Live updates: Vermonters clean up after another devastating July flood

Charles Krupa

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Associated Press

Plainfield has never seen damage on the scale of this week’s flooding yet has no cash on hand as it begins cleanup, Michael Billingsley, the town’s emergency management director, said Friday afternoon.

Billingsley estimated that a wall of water about four feet high roared through the town and destroyed at least 10 houses, in addition to miles of roads, seven or eight bridges and multiple culverts. Much of the town was covered in silt.

“Our town road crew is actually trapped and can't use its own equipment,” Billingsley said Friday. “It's up in a town garage, and they can't get to it because the roads to it are broken.”

What's more, the flood took out retaining walls that would prevent erosion in future rain storms, leaving an unstable situation, Billingsley said.

Erica Heilman

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Vermont Public

Billingsley said the town still has not been reimbursed for some of the damages from last year’s flooding. Now Plainfield is facing an estimated $3 million in repairs and worried about making payroll.

“We couldn't even order a truck or gravel and be sure that we'd be able to pay it back,” Billingsley said. “We don't know how we’d pay back any money. So we can't begin this work until we have assurances that we can somehow pay for it. And we may be in this permanent condition for months, we don't know.”

About 400 people were without water or access to services, Billingsley said Friday. Goddard College had offered its dormitories to shelter evacuees.

More from Vermont Public: How to help Vermont communities reeling from July 2024 floods

Erica Heilman

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Vermont Public

Sens. Bernie Sanders and Peter Welch toured Plainfield on Friday afternoon to see the damage from this week's flooding.

Both senators acknowledged past difficulties Vermonters have had getting help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Sanders described the agency as "loaded with bureaucracy" and "not necessarily attuned to the needs of small towns like Plainfield." Welch referenced reporting by Vermont Public that found FEMA incurred far more in administrative costs than it distributed in aid to individuals after the July 2023 flood.

Minor flooding is still occurring at the Barton River near Coventry and the Connecticut River in the area of Dalton, New Hampshire affecting Vermont's Caledonia and Essex counties, according to the National Weather Service.

The Barton River is expected to fall below flood stage early Saturday morning, and a flood warning remains in effect until Saturday morning.

The Connecticut River is expected to crest just after midnight and fall below flood stage Saturday afternoon. A flood warning is in effect until late Saturday afternoon.

Flood-related landslides occurred in Moretown, Elmore and Wolcott, along with an unconfirmed report in Monkton, according to state officials.

And many state parks remain inaccessible, Julie Moore, head of the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, said at a press conference Friday.

Parks in the Groton State Forest are closed until further notice, and the state has canceled camping reservations at Ricker Pond, Stillwater State Park and Waterbury Reservoir.

Smugglers’ Notch State Park will be open Saturday.

Temperatures could climb into the 90s this weekend, but you shouldn't jump into any flood-affected lakes or rivers to cool off.

High water and strong undercurrents can linger and carry debris several days after a flood, making swimming or boating in these areas dangerous, Health Commissioner Dr. Mark Levine said at a press conference Friday.

Bodies of water can also be contaminated by microorganisms, fuel and wastewater runoff.

“Not the news you want to hear prior to an anticipated very hot weekend,” he said. “But certainly, swimming in contaminated water after a flood can result in serious safety risks or problems from infection.”

State officials are also urging anyone whose property was flooded to test their water before using it to cook, bathe or drink if they're on a private spring or well.

Free tests for flood-impacted private drinking water sources are available from the health department.

Communities in Barnet, St. Johnsbury, Plainfield and Barre City are under boil water notices or without water, as of Friday morning.

Barnet village is without water because of a large main break. One resident said he's been flushing his toilet using water from the hot tub. The town is looking to install a temporary bypass system, and they don't expect to have water restored until Monday, at the earliest.

Another area of Barnet, McIndoe Falls, reported a water line main break, and said repairs are expected to be complete Friday. The town is providing bottled water in the interim.

In Plainfield, the town reported two major main breaks near washed out bridges. They expect three streets will not have water for several days. They plan to sample water Friday to partially lift the boil notice.

In St. Johnsbury, a boil notice is in effect for 16 homes in town, due to a main break.

And in Barre City, there is no known damage to the water system infrastructure, but they issued a boil water notice because they were initially unable to treat water due to high turbidity. They've started sampling, and could lift the notice by the end of the day if the water is clean.

Two towns, Plainfield and Hardwick, reported structural damage to their wastewater systems.

State officials are urging people who experienced flood damage to report their losses to 211, while acknowledging that the process for individuals to receive aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency has been disappointing.

“I think we have to level-set expectations, as we’ve learned over the last year and since, actually, [Tropical Storm] Irene — FEMA doesn’t solve all your problems,” Gov. Phil Scott said during a press conference Friday. “You have damage to your home, you expect FEMA to come in and rectify and make you whole, but that doesn’t happen.”

Scott also said the flooding has underscored the state’s housing crisis.

“When I went to Plainfield yesterday and saw the nine-unit apartment house there that is no longer habitable — it just furthers the point that we need housing now," he said.

The state is providing $29.5 million to towns to help fix their roads this summer, with nearly half of that funding available starting next week.

That money has already been budgeted, said Joe Flynn, the head of the state Agency of Transportation at a press conference Thursday.

“This is a six month slug of money we are releasing immediately to help towns," Flynn said.

Flynn said that 18 state roads remain closed, along with eight bridges.

Several railroad lines are closed, including the Amtrak route between Middlebury and Burlington. The rail line is currently bussing passengers between the stops, but expect repairs to be completed quickly.

Sections of the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail are closed from damage, and at least one area was destroyed in West Danville.

After what Town Manager Erik Bailey called "a lot of breath holding," Johnson village has fared OK after yesterday's flooding.

At its highest, the Lamoille River came close to flooding the town's wastewater plant but stopped just shy of going into the facility.

They had about 3 inches of water in the post office, but expect the damage will be minimal.

Bailey said as of Friday morning, most roads in town are back open.

"Yeah, We dodged a bullet," he said. "But, I mean, by the skin of our teeth, basically, is what it comes down to."

This was the fourth highest watermark recorded in the flood-prone village.

And Bailey said three of the biggest floods in the recorded history of Johnson happened in the past year.

Human-caused climate change is bringing more extreme rain to Vermont, and Bailey said he'd like to see more policy solutions for communities that lie right along major rivers.

Police have confirmed a second fatality related to the floods that hit northern and central Vermont this week.

John Rice, 73, of Concord, died Thursday after attempting to drive through floodwaters in Lyndon.

Witnesses tried to stop Rice from driving through the water on Center Street, but Lyndonville Police Chief Jack Harris said Rice drove ahead. The current swept away the car, sending it about 250 feet into a hayfield.

“And when I got there, I could see the back portion of the roof and the back windows of the vehicle,” Harris said. “The rest of the vehicle was submerged.”

Swift water rescue teams recovered Rice's body around 5:30 p.m. Thursday.

A 33-year-old man from Peacham also died during the floods. Police said Dylan Kempton was driving his UTV home from Peacham Corners on Wednesday evening when a culvert breached, sending water rushing over the road and sweeping away the UTV.

Gov. Phil Scott has scheduled a press conference for 10 a.m. Friday to provide rescue and recovery updates.

The player above will carry the briefing at 10 a.m., or you can find it on Vermont Public's main radio and TV channels. You can also tune in on Gov. Scott's Facebook page.

Major river gauges, including the Lamoille River in Johnson, the Winooski River in Essex Junction and the Passumpsic River in Barnet all crested overnight and have since dropped several feet.

Sophie Stephens

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Vermont Public

Dozens of state roads in the northern half of Vermont remain closed.

That list includes Route 15 in Johnson and Cambridge, Route 5 in St. Johnsbury, Route 122 in Lyndon, Route 2 in Plainfield, and route 302 in Barre.

Less than 300 customers are without power in the state.

Water levels in some major rivers remain high but have begun to recede.

The Winooski River reached major flood stage at Essex Junction Thursday night, reaching nearly 20.5 feet at 7 p.m. Major flood stage is 18 feet.

Currently, the river is in a moderate flood stage, with forecasters predicting flood conditions to subside Friday evening.

Sophie Stephens

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Vermont Public

The Lamoille River in Jeffersonville is also in moderate flood stage Friday morning.

The Barton River near Coventry is in minor flood stage, with forecasters not expecting that to change into the weekend.

The Passumpsic River reached major flood stage Thursday night, reaching over 21 feet — major flood stage is 19 feet.

Flood conditions are forecasted to dissipate Friday afternoon.

Kyle Ambusk

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Vermont Public

And the Connecticut River at Wells River currently sits in a minor flood stage.

That's according to the National Water Prediction Service.

In the Plainfield and Barre areas, many dogs and cats have been displaced due to flooding.

Staff with Central Vermont Canine Recovery and Four Paws Inn have banded together to help locate and shelter lost pets. Four Paws is also sheltering pets for owners whose homes have been impacted by flooding.

Courtney Hearty, who works with Central Vermont Canine Recovery, said they’re using the help of a drone service to search for lost pets from above.

“He’s just gonna start flying around the area and as we find, you know, pets roaming, we will try to reconnect them with their owners and try to recover them if possible.”

Hearty said they’ve located roaming pets already.

“We’re being inundated with lost dogs and we just wanted a way to reach out and help people recover them,” Hearty added.

Central Vermont Canine Recovery has a form on their Facebook page where people can report missing or found animals.

Dylan Kempton, a 33-year-old-man from Peacham, is believed to be the first fatality from this week's flooding.

Rescue crews noticed a UTV on its side in the water in South Peacham Brook late Wednesday evening, and just before midnight, discovered the body of a deceased man a little upstream, according to state police.

Kempton was driving his UTV home from Peacham Corners on Wednesday evening when a culvert breached, sending water rushing over the road and sweeping away the UTV, police said.

Crews recovered Kempton's body Thursday morning. An autopsy is pending.

People who need help cleaning up after the floods can call the state's Crisis Cleanup line at 802-242-2054.

Vermont Emergency Management said Thursday afternoon that the line was active.

Volunteers can sign up at vermont.gov/volunteer or go through local groups.

If you want to donate to flood recovery through the state, you can call 888-653-7715 or email donations@vermont.gov.

The state encourages cash donations as the most efficient way to help, and says to contact local organizations like food shelves and other charities with any questions about donating items such as food, clothing and household items.

Rivers in two areas are still very high.

The Winooski River at Essex Junction was at 20.48 feet as of 7:30 p.m. — major flood stage is 18 feet.

Sophie Stephens

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Vermont Public

April McCullum

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Vermont Public

The Passumpsic River was a hair under 20 feet as of 8:15 p.m. — major flood stage is 19 feet.

Caledonia County is under a flood warning until the early morning hours on Friday.

NWS Burlington said flooded roads are expected to isolate towns like East Burke, West Burke, Lyndonville and St. Johnsbury. And homes and businesses on Route 5 along the Passumpsic River from Lyndonville to St. Johnsbury are expected to flood.

Kyle Ambusk

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Vermont Public

More than 50 people were rescued from flooded homes and cars around Lyndonville on Thursday, and an active search was underway for a driver in the area, according to Vermont’s public safety commissioner.

Floodwater from the Passumpsic River rose in the early hours of Thursday morning while many were sleeping, and had not receded as of the afternoon.

“A couple of our trailer parks had water coming through the floorboards and that’s what woke people up,” said Patrick McLaughlin, the assistant chief at Lyndonville Fire Department. “So we got a couple of 911 calls from those individuals and then a lot of rescues from homes.”

At one point, more than five swift water teams were actively making rescues, including first responders from New Hampshire and across Vermont.

Most roads into town were impassable as of Thursday afternoon, including Route 5.

“This is probably a record-breaking flood event for the town of Lyndon and the surrounding communities,” McLaughlin said. “We kind of knew this was going to be smaller spread [than last year], but intense in those areas, and we drew the short straw on this one.”

As the Lamoille River continued to rise into early afternoon on Thursday, people in Johnson village were on edge.

Ron Andress and Melissa Wright live right where Main Street meets Railroad Street with Wright's 80-year-old mother. They were flooded out last summer and had to live in a motel room for a month while their apartment was fixed up.

Abagael Giles

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Vermont Public

Wright has been searching for somewhere else to rent, but they can't find anything they can afford.

"It's very tough,” she said. “I've been looking for months to get out of here," she said. "Just because of this fear of flooding is so much. And there's nothing, unless you can afford $2,500, $3,000 a month. Rent is outrageous."

Wright has lived in Vermont for 36 years and raised her kids here. But she said after three floods in a year, she'd leave Vermont to get away from the stress of living through another. This time, it looked as though their apartment wouldn't flood.

However, the old Sterling Market flooded at about midday.

David Camley lives on Main Street. The basement of the building he lives in flooded last year. His apartment smelled like fuel oil for weeks after.

Abagael Giles

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Vermont Public

Camley said today was hard for the town, but he loves it there and wants to stay — though he sorely misses the Sterling Market.

"Johnson is a nice place,” he said. “And the people here, they do come together when there's something like this going on. Everybody pulls together and helps everybody, food, or whatever they need."

The Lamoille River in Johnson crested at about 1 p.m. on Thursday at 17.82 feet.

According to town officials, this makes today's flooding the fourth highest water level on record.

River levels are higher than they were in December, but well below where they were during last July's destructive floods.

The town will be making pizzas at Legion Field at 6 p.m. "Hopefully this is one small way to ease anxiety as waters begin to recede," officials said.

The American Red Cross opened a disaster shelter Thursday afternoon at the St. Johnsbury School at 257 Western Ave. Pets are welcome.

The group had already set up a shelter in Barre which served about 30 people Wednesday night.

There is also a shelter at Williamstown Middle/High School (120 Hebert Rd.), according to Vermont Emergency Management.

Abagael Giles

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Vermont Public

Several rivers reached a major flood designation by Thursday afternoon. River levels are expected to crest this afternoon, if they haven’t already, according to the National Water Prediction Service.

The Lamoille River at Johnson – 17.82 feet as of 1:30 p.m.

Extensive flooding is expected from Hardwick through Morrisville, Johnson, Jeffersonville and Cambridge.

Just before noon, waters were seen rising along lower Main Street, including the post office, the old liquor store and former Sterling Market. The town’s sewer treatment plant and homes on Lendway Lane are expected to flood, according to predictions from the National Weather Service.

By early afternoon, Route 15 was closed from Johnson to Jeffersonville, and areas of the road are expected to be inundated with several feet of deep water in Cambridge.

The Passumpic River in Lyndonville - 19.79 feet as of 1:15 p.m.

The Passumpsic River had reached major flood stage and was still rising Thursday afternoon, with widespread flooding expected in Lyndonville and Saint Johnsbury Center, including homes and businesses along Route 5, both north and south of Lyndonville and into Saint Johnsbury, along with flooding at Joes Brook.

The Winooski River at Essex Junction - 18.69 ft as of 12:30 p.m.

The Winooski River downstream of Richmond reached the major flood stage designation and was still rising Thursday afternoon, with widespread flooding expected from Jonesville down through Lake Champlain.

The National Weather Service predicts water will cover Bridge Street in Richmond, North Williston Road in Williston and Essex, Poor Farm Road in South Burlington and Williston, Pine Island Road in Colchester, and the Burlington Intervale will be inundated.

Other major rivers have already peaked:

• The Winooski River in Waterbury reached just below major flood stage in the early morning hours, when high water was expected to reach properties on Randall Street, Foundry Street and Route 2 crossing Thatcher Brook, and flood Rowe Field, along with low-lying parking lots at the Waterbury State Office Complex. In Richmond, Bridge Street near the Round Church and the public park were expected to flood as well.

• The Mad River near Moretown reached major flood stage early Thursday morning, when several feet of water were expected to cover Route 100 in Moretown and sections of Route 100B.

• The Wells River reached moderate flood stage early this morning, when water was expected to reach Routes 302 in Groton, South Ryegate, and Wells River.

Some scattered showers should move through the area throughout the day, but it shouldn’t make flooding worse. More widespread rains are expected early next week, which could cause more flooding.

In Plainfield, many people remain isolated after key bridges and roads were damaged.

The town also saw parts of buildings wash away after many evacuated their homes.

Andy Hebert, with the Plainfield Fire and Rescue Department, said they spent Wednesday night getting to people who needed help.

“We had one lady that we had to get to last night and they had to break the window and pull her out through the window, and then I think her house went away,” he said.

Hebert said Plainfield's water plant was damaged by the flooding. The town is working on bringing in clean drinking water.

The Intervale Center is closed to the public until further notice, according to a message on its website. A Summervale event that was planned for this evening is also canceled.

In an email this morning, Intervale community garden members were told not to go to the Intervale, and that, at the time, flood levels in the area were expected to peak this evening, inundating the area with floodwaters.

Mikaela Lefrak

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Vermont Public

As of 12:30 p.m., the Winooski River near Essex Junction had reached the major flooding stage, according to the National Water Prediction Service.

A man in Peacham was found dead in a vehicle, according to state officials. Public Safety Commissioner Jennifer Morrison said the death appeared to be weather-related, but the cause of death has not been confirmed.

“We believe it is a male from Peacham who was outside in a vehicle — I’ll say it’s an ATV, but I don’t know exactly the nature of the vehicle — and was swept away by a stream or other type of floodwater that, the current became too swift,” Morrison said.

There is an active search underway for a missing driver and vehicle near Lyndonville, according to Jennifer Morrison, Vermont’s public safety commissioner. Multiple roads in the Lyndonville area, including parts of U.S. Route 5, are closed due to flooding.

Morrison told Vermont Edition’s Mikaela Lefrak that drivers should stay aware of road closures and not try to drive around barriers or into flooded roadways.

As of 11 a.m., Morrison said there had been 118 people rescued due to flooding. She said 15 household pets were also rescued.

For more information about road closures, see NewEngland511.org.

Gov. Phil Scott and other state officials are holding a briefing on the state's flood response starting shortly after 10 a.m.

The player above will carry the briefing as soon as it begins. You can also tune in live on Vermont Public's main radio and TV channels, or on Scott's Facebook page.

Erica Heilman

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Vermont Public

Flood waters washed away much of an apartment building in Plainfield known locally as the Heartbreak Hotel.

All of the people who lived there are safe but lost everything, said Shannon Alexander, a friend of one of the Heartbreak Hotel residents.

"Literally, three-quarters of the building is just gone," said Plainfield resident Amy Lester, who used to live in the building.

Flooding also washed away two bridges in Plainfield and took out at least one water line, and possibly a sewer line, said Tristan MacGregor-Stewart, chief operator of the Plainfield Water and Sewer Department.

"This is the worst that we've seen it. This is worse than Irene," said Town Clerk and Treasurer Bram Towbin. "There are many people isolated. I think every bridge on Brook Road is wiped out."

Jane Bradley said she had gone upstairs in her home to pack a bag Wednesday night when the water rose.

"By the time I got down the stairs, the water was lapping up against this front door, and our back deck was gone," Bradley said. "The water was coming so fast that we, like, kind of realized, we're not getting out. There's no way."

Bradley's 1820s-era house had water in the basement Thursday but stood strong. The backyard, which had just been restored and replanted, was demolished.

Elodie Reed

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Vermont Public

As early as 7 a.m. Thursday, a stream of people and cars wandered down Bridge Street in Richmond, where for a third time in a year, brown waters covered the Volunteers Green, the road, and the bottoms of houses.

In one of those houses was Amy Channell, who said unlike the past couple flooding events, no one from the town knocked on their doors or called to get them to evacuate.

And while Channell said she didn't feel in danger, she and many of her neighbors woke up to find they were trapped because the water rose so high overnight. And that left her feeling frustrated.

"I can't knock on the fire department because I don't do their job," Channell said, noting that she heard they were busy with other emergencies in town. But: "If the past two times we had them check in on us, what was different about this one?"

Town Clerk Linda Parent said she felt very sorry for the families who were most impacted, and had their houses flooded. She noted that one family evacuated an older couple yesterday in anticipation, and the town removed loose items from the Volunteers Green so they wouldn't be washed down river.

"I think we all have to expect it now," Parent said. "Any time we get big rainy situations like this, I think everybody has to be prepared that we might get flooded."

In addition to Bridge Street and the Volunteers Green, portions of Route 2, roads in Jonesville and Stage Road were closed Thursday morning. Parent said the fire department had been out since before midnight Wednesday, and that people on Red Barn Lane needed to be rescued.

Kyle Ambusk

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Vermont Public

As of 9 a.m., the Wolcott Fire Department said the Lamoille River had crested there and water was receding from flooded roads. Floodwaters were receding around the same time from Route 15 in Morristown.

Downstream in Johnson, the Johnson Fire Department has since issued a flood warning for the village. They are asking residents to follow the town website at townofjohnson.com for updates. The Lamoille River is continuing to rise, and faster than expected.

As of 8:30 a.m., the Lamoille River was high in Cambridge and Jeffersonville, but no flooding had been reported in the villages.

A group that formed in Barre after last year's devastating flooding is once again mobilizing volunteers and coordinating aid.

Barre Up plans to distribute recovery supplies from City Hall on Thursday, according to a press release. The supplies include water pumps, sump pumps, hoses and fuel.

Food and water will be distributed at the Rainbow Bridge Community Center at 81 North Main Street.
 
Organizers say the relationships built in the last year are enabling a quick response this year.

The Lamoille Valley Rail Trail is fully closed as state crews assess flood damage, according to the Vermont Agency of Transportation.

The 93-mile recreational trail had been hit hard by last year's floods, just days before its planned grand opening celebration. Construction crews restored it for this year's season.

A photo posted online Thursday morning shows water covering the trail in Hardwick.

Gov. Phil Scott and other state officials will hold a briefing on the ongoing flooding at 10 a.m., according to the governor's office.

Vermont Public will livestream the briefing here. It will also be available on Scott's Facebook page.

Multiple roads are closed in Chittenden County, according to reports posted on NewEngland511.org:

• In Essex, Route 128 is closed between Weed Road and Route 15.
• In Jericho, Route 117 is closed near Barber Farm Road and there is a washout.
• In Richmond, Route 2 is closed between the interstate and the village due to high water.
• In Hinesburg, Route 116 is closed due to high water between Route 2A and CVU Road, and also south of town from about Buck Hill Road to Gilman and Beecher Hill roads.
• In Williston, North Williston Road is closed.

Here are rainfall totals as of 6 a.m. shared by Mark Breen, meteorologist with the Eye on the Sky at the Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium in St. Johnsbury:

• Hinesburg 6.57 inches
• Port Henry, New York 5.62 inches
• St. Johnsbury 5.03 inches
• Monkton 4.91 inches
• Starksboro 4.64 inches
• Charlotte 4.58 inches
• North Stratford, New Hampshire 4.5 inches
• Sutton 4.35 inches
  

Stowe Police are warning of hazardous conditions on local roads.

"If you do not need to be driving on the roads, please do not," Stowe Police said in a Thursday morning news release. "There is debris and water on the roads, many roads are undermined."

The following roads are closed:

• The Mountain Road (Route 108) at Top Notch Resort ("there is no uphill or downhill travel at this point")
• Moscow Road at Barrows Road, closing access to Nebraska Valley Road
• Nebraska Valley Road beyond the town gravel pit
• Percy Hill Road in area of 215 Percy Hill is closed completely
• Gold Brook Road from Gold Brook Circle to Stowe Hollow Road
• Dewey Hill Road closed from Gold Brook Road to Ayers Farm
• North Hollow Road above Bryan Road is closed
• West Hill Road between Mayo Farm Road and Route 100
• Moscow Road closed from Route 100 to River Road
• Bouchard Road

As of 6:30 a.m.,

• The Lamoille River at Johnson has reached the minor flood stage.
• The Winooski River at Waterbury is on the cusp of major flooding.
• The Mad River near Moretown reached major flooding this morning but is now in a moderate flood stage.
• The Passumpsic River is dealing with moderate flooding.
• The Wells River peaked with moderate flooding but is currently in a minor flood stage.

The National Water Prediction Service provides the latest forecasts and water levels for specific rivers.

Route 2 is closed due to high water at the intersection with Route 18 in St. Johnsbury, according to a post Wednesday night on the road closure website NewEngland511.org.

Route 5 is also closed at County Hill Road, near the St. Johnsbury and Barnet town line.

The latest river forecasts predict moderate river flooding in the areas of Moretown and Essex Junction, among other impacts.

• The Mad River near Moretown is expected to crest at about 2 a.m. and flood local roads and Route 100.
• In Waterbury and Richmond, the Winooski River is expected to flood properties on several streets, along with a public park and low-lying fields.
• In Montpelier, several roads are expected to flood, and low lying fields and farmland will be inundated.
• In the Burlington area, low-lying roads along the Winooski River are expected to flood Thursday evening, including streets in Essex, Richmond, South Burlington and Colchester. The Burlington Intervale is expected to be inundated, and there will be widespread field flooding from Jonesville to Lake Champlain.
• The Ausable River in the Adirondacks is expected to flood roads and fields in Jay and Keene, New York.

High water has closed Route 2 in Marshfield from Hollister Hill Road to Nasmith Brook Road, according to a post on NewEngland511.org updated at about 10:20 p.m. Wednesday.

Williamstown Village is being evacuated, and Route 14 is closed there due to flooding, according to a post at about 8:20 p.m. Wednesday night on the road closure site NewEngland511.org.

A shelter is open at Williamstown Middle/High School at 120 Herbert Rd., according to Vermont Emergency Management.

There is no access to Barre City via Route 62 or Route 14, according to road closure website New England 511.

Vermont 62 is closed to all traffic between Berlin and Barre City due to flooding in Barre City, according to a post as of about 8:30 p.m.

Vermont 14 is closed to all traffic from about Hope Cemetery down into the city.

Find updated road closure information at newengland511.org/region/Vermont

People should avoid Route 15 between Hardwick and Danville, Hardwick Police wrote in an email to media just after 7 p.m. There is flash flooding just east of Brown Farm Road.

The American Red Cross has opened a disaster shelter in Barre for people displaced by today's storms.

The shelter opened Wednesday evening at the Barre City Auditorium at 16 Auditorium Hill, according to a press release.

People are encouraged to bring essential items, such as medications, extra clothing, chargers for electronic devices, pillows, blankets and hygiene supplies. There are provisions for managing pets at the shelter.

Another shelter is open at Williamstown Middle/High School at 120 Herbert Rd., according to Vermont Emergency Management.

To be connected to resources or additional information, call 211.