Waterbury village is a muddy, water-damaged mess today, as
residents and business owners assess the devastation wrought by
what some are calling the worst natural disaster to hit the town
since the 1927 flood.
Tropical Storm Irene caused the Winooski River to swell to
rarely-seen levels on Sunday. After rising steadily throughout the
day, the river gushed into Waterbury village shortly after 7 Sunday
night, flooding parts of South Main Street, Randall Street, Union
Street, Dac Rowe Field and the municipal offices.
Residents of those areas were evacuated Sunday night. They
returned Monday morning to find their basements completely flooded,
their power out, and water about chest-high in their first-floor
living rooms.
Tom Drake, the principal of Crossett Brook Middle School, was
salvaging what he could from his soaked Randall Street home, where
water was still up to his basement's ceiling and the first floor
was caked in mud. He was relieved to hear that the first day of
school, originally scheduled for Tuesday, had been postponed.
"The timing couldn't be worse," he said.
The Alchemist Pub and Brewery, Waterbury Auto Service and One
Studio Dance were among the village businesses hit hardest.
The Alchemist's basement - which houses its brewery and where
the restaurant stores all its food - was completely under water;
the pub area was also flooded.
Co-owner Jen Kimmich wasn't sure when - or if - she would be
able to reopen the restaurant.
"The pub is done," Kimmich said. "Some things are salvageable
but the floor is gone. The water was waist-high. The worst thing is
that 22 people are unemployed right now."
Village police are operating out of their cars, the flooding in
their offices was so bad. The municipal offices are also closed.
Power was still out across the village as of 11 a.m., because a
Green Mountain Power substation in Waterbury had flooded.
Town manager Bill Shepeluk called an emergency meeting of town
officials at Thatcher Brook Primary School today at 3:30.
(2) comments
Had an amazing time in Waterbury in May, including a great time at the Alchemist pub. Good luck to everyone on recovery, I'll definitely be back. -- Mike from Iowa
I wish everyone who is impacted a speedy recovery. What a mess.
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