Town of Waitsfield, Vermont - Flooding in Waitsfield

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Flooding in Waitsfield

• About Waitsfield

Main Flood Page • Flood Guide • Flood Insurance • Flood of August 2011 • Flood of May 2011 • Flood of 1998 • Flood of 1927 • Links
(Documents and outside links will open in a separate window)

Bridge Street, June 27, 1998

Bridge Street, swirling water, 1998 flood

Photo courtesy of The Valley Reporter

According to the National Flood Insurance Program, everyone lives in a flood zone: anywhere it can rain, it can flood. Flooding can be caused by heavy rains, melting snow, inadequate stormwater drainage systems, ice jams, other factors, or any combination of the above.

In the early morning hours of June 27, 1998, Waitsfield and nearby towns were struck by a flash flood that swept homes away, destroyed property, and inundated Waitsfield Village. Though no injuries or lives lost were reported, there was extensive damage to property and personal losses of other sorts. No one saw it coming. And no one saw it coming on May 20, 2011 when a microburst storm over the Northfield Ridge dumped more the four inches of water in less than 45 minutes, washing out roads, driveways, culverts, and more. On August 28, 2011, Tropical Storm Irene dumped [?] inches throughout Vermont that broke 1927 historic levels and caused extensive damage to roads, bridges, and property throughout Vermont. Are we prepared if it happens again?

The goal of these pages are to help inform citizens and local officials of the information available about the many things we can--and should--do to prevent future damages due to flooding.

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Links (Documents and off-site links will open in a separate window)

*Waitsfield*	•	Waitsfield Pre-Hazard Mitigation Plan, 2010 (20 pgs, 425 KB)
	•	Waitsfield PDM Plan Adoption Resolution, (1 pg, 41 KB )
	•	National Incident Management System Resolution, (1 pg, 61 KB )
	•	Waitsfield Town Plan (2005/2010) - Chapter 3. Natural Resources - (16 pgs, 794 KB)
	•	Waitsfield Zoning Bylaws (2005/2010) - Table 2.10. Flood Hazard Overlay District - (1 pg, 17 KB)
	•	Waitsfield Zoning Bylaws (2005/2010) - Article 5. Section 5.03.F begins on page 57 - (15 pgs, 89 KB)

*Vermont*	•	Vermont Flood Hazard Management
	•	Vermont Flood Hazard Area Permit information
	•	Vermont Emergency Management
	•	Vermont 2-1-1
	•	Central Vermont Regional Planning Commission
	•	Flood watch: National Weather Service Monitoring Station at Moretown
	•	Wastewater Disposal System and Potable Water Supply Resources, (1 pg, 511 KB )

*Federal & Other Agencies*	•	Official NFIP FloodSmart Web site
	•	FEMA Flood Flood Hazard Management
	•	Federal Emergency Management Agency
	•	FEMA Disaster Assistance for indivicals, businesses, and organziations
	•	FEMA Applicant Handbook for states, local governments, and selected non-profit organizations
	•	FEMA Forms

	•	After the Disaster: A Guide for Residents and Small Businesses About Managing Debris Waste, Apr. 2009 (26 pgs, 373 KB)

Updated September 7, 2011

Waitsfield's Official Web Site