Vermont braces for heavy rain as flood response continues

Pallets of bottled water, delivered by the Vermont National Guard on Thursday, are shown at the Woodstock Emergency Services Building on Friday morning. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Amid the ongoing response to this week’s historic flooding, local and state officials are asking Vermonters to stay alert and prepared, with more rainy weather in the forecast for Friday afternoon and Sunday.

On Friday morning, Woodstock Fire Chief David Green said people should stay alert to weather conditions and have a plan to evacuate if needed.

Municipal Manager Eric Duffy confirmed that every road in Woodstock is open, though conditions vary. People are again urged: Never drive through floodwaters if further flooding occurs.

“If the weather gets bad, don’t go out unless you need to, and if you’re in a place where you think you’ll be flooded, either evacuate or reach out to dispatch and we’ll come out and help you,” Duffy said.

An outpouring of support

As local community relief efforts continue, some help has come in from outside: The Vermont National Guard dropped off four large pallets of bottled water at the Woodstock Emergency Services Building Thursday evening. The fire department put the word out and people were coming by to pick up the water Friday morning.

Jane Maxham, who lives at the Riverside Mobile Home Park in Woodstock, came by to get some water for some elderly neighbors. She was grateful to the first responders who helped evacuate her neighborhood on Monday, as well as the park’s manager Everett Chamberlin who helped coordinate the effort. Also, she added that a number of her neighbors stayed at the Shire Motel earlier in the week, which provided rooms for free. Many volunteers have come in to help at Riverside throughout the week.

“It’s an absolutely wonderful volunteer effort,” Maxham said. “As a community, we all work together.” She added, “We certainly fared here much better than we did in [Tropical Storm] Irene.”

That was also seen at the Woodstock Farmers’ Market, which was inundated with two feet of water on its property. Soon after, many volunteers came by to help with clean-up, and the business is already “way ahead of schedule” compared to the clean-up after Tropical Storm Irene in 2011, according to longtime owner Patrick Crowl. 

“When times get tough, we have community,” he said. Crowl said the Farmers’ Market could potentially reopen in 30-60 days, but they’re taking it “day by day.”

Coordinating volunteers and local aid

Seton McIlroy, Woodstock’s volunteer coordinator, said she’s heard from many local residents and former residents who want to help. She said this coordination effort is in the “organizing stage.” 

“We’re happy to get more volunteers. We’re also looking for people that need help,” McIlroy said. “A lot of people are just in the assessing phase. I think the needs (coming in) are slow right now but will pick up once people realize what they need. And as needs arise, we will send people out.” 

McIlroy is working with the Ottauquechee Health Foundation and the Hub, a coordinated group of local nonprofits ready to direct people to needed resources and aid. The Hub serves the towns of Barnard, Bridgewater, Killington, Pomfret, Plymouth, Reading, and Woodstock. McIlroy is also in communication with Upper Valley Strong, in an effort to regionalize the volunteer coordination effort. 

Anyone who wants to volunteer or needs assistance can contact McIlroy at: seton.l.mcilroy@gmail.com

Here is some information regarding the Hub:

1. Online: Complete an application at: https://apply.thehubneighbors.org/form
2. Phone: 802-457-7214
3. Email: apply@thehubneighbors.org
4. Pick up an application: Outside the Ottauquechee Health Foundation office at Simmons House at 30 Pleasant Street, Woodstock.

For Woodstock, where a boil water notice remains in effect: Well testing kits are available from the state of Vermont by calling 802-338-4724. However, people are being asked to test their water only if their well flooded.

A statewide update

The state is also working to coordinate aid and is compiling a list of resources to help impacted Vermonters, according to Gov. Phil Scott, who spoke at a press conference on Friday. In a significant boost for this effort, Scott said the federal government has approved Vermont’s request for a major disaster declaration. 

“It will open up significant federal resources for communities, individuals, businesses and the state,” Scott said. 

The governor also said he’s been inspired by the constant stream of individuals and businesses wanting to help their neighbors around the state. 

“There’s a ton of work to do, and impacted Vermonters will need all the help we can provide,” Scott said. “I know Vermonters will continue to step up and meet the moment.”

— Gareth Henderson

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