The center of Montpelier is under water after rainfall Image: AFP
After severe flooding as a result of heavy rainfall, US President Joe Biden declared a disaster for the US state of Vermont. The move came after warnings from officials that a dam was about to overflow.
After severe flooding as a result of heavy rainfall, US President Joe Biden declared a disaster for the US state of Vermont on Tuesday. The move came after officials warned that a dam near Montpelier, the state capital, was about to overflow. Declaring a disaster releases federal funds for relief efforts. According to authorities, more than 100 people were rescued from cars and houses.
“This has never happened since the dam was built, so it’s not clear what damage can occur,” Montpelier City Manager William Fraser said Monday night, referring to the Wrightsville dam. The center of the city of 8,000 inhabitants was under water after the rains. There were initially no reports of deaths or injuries. 20 centimeters of rain had fallen in places.
“The destruction and flooding we are witnessing is historic and catastrophic,” said Vermont Gov. Phil Scott. The flooding exceeded “the magnitude of Tropical Storm Irene,” which killed six people in the state in 2011.
Heavy rain fell on Sunday and Monday in the northeastern United States, including the states of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Vermont. Bridges were washed away and roads became impassable, footage released by authorities showed.
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