After heavy flooding as a result of heavy rains, US President Joe Biden yesterday declared a disaster for the US state of Vermont. The move came after authorities warned that a dam near Montpelier, the state capital, was on the verge of overflowing.
Declaring a disaster frees up federal funds for relief efforts. According to authorities, more than 100 people were rescued from cars and homes. The city center, which has a population of 8,000, was flooded after the rains. Initially, there were no reports of deaths or injuries. Eight inches of rain fell in some places.
“Historic and catastrophic destruction”
“The destruction and flooding we are witnessing is historic and catastrophic,” said Vermont Governor Phil Scott. The flooding exceeded “the magnitude of Tropical Storm Irene”, which killed six people in the state in 2011.
Heavy rain fell on Sunday and Monday across the northeastern United States, including New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Vermont. Bridges were destroyed and roads were impassable, images released by authorities showed.