Flood Update: Monday, July 17
Volunteers needed for morning, afternoon shifts
July 17, 2023 | By Lisa Scagliotti 
A muck-out crew on Randall and Elm last week. Photo by Jeremy Ayers
After a break on Sunday, organized volunteer clean-up efforts are back today. The Waterbury Recovery Volunteer Team is emailing those individuals directly who have signed up using the volunteer form.
Here is a slightly abridge version of their message looking for people to pitch in to help today. Scroll down for Sunday’s detailed update with information on food distribution and one important possible road closure due to work on the Armory Drive bridge today.
Hello friends!
Many of you have already been out there helping neighbors, and we appreciate you so much!
Volunteers are needed today, Monday, July 17, beginning at 10 a.m. with a second shift at 1 p.m. Those helping with administrative tasks will have shifts at 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. Sign up for your shift here.
Volunteers should park and check in at the Municipal Building, 28 North Main St. If parking is full, please park on the street.
Roles and what to bring
Admin crew: Cell phone, charger, laptop, headphones. You'll be in a big room with air-conditioning.
Work crew: Wear durable clothing and shoes that can get dirty; bring work gloves. Weather forecast is for warm temps, so bring water as well as an N-95 mask if you have one, and any other personal protective supplies.
Helpful supplies & equipment to bring if possible
Shovels, push brooms, dusters, buckets, contractor bags, tarps, 5-gallon buckets, squeegees & mops, masks
hand truck/dolly (to move appliances)
power washer
wet/dry vac
Please label any equipment you are bringing.
Lunch will be provided.
We continue to ask that all volunteers be over 18 years of age.
Thank you (so much!) in advance for helping and sign-up here!
-Waterbury Recovery Volunteer Team
We are Waterbury Strong!
Flood Update: Sunday, July 16
Heavy rain forecast prompts new flood alert
July 16, 2023 | By Lisa Scagliotti Update 9 p.m.: Details for food distribution coming up this week have been added to this post.
Moving a load of appliances to recycle on Elm Street on Friday, July 14. Photo by Lisa Scagliotti
Sunday’s forecast for more rainstorms has triggered a new flood alert through late evening, according to the U.S. National Weather Service. Vermont residents in proximity to rivers and streams and in low-lying areas are reminded to remain particularly vigilant given the potential for flash flooding in locations that have already seen flooding this week.
Residents are encouraged to sign up for VTAlert notifications and to keep an eye on National Weather Service weather forecasts and warnings.
Below are the latest flood updates. If you have an item for this list or a revision to share, email waterburyroundabout@gmail.com.
It’s a known fact that free ice cream makes hard work go by faster. Elijah German, co-owner of The Udder Guys ice cream trike scoops for flood-cleanup volunteers on Elm Street on Saturday. The effort in honor of National Ice Cream Day gave away 105 cones and cups of Adirondack Creamery ice cream. Sunflower Salon helped sponsor but $165 in tips still came in and went to the Good Neighbor Fund. Photo by Dennis Johnson
Food
The Waterbury Rotary Club is coordinating community meals with the help of donations coming in including funds from Stowe Street Cafe’s Pay It Forward meal program. The folks in Underhill at Poorhouse Pies will be supplying a hot dinner at the Waterbury Area Senior Center tonight starting at 5 p.m. for anyone who could use a break. Their slogan is “Pie Fixes Everything,” which seems perfect. See below under Where to Donate for more details.
Looking ahead to this week, Rotarian Tori Taravella says plans are coming together for:
Monday: Sandwiches will be distributed by Waterbury Rotary for lunch
Tuesday: Tenative plan is for dinner starting at 5 p.m. at the Senior Center; soup, pie, and salad. Dine in or bring a container to pack up to take home.
Wednesday: Pizza will be distributed by Rotary for lunch.
Thursday, Friday: TBD
Road Closures
Waterbury: All roads in Waterbury are open as of Thursday.
ALERT for Monday: Armory Drive bridge may be closed at times. Residents of O’Hear Court and Huntington Place are advised to park cars on the Union Street side of the bridge if they need their vehicles so as not to become stranded.
Winooski Street near the bridge and a section of Gregg Hill Road near Deacon’s Way are just a single lane but passable, according to 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 Winooski Street bridge to Waterbury and Main Street is open.
River Road from the Camel’s Hump Road intersection to the Bolton town line remains closed.
Select Board
The next meeting of the Waterbury Select Board is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Monday. The board has a busy, full agenda with a flood update at the top of the list. In person or via Zoom. Here is the agenda with the Zoom link.
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.
NEW: Lost and Found
A spot in the rear of the open lot at 51 South Main Street has been designated for Lost and Found items such as trash cans, lawn furniture, steps, etc. that may have been relocated during the flooding.
Bring found items to 51 S. Main or visit here to find your lost items.
Note: This is for larger household items, not for valuables!
Trash
Photo by Lisa Scagliotti
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 and O’Hear Court.
Residents should use the containers for trash. Do not put hazardous materials in them such as cleaners, pesticides or paints. No tires. No appliances or electronics.
Residents not near the containers should continue to pile up debris curbside for removal by volunteers with trucks.
Appliances: A metal recycling container for appliances is at the end of Randall Street in the State Office Complex lot (former Stanley-Wasson Hall location). Volunteers with trucks are assisting with moving appliances to the container.
Tips on flood cleanup and trash from the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources can be found here.
Volunteers
Sign up using this form to volunteer with flood response cleanup and other tasks. Those signed up will get notifications and assignments via email. New shifts will be assigned starting on Monday.
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.
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.
Outside Craft Beer Cellar, July 14. Photo by Lisa Scagliotti
CLOSURES & CANCELLATIONS
Although the Waterbury Farmers Market and the Rotary Concert in the Park were called off last week due to the flooding, organizers for both say they hope to be back this week. Watch upcoming Flood Updates and the Facebook pages for the Waterbury Farmers Market and Waterbury Rotary Club.
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 last week, expected to reopen this 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.
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 Rotary Club of Waterbury is coordinating meals for local residents both affected by flooding and those volunteering with cleanup. It has started a special collection called the Flood Food Fund to help pay for the community lunches and dinners that are giving hard-hit residents and businesses and volunteers a break. The Waterbury Area Food Shelf is also a resource to ensure everyone has meals covered. Links go to their websites where you can find donation information for both of these nonprofits.
In addition, Stowe Street Cafe in a week has passed along $5,000 each to Rotary and the Good Neighbor Fund through its Pay It Forward program where customers donate in person at the cafe, on the cafe’s online ordering menu, or just via Venmo @stowestreetcafe. Read more about that here.
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.
From the Vermont Community Foundation: The VT Flood Response and Recovery Fund 2023 has been established to support Vermonters in responding to and recovering from the catastrophic rainfall across Vermont in 2023. When a disaster strikes, we all feel the impact and look for ways to offer help. The Vermont Community Foundation helps coordinate philanthropic response after disasters.