On Thursday, Vermont residents woke up to a more tranquil weather forecast, with no flood warnings in effect following another sequence of destructive storms. This respite came as a U.S. senator from the state urged Congress to approve a disaster aid package that would assist communities across the U.S. grappling with severe weather events such as wildfires, floods, hurricanes, and tornadoes.
On Wednesday evening, parts of Vermont and neighboring New Hampshire experienced heavy rains, although St. Johnsbury, which was inundated with over 8 inches of rain on Tuesday, reported less than an inch of rain the following day, according to the National Weather Service. In a press conference, Vermont Governor Phil Scott lamented that the latest storms had reversed much of the recovery efforts accomplished after a significant flooding event just weeks prior, calling for community solidarity during these tough times.
Governor Scott characterized the situation as deeply discouraging, as recent recovery efforts had demanded a lot of hard work from residents over the preceding three weeks. State officials estimated that around 50 homes suffered total destruction or significant damage, while many roads were rendered impassable. A lightning strike disrupted water service in part of St. Johnsbury, and flooding has compromised several wells in Lyndonville.
In Washington, Senator Peter Welch urged Congress in a Senate floor speech to expedite a supplementary disaster aid package, emphasizing the necessity of federal support for recovery. Welch highlighted the urgency of assistance not just for Vermont but for all states affected by natural disasters, noting, "it's through no fault of their own." Earlier in July, Vermont had already dealt with significant flooding caused by remnants of Hurricane Beryl, resulting in major damage to infrastructure and agricultural land, marking a year since a previous severe flooding incident impacted the region.
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