Vermont's first responders are still rescuing people from flood water today, and state officials are urging Vermonters not to let down their guard.
Gov. Phil Scott and other officials gave updates Wednesday at a press conference alongside FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell, who had traveled to Vermont to survey the damage.
"We are still in active response mode and have multiple rescues ongoing. The hardest-hit area currently is Lamoille County, where we rescued 32 people and numerous rescues overnight," said Public Safety Commissioner Jennifer Morrison.
Morrison said flooding concerns remain for the Winooski River at Essex, the Lamoille River at Jeffersonville, the Missisquoi River at East Berkshire, the Otter Creek at Center Rutland, and the Arrowhead Dam in Milton.
"Regardless of river levels, our waterways are not safe right now," Morrison said. "The currents are fast, there is a tremendous amount of debris, and folks really need to stay off our rivers for the time being."
No one has died as a result of the storm as of Wednesday morning, Morrison said — but many disaster fatalities happen in the days immediately after the emergency.
"Vermonters, keep your guard up and do not take chances," she said.
Officials are also concerned about the current forecast of 1-2 more inches of rain on Thursday and Friday.
"With rain in the forecast, and nowhere for it to go, we could see waters rise again," Scott said.
Other key takeaways from the press conference:
- Start cleanup if you can: Criswell, the FEMA administrator, said people do not need to wait for a FEMA inspection before starting to remove debris from their homes. "Take pictures, document your damage, gather your important papers, contact your insurance company, have all of that information available," Criswell said. "But you do not need to wait to start the cleanup process. The faster you can get that moved out and the debris removed out of your home, the easier it's going to be for the recovery time."
- It's still not safe to drive, walk, swim or boat through flood waters: There could be downed power lines, debris and other material that make the waters dangerous.
- State government is not organizing donations of physical items. If you want to help, sign up at vermont.gov/volunteer and await instructions. Morrison also encouraged people to donate to the Northern New England Red Cross or their local United Way.
- Vermont's congressional delegation promises to make sure private insurance companies are fair and quick: Sen. Peter Welch said all three members of the delegation are focused on making sure insurance processes are effective. "We're going to work with them to make sure that they are not nickel and diming people, but are responding to the real damage that people are seeing," Welch said.
- Balint acknowledges trauma: Rep. Becca Balint asked Vermonters to be gentle with their neighbors. "This is a difficult time for so many, for families, for individuals, for small businesses, and also for farmers," Balint said.
- Scott to announce "temporary regulatory relief": The governor said he would sign an executive order to lift regulations to help expedite the rebuilding process. More information is expected to come.
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