A New York woman died when a massive flash flood ripped her home out of the ground – as up to 6 inches of rain is expected in Vermont overnight.
Pamela Nugent, 35, drowned Monday during catastrophic flooding while attempting to flee her home in Highland Falls, New York, with her dog. Rescue teams recovered her body from the bottom of a ravine.
Devastating rains have blocked roads and destroyed homes across the east coast, and more devastation is expected in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
Nugent, who was recently engaged to her partner before she drowned in the terrible floods, was remembered by her neighbor Jessica Eshleman.
Eshleman told ABC7, ‘I’m still kind of in shock.’ I’ve lost everything.’ She said that Nugent, her fiancée and her father tried to reach a higher level.
She said: “And then they did it, and I guess she freaked out and panicked, she tried to come over with the dog, it just happened too suddenly.”
Pamela Nugent, 35, drowned Monday during the disastrous flooding while attempting to flee her home in Highland Falls with her dog
An aerial view of Pamela Nugent’s neighborhood where she died in a flood yesterday
The Vermont state police have warned that Monday night’s flooding and torrential rain will cause devastating damage to the state
Another neighbor who knew Nugent said, “When someone dies, it’s a shame.” “The circumstances in which it happened make it worse.”
The storm’s heavy rains inundated New York on Sunday, causing flash flooding near West Point, where the military academy is based, and nearby cities.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul warned yesterday that while the storm is over, the damage is catastrophic.
“It was a scary, life-threatening experience,” she said, adding that she spoke to the White House to seek federal aid.
She said of Nugent, “Her house was taking on too much water, she was with her dog and her fiancé literally saw her wash away.”
Orange County executive Steven Neuhaus said, “She was trying to get through (the flood) with her dog and was overwhelmed by torrential waves.”
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said of Nugent, “Her house was taking on too much water, she was with her dog, and her fiancé literally saw her get swept away.”
Pamela Nugent with her fiance. He watched as she was carried away by the ordeal
A damaged car lies on part of a collapsed road along Route 32 in the Hudson Valley near Cornwall, NY Monday July 10, 2023
Jessica Eshleman, neighbor and friend of Pam Nugent
A general view of a flooded area in Ludlow, Vermont
Footage tonight showed Ludlow, Vermont, completely submerged as streets turned to rivers amid the devastating torrent
Flash flood warnings continue to affect millions of people in New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Maine and Pennsylvania.
The epicenter of the flooding on Monday was in the Hudson Valley, New York, but Vermont is expected to be hardest hit by Tuesday.
Vermont State Police issued a warning, “Dangerous flooding continues throughout most of Vermont this afternoon.”
“Nearly three dozen state roads are closed due to flooding, and more closures are possible as rivers and creeks continue to rise.” That number doesn’t include city roads.’
Footage tonight showed Ludlow, Vermont, completely submerged as streets turned to rivers amid the devastating torrent.
In a press release Monday night, the Vermont Department of Public Safety and Emergency Management said rapid water rescue teams were deployed “primarily in the cities of Londonderry, Weston, Bridgewater, Andover, Ludlow and Middlesex.”
It is to be expected that rivers will peak overnight during floods, they warned.
Dams in Jamaica and Townshend are expected to “discharge large volumes of water over their overflows” overnight.
Cars drift on the main road to West Point after a ‘1000-year’ rain event flooded the river town, killing at least one and destroying homes and roads
Emergency teams went from house to house yesterday in Stony Point, New York, looking for someone who needed saving. A woman drowned trying to leave her home in Highland Falls near West Point with her dog
Vermont’s National Weather Service said in a grim forecast that the storms could be “potentially catastrophic” and just as bad as the storms caused by Hurricane Irene in 2011.
“Expect significant to possibly catastrophic widespread flash floods by Monday evening, the possible effects of which have not been observed since Irene,” the weather service said in a forecast.
According to the Vermont State Police, roads have already been closed due to the flooding and more closures are expected.
“Today, much of Vermont is experiencing severe, life-threatening flooding.
“Responders have carried out rescue operations in several communities.
“Flash flood warnings are in effect from the Massachusetts border to the Canadian border,” the force’s Twitter account said in an announcement.
At a news conference, Vermont Governor Phil Scott warned, “We haven’t seen rain like this since Irene, and in some cases there will be even more rain.”
In Vermont, 19 people have already been rescued by boat.
In Burlington, Vermont, the ground has already received 300 percent of its normal rainfall in the past two weeks – posing a “high risk”.
Some south Londonderry and Ludlow towns are inaccessible, as is the city of Vermont.
Flooding pours over the dam on the Ottauquechee River near Simon Pearce in Quechee this morning. Vermont State Police brace for major damage as historic rain falls
Flooding surrounds a parking lot in Highland Falls, Orange County, New York, USA. The rain has swept through the Empire State, but the damage is great
Warehouse workers in Plymouth are being evacuated and emergency workers are carefully monitoring dams across the state to prevent further flooding.
Hurricane Irene claimed 49 lives after it swept across the Caribbean and East Coast.
Cornwall on the west bank of the Hudson River also declared a state of emergency in New York on Sunday.
Neuhaus said the village of Highland Falls, near West Point, was the scene of an “absolute war zone.”
He expected repairs to fix the “massive” water damage would take months, he added; “It’s a difficult situation, many people are trying to fight their way through to help us.”
State Senator James Skoufis confirmed that “vital infrastructure and homes were swept away” during the catastrophic weather event.
Rockland County executive Ed Day said six hikers from the surrounding flooded area had to be rescued — as well as dozens of motorists — who were caught in the torrential downpour.
Day said, “Orange County and Rockland County fire departments rescued 40 people from their cars at the Long Mountain Circle at the top of the Palisades Parkway.”