Scientists say relentless floods in Vermont may be here to stay, here’s why

[JACK AYLMER]

VERMONT IS EXPERIENCING RELENTLESS FLOODING AND MORE RAIN IS EXPECTED– BUT THIS COULD JUST BE A TASTE OF WHAT’S TO COME.

[JASON PILBIN]

WAS HERE AT ABOUT 2:30, 3:00 THIS MORNING HERE, AND WOKE UP TO BOULDERS ROLLING DOWN THE ROAD, MORE OR LESS. BARELY ABLE TO GET THESE PEOPLE OUT AND WHAT THEY NEEDED FOR MEDICATION WISE BEFORE THE HOUSE BROKE OFF 

[JACK AYLMER]

THE SCENES ARE DEVASTATING.

BUT SCIENTISTS WARN CATASTROPHIC EVENTS LIKE THESE MAY BECOME THE NORM– AS THEY SAY CLIMATE CHANGE IS FUELING STRONGER AND MORE SATURATED STORMS.

[PETER BANACOS]

THERE’S MORE MOISTURE AVAILABLE IN THE ATMOSPHERE AS THE CLIMATE WARMS.

WE’RE SEEING HIGHER DEW POINTS. WE’RE SEEING, MORE MOISTURE-LADEN AIR MASSES MAKING IT UP INTO, UP INTO OUR LATITUDE.

[JACK AYLMER]

A RECENT STUDY FOUND THE EAST COAST’S PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED TO RISE BY 52 PERCENT BY THE END OF THE CENTURY– AND AT THAT RATE– CURRENT INFRASTRUCTURE WON’T KEEP UP.

SOME FEAR VERMONT’S ROADS, BRIDGES. CULVERTS AND WASTEWATER FACILITIES ARE IN DANGER OF BEING WASHED AWAY.

VERMONT ALSO HAS MOSTLY OLDER, SMALLER DAMS, DESIGNED TO POWER TEXTILE MILLS, PROVIDE WATER STORAGE AND IRRIGATE FARMS. 

BUT AS THESE STORMS BECOME A MORE COMMON THREAT- THESE DAMS MAY NO LONGER BE USEFUL.

HEAVY FLOODING IN THE STATE LAST YEAR LED TO FIVE DAMS FAILING AND AROUND 60 OVERTOPPING.

STATE OFFICIALS ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A MULTI-DECADE PROJECT TO STRENGTHEN INFRASTRUCTURE TO ENDURE CLIMATE CHANGE.

THE GOAL IS TO REPLACE AND REPAIR STRUCTURES AND THE STATE IS WORKING ON FLOODPLAIN STANDARDS.

FOR MORE STORIES ON FLOODING IN VERMONT AND CLIMATE CHANGE– DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP– -AND VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT SAN-DOT-COM.