Flood Update: Friday, July 14
July 14, 2023 | By Lisa Scagliotti Update at 11:40 a.m.: Message from the town offices - Volunteers needed TODAY w/laptops + people w/trucks for trash hauling + hands to help. Report to 28 N. Main now til 2. Or text/call Dani Kehlmann 802-557-5040.
State officials monitoring river and reservoir conditions caution that the potential for additional flooding exists in the coming days with rain in the forecasts. Saturday looks dry with more precipitation predicted Sunday and early next week.
Volunteer cleanup efforts across downtown and flood-hit sections of Waterbury quit early Thursday with the incoming storm. With today’s weather improved, organizers say they will call upon volunteers for more work today approximately 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Randall Street muck-out crew on Thursday. Photo by Jeremy Ayers
Residents are urged to sign up for VTAlert notifications and to keep an eye on National Weather Service weather forecasts and warnings.
Below are mostly local flood-related updates. This post will be revised as new information becomes available. If you have an item for this list or a revision to share, email waterburyroundabout@gmail.com.
Food + Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., visits Friday afternoon
Probibition Pig Brewery will have lunch for those working in the flood zones at 1 p.m. today. At 1:30, Sen. Peter Welch visits downtown neighborhoods to talk with local residents, business owners, etc. starting at Pro Pig.
Saturday: Harwood Unified Union School District School Board members will be cooking hot dogs and burgers at Brookside Primary School to distribute to people working in flood-hit areas.
Child Care
Brookside Primary School will not have free child care available on Friday.
Road Closures
Waterbury: All roads in Waterbury are open as of Thursday afternoon. Work was done early in the day on Winooski Street to make a single usable lane near the Winooski Street bridge connecting to Duxbury. A section of Gregg Hill Road near Deacon’s Way is down to a single lane as well but Public Works Director Bill Woodruff said all roads are passable.
Elm Street-Randall Street: One-way traffic entering on Elm and exiting Randall onto Park Row.
Duxbury: River Road between the bridge and Main Street has been reopened. The only section of road that is closed is River Road from the Camel’s Hump Road intersection to the Bolton town line.
Select Board
The next meeting of the Waterbury Select Board is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Monday unless events change and one is needed sooner.
Screenshot of the Waterbury town website home page.
Town resources
At the top of the home page of the town website, waterburyvt.com, there is a banner with links to the latest road closure information and a page with resource information including a form for people to fill out to both ask for assistance with a specific need and for those interested in volunteering to sign up.
For flood-related inquiries, send an email to town officials at waterburyhelp@gmail.com.
Trash
Photo by Lisa Scagliotti
Six large Casella trash containers have been placed in neighborhoods where flood cleanup is under way: Randall and Elm streets, Main Street by Waterbury Sports and by Waterbury Medical, U.S. Route 2 by the former Cider House restaurant. The container on Union Street will be returned to O’Hear Court after it is emptied.
Residents should use the containers for trash. Do not put any hazardous materials in them such as cleaners, pesticides or paints. No tires. No appliances or electronics.
Residents not near the containers should pile up debris curbside for removal by volunteers with trucks sometime soon.
Appliances: A metal recycling container for appliances will be placed at the end of Randall Street in the State Office Complex lot (former Stanley-Wasson Hall location), possibly as soon as Friday. Volunteers with trucks will assist in moving appliances to the container.
Find tips on flood cleanup and trash from the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources here.
Volunteers
Sign up using this form to offer to volunteer with flood response cleanup and other tasks.
Water / Wastewater
Municipal water has been unaffected and remains fine to drink. Wastewater levels are returning to normal and utility operators appreciate customers’ efforts to reduce use by limiting showers, laundry, flushes for a little longer.
Wi-Fi
Xfinity WiFi Hotspots are available for free for all Vermonters to use – even if they are not Xfinity Internet customers. Find locations on this map: Xfinity.com/wifi. To connect, look for “xfinitywifi” on a device list of available networks and launch a browser. Sign-in options will appear for both Xfinity customers and non-customers. Xfinity customers may sign in with their account info or download the Xfinity WiFi Hotspots app and sign in. Non-Xfinity Internet customers should look for the “Get Connected” section, agree to the Terms and Conditions, and get connected. Non-customers can renew their free sessions every two hours.
Photo by Lisa Scagliotti
CLOSURES & CANCELLATIONS
Although the Waterbury Farmers Market and the Rotary Concert in the Park were called off due to the flooding this week, organizers for both say they hope to be back next week.
Waterbury Arts Fest has been POSTPONED from this Friday-Saturday to Aug. 25-26.
National Life Group’s Do Good Fest in Montpelier is still happening on Saturday as a free livestream concert online only and fundraiser for statewide flood relief. The student bands chosen for the lineup, including Harwood’s Assembly Band, however, will not get to play. Online 6-9 p.m. Read more here.
Montpelier High School alumni will have even more stories to tell next year when they gather for their first all-class reunion because the 2023 MHS Alumni Roundup scheduled for this weekend has been called off. Lead organizer Mary (Campo) McPheat (Class of 2003) wrote: “The focus needs to be on restoring the towns, cities and infrastructure around Vermont at this unprecedented time. A 2024 MHS Alumni Roundup Reunion will be planned.”
In general, know that businesses may not be open or may not have regular hours right now. We will list closures as we become aware of them.
In addition, Waterbury Economic Development Director Mark Pomilio Jr. is collecting information to share with business owners as they respond and recover from this disaster. Updates will go in the Revitalizing Waterbury business newsletter that’s posted on the Revitalizing Waterbury website and emailed to anyone who signs up for the distribution list.
Axel’s Frame Shop and Gallery - closed all week
Green Mountain Performing Arts - closed through this week to reinstall flooring that was removed before the flood as a precaution. The school did not have any water damage, according to director Jenna Companion. Classes are expected to resume on Monday.
Green Mountain Dog Club of Waterbury and Woodstock Dog Club’s Vermont Scenic Circuit Dog Shows in Tunbridge on July 13-16 have been canceled this year due to the fairgrounds being flooded.
Hen of the Wood - closed until further notice
Prohibition Pig Pub and Brewery - closed until further notice
Red Poppy Cakery - closed until further notice
Vermont State Parks - Little River State Park is open. Waterbury Center Day Use Park and its remote camping sites are CLOSED with a target reopening date of Saturday, July 22. Check for updates online at vtstateparks.com.
Waterbury Conservation Commission - July 11 meeting with a presentation about the Community Values mapping project is postponed to Aug. 8.
Waterbury Flea Market - closed until further notice
Waterbury Sports - closed until further notice
Where to donate
The Waterbury Good Neighbor Fund is a local fund run by the parent nonprofit that also oversees the Waterbury Area Food Shelf. It can accept donations by check or online via PayPal to help community members in need after the flood. Instructions on donating are online at waterburycast.org.
The Vermont Main Street Flood Recovery Fund has been created to raise money to provide grants to Vermont's small business owners impacted by the July 10 flooding. The fund will provide grants of $2,500-$10,000 to cover costs for equipment replacement, supplies and help with clean-up, etc. By partnering with Capstone Community Action, it ensures that donations are tax-deductible and are being distributed responsibly. Read more and donate here. Applications for businesses will be available starting next week.