Remember the devastating floods in Vermont – the worst in a century – that made national headlines late last August? Hurricane Irene pounded Vermont and the Green Mountain National Forest and New Hampshire and the White Mountain National Forest with up to 12 inches of rain in less than a day. Many communities were left reeling from the massive flood damage for weeks and months in post-storm recovery efforts.
More than 500 road miles and 200 bridges and culverts were destroyed or damaged. Communities were left stranded by the flood’s devastation of the transportation infrastructure. Millions of dollars of property damage occurred. Residents also suffered increased costs related to emergency service access, commuting time and lost tourism revenue. Aquatic life was also harmed when heavy machinery cleared “debris” and reshaped rivers.
