WTSA News For Your Tuesday, July 11th:
Vermont’s office of emergency management says flooding continues and is worsening in communities along major waterways. If flooding approaches your home, evacuate to higher ground sooner rather than later, your route could be compromised by floodwaters and leave you stranded. Residents are encouraged to register for a Vermont Alert account at www.vtalert.gov to receive up to the minute safety warnings. Vermont’s swift water rescue teams have now performed more than 50 rescues, primarily in the towns of Londonderry, Weston, Bridgewater, Andover, Ludlow, and Middlesex. Teams have been shifted to areas of greatest concern of river flooding tonight. Any individual reporting a life-threatening situation should dial 9-1-1. Those who are displaced, need shelter, or other assistance can call 2-1-1.
The Brattleboro Fire Department says flood related road closings have taken place at Mountain Home Trailer Park, Ames Hill, Marlboro Road, and George Miller Drive. Flooding surrounded trailers along Dettman Drive, Village, Edgewood, and Woodvale drive. All the affected occupants have been evacuated or decided to shelter in place. The fire department will maintain a presence in the area as long as high water is a problem.
Road closings have been reported in the Windham County towns of Wilmington Jamaica, Wardsboro and Londonderry, as flood warnings continue into this afternoon. Wardsboro Town Hall has been opened as a temporary shelter. Eleven swift water rescue teams were positioned in strategic areas of the state on Sunday evening in anticipation of rescue needs. Those teams have conducted more than ten rescues since early this morning and calls for help continue to come in. Most of those calls have come from Weston, Bridgewater, Andover, Ludlow, and a handful of other towns. Two rescue teams from North Carolina arrived in Vermont this morning to assist in operations, and more crews from Michigan, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Connecticut are in route.
Fire crews from multiple area departments were fighting a house fire on Canal Street in Brattleboro Monday. Several people flagged down police officers after witnessing an individual steal items from inside one of the fire trucks on scene. After a short foot pursuit, 40-year-old Joel Goldsmith of Westminster was caught and arrested. Goldsmith was later released on a citation for Petit Larceny. If anyone has information related to this incident, they are urged to notify Brattleboro police.
The U.S. Army Corps of engineers expects Ball Mountain dam in Jamaica, Vermont and Townshend Dam to release unprecedented quantities of water over their spillways. This will result in severe flooding downstream of the dam. This is a request to immediately consider evacuating threatened areas in accordance with your emergency response procedures. Flooding can be expected in the low-lying areas in the Vermont communities of Jamaica, Townshend, Newfane, Brookline, Dummerston, Brattleboro, and Vernon, Vermont, Chesterfield and Hinsdale, New Hampshire. In addition, Londonderry, Vermont will be impacted by the high water.
Vermont’s Agency of Commerce and Community Development is encouraging anyone in need during the heavy rains to call Vermont 2 1 1. Agency secretary Lindsey Currie says safety is the first priority right now. Residents in the flooded areas will be asked to, when it is safe, document any damage and estimate the cost of damage which will be used to help the state’s disaster declaration criteria. Again, as they have more information on that process, ACCD will share and engage just as soon as we can.
Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders says his office will be working hard with state and federal agencies to make sure that Vermont gets all the support it will need from the federal government. The senior member of the state’s congressional delegation thanks all the emergency crews who have been working tirelessly to protect the lives and property of Vermonters during this very difficult time.
LOTTERY NUMBERS:
TRI STATE PICK 3 8-0-3
TRI STATE PICK 4 2-0-8-4
TRI STATE GIMME 5 1-3-16-29-34
MASS CASH 5-9-12-15-33
WTSA SPORTS:
Sixteen years after his father won the homerun derby, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. did the same last night in Seattle. Guerrero Jr. launched 72 homers in his win last night. The All-Star Game is tonight with Gerrit Cole of the Yankees facing Zac Gallen from the Diamondbacks, first pitch is at 8pm.