MONTPELIER FLOOD EVACUATION ROUTES

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Sandbagging Techniques Brochure  (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)

Latest Updates:

• Hurricane Storm Warning - Aug 26, 2011 1:30pm
• Water level dropping - May 27, 2011 9:56 AM
• Flooding in Montpelier - evacuation ordered.  May 27, 12:00 midnight
• Flood risk lower than expected - April 11, 2011 4:30 pm
• Flood Watch - April 11, 2011
• Montpelier Ice Jam / Flood Assessment - 1:30pm, March 11, 2011
• Montpelier Ice Jam / Flood Assessment - 3:00pm, March 10, 2011
• Flood Watch - March 10, 2011
• Hazardous Weather Outlook - March 10, 2011
• Possible Ice Jam Situation - March 9, 2011

Hurricane Storm Warning: Aug 26, 2011 1:30pm

Predicted river levels could reach those that caused flooding in May. Early predicated water levels pose a significant threat and we are urging all residents and businesses to plan accordingly. Current timeframe of flooding would be Sunday night to Monday morning.

Information about Hurricane Irene:
Vermont Emergency Management: http://vem.vermont.gov/

At this time there are no active shelters, residents should Shelter in Place or make arrangements before the storm arrives.
FEMA Plan for Emergencies: http://www.fema.gov/plan/prepare/plan.shtm

Hurricanes and tropical storm can bring flooding, flash floods and high winds. Extensive damage to tree and utility lines could cause considerable disruption to power and services.

Flash flood prone areas of the City may benefit from the early placement of sandbags to divert water.
State emergency management recommends all residents take the following storm precautions:

• Prepare a disaster supply kit with emergency supplies (including but not limited to):
• Flashlight with extra batteries;
• Portable, battery-operated radio with extra batteries;
• First Aid Kit and manual;
• Emergency food and water supplies for three days;
• Non-electric can opener;
• Essential medicines for at least seven days;
• Cash and credit cards;

Also:

• Loose objects in your yard, such as toys and lawn furniture, need to be secured.
• Check that all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are working.
• Speak with neighbors about their emergency plans, and how you can help each other during a crisis.
• Conserve water before the storm to reduce and burden on the system.
• Stay away from floodwaters. The water may be contaminated by oil, gasoline or sewage. The water may also be electrically charged from underground or downed power lines
• Do not drive into flooded areas.
• Plan for extended periods of power outages.

Flood Update: May 27, 2011 9:56am
Good news: The river crested 2 feet less than predicted and is now going down.

Flood Update:  May 27, 2011  7:00 am

Observations and Forecasts:

1.  River levels are above major flood stage, at 17.59 feet
2.  The river is expected to crest at 18 feet, but is not expected to climb to 20, thanks to lower rain levels overnight.
3.  The rain forecast has been lowered.  Over 3 inches of rain is still expected.

Assessment

1.  The severity of the flooding may be lower, due to lower than predicted rainfall overnight.</font>
2.  Schools are closed in Montpelier.</font>
3.  Montpelier is advising residents to stay away from flooded areas.</font>
4.  National Life Insurance is open for evacuees.</font>
5.  Route 2 West is under water.  It should not be used as an evacuation route.</font>
6.  Downtown Montpelier is expected to be flooded - many routes into town are already flooded.  </font>
7.  Main Street between the roundabout and School Street is closed.</font>
8.  Bailey Ave at Baldwin is closed.</font>
9.  Bailey Ave. at Memorial Drive is closed.</font>
10.  Gallison Hill Rd. is closed - it is washed out.</font>
11.  Taylor Street bridge is closed.</font>
12.  State Street is flooded to Taylor Street.</font>
13.  Elm Street closed from Spring Street to State Street</font>



Flooding in Montpelier - EVACUATION ORDERED  May 27, 2011 4:25 am 

Observations and Forecasts:

1.  River levels are above action stage, they reached flood stage at 1 am. 
2.  They are projected to rise to above major flood stage (18 feet) by 3 am.
3.  Between 7 and 8 am it will be at 20 feet.
4.  Around noon on Friday, more storms are predicted.
5.  Flooding could continue through the weekend.
6.  The model on the web site is not correct - flood waters are expected to be higher than it is showing.

Assessment

1.  Montpelier is advising residents in low lying areas to evacuate.
2.  National Life Insurance is open for evacuees.
3.  Route 2 West is under water.  It should not be used as an evacuation route.
4.  Downtown Montpelier is expected to be flooded - many routes into town are already flooded.
5.  Main Street between the roundabout and School Street is closed.
6.  Bailey Ave at Baldwin is closed.
7.  Bailey Ave. at Memorial Drive is closed.
8.  Gallison Hill Rd. is closed - it is washed out.
9.  Taylor Street bridge is closed.
10.  State Street is flooded to Taylor Street.




PAST NOTICES - NOT CURRENT

Flood Risk Lower than Expected (4:30 pm)

1. A bit of good news at the end of the day...the rain stopped, the weather didn't warm up as much as predicted, so the situation is stabilizing.  
2. We should see slow improvement through tomorrow, if current trends continue.  
3. We will continue to monitor the situation and let you know if things get worse.

1. River levels are above action stage and have been leveling off or starting to drop.
2. Some scattered storms cells are possible this evening. It should not be widespread rain.
3. Weather was not as warm as predicted this afternoon.
4. There will be clearing and cooling after any storms pass through this evening.
5. Water levels are predicted to level off and fall.
6. Cooler temperatures the rest of the week should slow snowmelt.

Assessment:

1. The cooler than expected temperatures limited additional snowmelt.
2. The danger of significant impact from additional rain appears to have passed.
3. The rivers should drop over the next few days. However, river levels could be high enough to cause problems if we have any significant rain.

Flood Update for Montpelier (11:00 am):

1. Flooding in basements along the North Branch is expected on Tuesday, and low-lying parking lots may flood.  
2. Localized flooding is also possible.  
3. The catch basins and drainage systems have become saturated and the amount of flow is exceeding the capacities, or they have become restricted due to snow, ice, and other buildups.
4. DPW has been called to several areas with washouts and culvert issues.
5. With additional runoff and potentially restricted drainage ways, this could cause streams to jump their channels.
   

FLOOD WATCH ACROSS THE NORTH COUNTRY THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BURLINGTON HAS ISSUED A FLOOD WATCH
FOR ALL OF NORTHERN NEW YORK AND CENTRAL AND NORTHERN VERMONT THROUGH
TUESDAY MORNING.

THE COMBINATION OF WIDESPREAD SHOWERS AND EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS EARLY THIS MORNING...ALONG WITH YESTERDAY/S RAIN AND SNOWMELT...WILL CAUSE RAPID RISES ON BOTH SMALL STREAMS AND LARGER RIVERS THROUGHOUT THE NORTH COUNTRY. TEMPERATURES THIS AFTERNOON WILL REACH THE MID 60S TO MID 70S...ACCELERATING SNOWMELT DURING THE DAYLIGHT HOURS. ANOTHER ROUND OF SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY IS EXPECTED LATE THIS AFTERNOON INTO THIS EVENING WITH PASSAGE OF A STRONG COLD FRONT.

ABOVE FACTORS WILL LEAD TO SHARP RISES ON AREA RIVERS AND STREAMS...WITH MINOR TO LOCALLY MODERATE RIVER FLOODING POSSIBLE TODAY THROUGH TONIGHT...WITH MOST RIVERS CRESTING EARLY TUESDAY. THE MOST SIGNIFICANT CONCERNS ARE ACROSS THE BASINS OF CENTRAL AND NORTHERN VERMONT...AND THE EASTERN SLOPES OF THE ADIRONDACKS...INCLUDING THE AUSABLE RIVER.

FLOODING MAY RESULT IN ROAD CLOSURES TODAY AND TONIGHT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A FLOOD WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR FLOODING BASED ON  CURRENT FORECASTS.

YOU SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE ALERT FOR POSSIBLE FLOOD WARNINGS. THOSE LIVING IN AREAS PRONE TO FLOODING SHOULD BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION SHOULD FLOODING DEVELOP. OBEY INSTRUCTIONS FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT AND/OR LOCAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SHOULD
FLOODING DEVELOP.


The City is notifying residents and property owners that:

1. The immediate threat of flooding has passed. The river will continue to rise overnight but is not expected to move the ice coverage.
2. City personnel will continue a high level of watch until river levels start to drop.
3. Forecasts of warming and rain in about a week indicate that we may have to raise levels of concern again.
4. A crane has been deployed on Lower State Street and will work on breaking up ice along those flat areas.
5. There is no public supply of sandbags. Individuals need to make their own decisions based on their property. Please note that in general sandbags provide limited protection in Montpelier because of interconnected cellars, openings in party walls, floor drains, utility openings, and other places for water to enter a building.

Residents are asked to be aware of weather forecasts and alerts, to check for notices from the City on the Web Site, and to be prepared to evacuate if a flood should occur. REMEMBER: we do not think an ice jam will occur, but if one occurs the water can rise rapidly. Do not go through flowing water.





The City is notifying residents and property owners of the following:

1 – Cellar flooding along the North Branch will likely occur.

2 – An ice jam could occur and could cause flooding. Rising waters from rain and snow melt could move the ice cover that is east of Main St. That ice could jam on ice already west of Bailey Ave. That situation could back up the river and cause more extensive flooding.

The greatest danger will be from Noon Friday till Saturday night.

Residents are asked to be aware of weather forecasts and alerts, to check for notices from the City on the Web Site, and to be prepared to evacuate if a flood should occur. REMEMBER: we can not predict an ice jam, but if one occurs the water can rise rapidly. Do not go through flowing water.

The City intends to have a crane working along the river near the Cemetery. Hopefully the higher waters will allow the crane to help break up some of the ice in that area.

The City will give an update around 1 PM on Friday, March 11.


...FLOODING DUE TO SNOW MELT AND ICE JAMS POSSIBLE...

.WARMER TEMPERATURES AND RAINFALL WILL BRING MELTING SNOW AND THE PROSPECT OF ICE JAMS TO AREA RIVERS THROUGH SATURDAY EVENING. THE HIGHEST THREAT AREAS ARE ACROSS NORTHERN NEW YORK AND SOUTH- CENTRAL VERMONT...WHERE THE GREATEST RAINFALL AMOUNTS ARE EXPECTED TONIGHT AND THROUGH THE DAY FRIDAY. TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN ABOVE FREEZING TONIGHT AND WILL BE WELL INTO THE 40S ON FRIDAY.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BURLINGTON HAS ISSUED A FLOOD WATCH FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY EVENING

FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHERN NEW YORK AND VERMONT... INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING AREAS...IN NORTHERN NEW YORK...EASTERN CLINTON...EASTERN ESSEX...NORTHERN FRANKLIN...NORTHERN ST. LAWRENCE...SOUTHEASTERN ST. LAWRENCE...SOUTHERN FRANKLIN... SOUTHWESTERN ST. LAWRENCE...WESTERN CLINTON AND WESTERN ESSEX. IN VERMONT...CALEDONIA...EASTERN ADDISON...EASTERN CHITTENDEN...EASTERN FRANKLIN...EASTERN RUTLAND...ESSEX... GRAND ISLE...LAMOILLE...ORANGE...ORLEANS...WASHINGTON... WESTERN ADDISON...WESTERN CHITTENDEN...WESTERN FRANKLIN... WESTERN RUTLAND AND WINDSOR.

* WARMER TEMPERATURES COMBINED WITH RAINFALL WILL LEAD TO RISING RIVER LEVELS FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. THIS WILL LEAD TO POTENTIAL BREAKUP OF RIVER ICE AND POSSIBLE ICE JAM RELATED FLOODING. RAINFALL AMOUNTS WILL BE GREATEST ACROSS SOUTH-CENTRAL VERMONT INTO THE NORTHERN ADIRONDACKS OF NEW YORK. THESE AREAS WILL SEE THE GREATEST POTENTIAL FOR FLOODING...THOUGH ICE JAMS ARE POSSIBLE THROUGHOUT THE NORTH COUNTRY.

* ICE JAMS ARE VERY UNPREDICTABLE AND CAN BREAK UP...MOVE...AND JAM AGAIN VERY QUICKLY. IF THEY OCCUR...WATER BACKING UP BEHIND THE JAM CAN FLOOD AREAS UNDER DEEP WATER WITH SURPRISING SPEED.

* STREET FLOODING IS ALSO LIKELY DUE TO MELTING SNOW. IF POSSIBLE...ROAD CREWS SHOULD CLEAR STORM DRAINS TO HELP MELT WATER MOVE EFFICIENTLY OFF ROAD SURFACES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A FLOOD WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR FLOODING BASED ON CURRENT FORECASTS.

YOU SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE ALERT FOR POSSIBLE FLOOD WARNINGS. THOSE LIVING IN AREAS PRONE TO FLOODING SHOULD BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION SHOULD FLOODING DEVELOP


Possible Ice Jamming This Week

The City of Montpelier has determined that the combination of ice conditions on the Winooski River and the forecast for heavy rain on Thursday/Friday present a significant risk of ice jamming. If an ice jam occurs, flooding to some extent is possible. The City will continue to monitor conditions and to issue further updates based on the weather forecast.

Businesses in potential flood zones are advised to review their plans, including the moving of valuable stock and equipment.

Residents in potential flood zones are advised to be aware of weather conditions and the National Weather Service warnings, review evacuation routes, and start preparing if they should need to evacuate.

Flood waters are very hazardous. Everyone should stay out of the water if a flood should occur.