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.

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.

WATCH: Drone footage shows Vermont town underwater

Friday 14 July 2023 00:00 , Andrea Blanco

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

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 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

WATCH: Vermont Governor Phil Scott calls flooding 'historic' and vows to clean up damage

04:00 , Andrea Blanco

Vermont residents clean up from historic flooding

05:00 , Andrea Blanco

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.

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

How to help the victims

10:00 , Andrea Blanco

Catastrophic flooding has swamped Vermont’s state capital amid a race to rescue dozens of residents trapped by surging waters.

There are some verified GoFundMe accounts where you can donate to communities impacted by the flooding:

• Help Local Store Devastated by Flood

• Flood Recovery

• Buch Spieler Records Flood Relief

• Help Them Rebuild Their Forever Home

• MotoVermont Employees Displaced Due to Flooding

WATCH: Residents kayak through flooded town as Vermont hit by severe flooding

11:00 , Andrea Blanco

Family of New York mother who died while trying to escape from flooding raises funds for memorial

12:00 , Andrea Blanco

New York’s Hudson Valley has been devastated by the flooding which has destroyed homes and major roadways, caused bridges to collapse, and damaged buildings at the historic West Point military academy.

One death has been reported in the state. Pamela Nugent, 43, died as she tried to escape her flooded home with her dog in the hamlet of Fort Montgomery, officials said.

“The toll this traumatic event has taken on her family, her fiance, and her friends is unimaginable. Pam was an extremely bright, smart, funny, kind and positive person with a generous heart who was ready to do anything she could for you,” her family wrote in the description of a GoFundMe page.

Dozens rescued in Vermont from destructive flooding as states facing multimillion-dollar clean-ups

13:00 , Andrea Blanco

Catastrophic flooding has swamped Vermont’s state capital amid a race to rescue dozens of residents trapped by surging waters.

Drone footage showed picturesque blocks of Montpelier under waist-high water on Tuesday after two months of rain fell in the space of 48 hours. Residents were seen canoeing along a road in front of the state capitol building, and negotiating streets on paddleboards.

The Wrightsville Dam, just north of Montpelier, was being closely watched after officials warned earlier on Tuesday that it was dangerously close to capacity and could breach, risking more flooding in the deluged town.

The Independent’s Louise Boyle reports:

Dozens rescued in Vermont from destructive flooding

WATCH: Bernie Sanders calls Vermont flooding 'worst natural disaster since 1927'

14:00 , Andrea Blanco