Governor Shumlin Tours Sandbar Area

[Chris Santee]

Governor and Transportation Secretary Visit Flooding Sites

State Road Update: Route 129 in Isle La Motte Now OPEN

MILTON – Gov. Peter Shumlin and Transportation Secretary Brian Searles today visited areas on Lake Champlain, including the causeway connecting Milton and South Hero, to track flood damage along the shoreline.

“The Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) is working to stay ahead of the weather to keep roads open and safe for the traveling public,” Gov. Shumlin said. He visited the causeway site, where stone was being dropped to protect the structure, and said efforts to protect home and property owners are also underway in many communities that line the lake.

“Vermonters are tough and tenacious. Working together, we’ll get through this,” the Governor added.

The waters of Lake Champlain have reached historic flood levels following continued precipitation throughout April and melting snow pack from the heavy winter, and numerous rivers and streams are also at flood level across the state. VTrans has shored up roads wherever possible and implemented detours where needed.

The Governor met with Searles at the causeway for an update after the Transportation Secretary had visited several areas of significant flooding around the state to assess road damage and repair efforts.  At the Route 2 causeway, rock from quarries across the state were being trucked in and deposited to create a breakwater to protect the causeway from on-coming rain, wind and waves.

Secretary Searles added, “Vtrans has been working very hard to keep the state roadways passable. We brought over 1,000 bags of sand to Isle La Motte to open Route 129, which we managed to do by early evening.  We have stabilized Route 17 in Addison, and are working to sustain travel along the causeway on Route 2.  We will continue to monitor the areas of greatest concern along the Lake, in particular the tributaries for Missisquoi and Lamoille Rivers.”

Rainfall totals set a record in April, creating swollen rivers and unstable stream banks, and prompting the Lake Champlain level to hit an all-time high. Rain is expected to continue through to Friday. The saturated ground and on-going precipitation has already resulted in several road closures.

State Road Closures:

Route 36  in St. Albans, between Georgia Shore Road and Bronson Road (1 mile west of St. Albans) is closed due to flooding. Motorists are advised to avoid this section of roadway.

Route 125 near Chimney Point is closed approximately 13 miles west of Middlebury. Route 17 remains open following Vtrans action to add fill to flooded areas.

Maid Stone State Highway is closed due to flooding. Motorists are advised to avoid this section of roadway.

Route 73 in Brandon, along the Otter Creek, is closed. Motorists are advised to avoid this section of roadway.

Smugglers Notch, Jeffersonville to Stowe, remains closed, weather pending.

Areas of Ongoing Concern:

With continued precipitation, and Lake Champlain levels are expected to continue to rise. Vtrans, in association with Vermont Emergency Management, continues to monitor several problem areas, particularly roads along Lake Champlain and swollen rivers. These roads are not currently closed but may be reduced to one lane traffic.

I-89 Southbound in Milton will be one-lane traffic due to instability of the right lane.

Route 2 Causeway (Milton) is open to traffic.  VTrans is working to keep this road open with gravel and stone.  Road may be reduced to one-lane travel to accommodate Vtrans activities. Motorists are advised to proceed with caution.

Route 2 in Alburg, between Routes 78 and 129 at Wagner Point. Some water in the road but both lanes are open. Motorists are advised to reduce speed and exercise caution.

Route 118 between Montgomery and Belvidere. There are multiple locations (on 118) that are reduced to one lane traffic. These are extended events that will last until further notice.

Route 122 in Lyndon, between the Interstate and Wheelock Road. One lane traffic due to slope failure. This will be an extended event that will last until further notice.

Route 114 between Canaan and Island Pond, through Norton. Motorists will experience several single lane areas due to multiple slope failures.

For more information please call 802-828-2648 (7am -5pm) or 211 (Vermont Emergency Management). Road condition information is also found at: 511vt.com. This site is updated throughout the day between the hours of 7am -5pm.

[Chris Santee]

Governor Shumlin Declares State of Emergency
Allows Activation of National Guard for Flood Response

MONTPELIER –Governor Peter Shumlin has declared a State of Emergency for the state of Vermont.  This declaration allows the state to utilize assets from the Vermont National Guard in responding to the flood.

The slow moving nature of the lake flooding has allowed communities to evacuate residents before waters threaten their safety, but the length of this disaster has made this step necessary.

“Conditions have worsened to the point where the state needs equipment and personnel from the Guard,” Gov. Shumlin said.  “Roads that have been under water for days are less stable and more hazardous; we can no longer depend on trucks and other local and state equipment to get to isolated residents.  The Guard has high water vehicles and helicopters that can be used to evacuate residents in a medical emergency.”

The Governor also noted that local responders and officials have been on the job for several days and extra manpower will be welcome.

“We have dedicated state and local responders, road crews, and officials who have been working with homeowners to sandbag properties and keep roads passable.  The Guard can provide personnel to help with these tasks,” the Governor said.

Vermont Emergency Management, Buildings and General Services, and the Vermont Agency of Transportation have distributed tens of thousands of sandbags to local communities and more are available.  Individuals in need should contact their city or town and that municipality can arrange to provide them.

The State also submitted a formal request for Preliminary Damage Assessment teams this week.  Those teams will be in the field Tuesday morning to verify damage to public infrastructure that would allow the state to ask for a Federal Disaster Declaration.  The State and several counties have reached monetary thresholds that would qualify for a disaster.  A disaster declaration would allow cities and towns to receive federal reimbursement for 75 percent of flood response and recovery costs.

Assistance for individual property owners may be more difficult to come by.  There are grant and loan programs from the federal government that may be available to those who have lost personal property in floods.  Vermont Emergency Management and Vermont Agency of Human Services officials are currently working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to find any assistance that may be available.

“The number one priority right now is the continued safety of Vermonters, but we have begun the process of finding financial resources for homeowners,” the Governor said.  “This is a major disaster to anyone who has lost property and we will make every possible effort to find those people help.”

Private homeowners should keep close records of cleanup costs and physical losses; and take photos of their property to help account for damage.  This information can be passed along to your city or town for dissemination to the state.