Tropical Storm Irene tracked north northeast across eastern New York and western New England during Sunday, August 28th, producing widespread flooding, and damaging winds across the region.
Irene tracked from a position over New York City around 8 AM EST Sunday, to approximately 10 miles west of Danbury, CT at 10 AM EST, to approximately 15 miles south of Pittsfield, MA at 1 PM EST Sunday, to approximately 65 miles south of Rutland, VT at 4 PM EST.
The greatest impact from Irene across southern Vermont was due to heavy to extreme rainfall, which resulted in catastrophic flooding. Rainfall amounts generally averaged 4 to 8 inches. Much of the rain which fell occurred within a 12 hour period, beginning early Sunday morning, and ending Sunday evening.
This heavy to extreme rainfall resulted in widespread flash flooding and river flooding across southern Vermont. In Bennington County, widespread flash flooding and associated damage was reported countywide, with many roads closed due to flooding and downed trees and power lines. Route 9, the main route across southern Vermont, was closed. The city of Bennington was inaccessible for a period of time. Record flooding occurred on the Walloomsac River at Bennington.
In Windham County, catastrophic flooding was reported countywide, along with widespread damage and road closures. Route 9, the main route across southern Vermont was closed, with the city of Wilmington inaccessible for a period of time. Numerous evacuations were reported. In addition, record flooding occurred on the Saxtons River at Saxtons and the Williams River at Rockingham.
One death occurred due to flooding from Irene in southern Vermont. In Windham County, a woman drowned when the car she was in became trapped by flood waters from the Deerfield River in Wilmington.
Strong winds also occurred across southern Vermont, with frequent wind gusts of 35 to 55 mph, along with locally stronger wind gusts exceeding 60 mph. The strongest winds occurred from the north to northeast during the morning hours, then from the west to northwest during Sunday evening. The combination of strong winds, and extremely saturated soil led to numerous downed trees and power lines across the region. This also resulted in widespread long duration power outages.
In particular, the approximate number of customers affected by power outages included: Bennington County, 5000 and Windham County, 18000.
On September 1st, 2011 a Major Disaster Declaration was declared, FEMA-4022-DR. This declaration made Individual Assistance available to 12 counties in the state of Vermont including Bennington and Windham counties. Public Assistance was made available to all 14 counties in the state. In addition, the declaration made Hazard Mitigation Grant Program assistance available. It was estimated that in Vermont 312 residences were impacted with 85 destroyed and 227 sustaining major damage.
Individual Assistance: assistance to individuals and households. Public Assistance: assistance to state and local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations for emergency work and repair or replacement if disaster-damaged facilities.

Tropical Storm in BENNINGTON, VERMONT
From 28-AUG-11 08:15:00 to 28-AUG-11 22:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Numerous trees and power lines were reported down due to strong winds across Bennington County resulting in power outages and road closures. The Automated Surface Observing System at the William H. Morse State Airport in Bennington measured at peak gust of 30 mph at 7:56 pm EST. In Landgrove Town Center, an observer for WeatherNet 6 (WRGB-CBS6) reported a measured wind gust of 41 mph at 8:42 pm EST.

Tropical Storm in WESTERN WINDHAM, VERMONT
From 28-AUG-11 08:15:00 to 28-AUG-11 22:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Utility Company

Numerous trees and power lines were reported down by strong winds across Windham County resulting in power outages and road closures.

Flash Flood in WINDHAM, VERMONT
From 28-AUG-11 11:00:00 to 28-AUG-11 13:45:00 (EST-5)
Location: WILMINGTON
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Tropical System
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Route 9 was closed from Bennington to Brattleboro due to numerous reports of flooding. Portions of Route 9 remained closed after the flood waters receded due to damage. The Route 9 bridge in Woodford was reopened to traffic on September 9th, fully opening the this main east-west connection across southern Vermont. Some portions of the road are dirt between Marlboro and West Brattleboro.

Flash Flood in BENNINGTON, VERMONT
From 28-AUG-11 11:00:00 to 28-AUG-11 13:45:00 (EST-5)
Location: BENNINGTON
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Tropical System
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Route 9 was closed from Bennington to Brattleboro due to numerous reports of flooding. Portions of Route 9 remained closed after the flood waters receded due to damage. The Route 9 bridge in Woodford was reopened to traffic on September 9th, fully opening the this main east-west connection across southern Vermont. Some portions of the road are dirt between Marlboro and West Brattleboro.

Flash Flood in WINDHAM, VERMONT
From 28-AUG-11 11:00:00 to 28-AUG-11 13:45:00 (EST-5)
Location: WHITINGHAM
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Tropical System
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Route 100 in Windham County was closed due to flooding and wash outs. Portions of Route 100 remained closed after the flood waters receded due to significant damage. The North Branch Deerfield River runs along a portion of Route 100 from the Mount Snow area to Wilmington. Along Dover Road, one house was destroyed and floated down the North Branch Deerfield River and other houses were destroyed or significantly damage. Much of the road was reported washed away.
A woman drowned when the car she was in became trapped by flood waters from the North Branch Deerfield River in Wilmington. The time of her death is unknown.

Flash Flood in WINDHAM, VERMONT
From 28-AUG-11 10:35:00 to 28-AUG-11 13:45:00 (EST-5)
Location: GREEN RIVER
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Tropical System
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Flooding was reported along Guilford Center Road in Guilford.

Flash Flood in BENNINGTON, VERMONT
From 28-AUG-11 11:00:00 to 28-AUG-11 13:45:00 (EST-5)
Location: READSBORO
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Tropical System
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Route 100 in Bennington County was closed due to flooding. Portions of Route 100 remained closed after the flood waters receded due to damage. Five houses on School Street in Readsboro with their backyards bordering the West Branch Deerfield River were declared unsafe to live in due to flooding.

Flash Flood in WINDHAM, VERMONT
From 28-AUG-11 10:01:00 to 28-AUG-11 13:45:00 (EST-5)
Location: BELLOWS FALLS
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Tropical System
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

Record flooding occurred on the Saxtons River. The Saxtons River river gage located on Saxtons River Road, Route 121, near the intersection of Hall Bridge Road exceeded its 10 foot flood stage at 10:01 am EST on August 28th, its 12 foot moderate flood stage at 10:43 am, its 15 foot major flood stage at 11:34 am, crested at a record 19.57 feet at 1:30 pm, and fell below flood stage at 7:27 pm on August 29th.
Initially started out as flash flooding then transitioned to river flooding.

Flash Flood in WINDHAM, VERMONT
From 28-AUG-11 10:14:00 to 28-AUG-11 13:45:00 (EST-5)
Location: ROCKINGHAM
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Tropical System
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

Record flooding occurred on the Williams River. The Rockingham river gage located near Parker Hill Road exceeded its 8 foot flood stage at 10:14 am EST on August 28th, its 12 foot moderate flood stage at 1:33 pm, its 15 foot major flood stage at 2:17 pm, crested at a record 17.94 feet at 3:45 pm, and fell below flood stage at 12:38 am on August 29th.
Initially started out as flash flooding then transitioned to river flooding.

Flash Flood in BENNINGTON, VERMONT
From 28-AUG-11 08:48:00 to 28-AUG-11 13:45:00 (EST-5)
Location: NORTH BENNINGTON
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Tropical System
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

Record flooding occurred on the Walloomsac River. The Bennington river gage located near Ore Bed Road exceeded its 7 foot flood stage at 8:48 am EST on August 28th, its 9 foot moderate flood stage at 9:50 am, its 11 foot major flood stage at 11:46 am, crested at a record 12.82 feet at 2:30 pm, and fell below flood stage at 5:32 am on August 29th.
Initially started out as flash flooding then transitioned to river flooding.

Flood in BENNINGTON, VERMONT
From 28-AUG-11 13:45:00 to 29-AUG-11 14:29:00 (EST-5)
Location: NORTH POWNAL
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Tropical System
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

Major flooding occurred on the Hoosic River. The Eagle Bridge river gage in Rensselaer County New York located on the right bank 0.5 miles upstream from Case Brook, 1.2 miles downstream from Walloomsac River, and 1.2 miles southeast of Eagle Bridge exceeded its 11 foot flood stage at 1:31 pm EST August 28th, its 13 foot moderate flood stage at 3:43 pm, its 16 foot major flood stage at 6:31 pm, it crested at 19.24 feet at 12:30 am August 29th, and dropped below flood stage at 2:29 pm August 29th.
The Williamstown river gage located in Berkshire County Massachusetts on the left bank 0.3 miles downstream from Sherman Brook and 2.7 miles east of the junction of U.S. Highway 7 and State Highway 2 in Williamstown exceeded its 9 foot flood stage at 8:30 am EST on August 28th, its 11 foot moderate flood stage at 10:16 am, its 13 foot major stage at 11:43 am, crested at 13.75 feet at 2:15 pm, and fell below flood stage at 3:06 am on August 29th.
Initially started out as flash flooding then transitioned to river flooding.

Flood in BENNINGTON, VERMONT
From 28-AUG-11 13:45:00 to 29-AUG-11 05:32:00 (EST-5)
Location: NORTH BENNINGTON
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Tropical System
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

Record flooding occurred on the Walloomsac River. The Bennington river gage located near Ore Bed Road exceeded its 7 foot flood stage at 8:48 am EST on August 28th, its 9 foot moderate flood stage at 9:50 am, its 11 foot major flood stage at 11:46 am, crested at a record 12.82 feet at 2:30 pm, and fell below flood stage at 5:32 am on August 29th.
Initially started out as flash flooding then transitioned to river flooding.

Flash Flood in BENNINGTON, VERMONT
From 28-AUG-11 08:30:00 to 28-AUG-11 13:45:00 (EST-5)
Location: NORTH POWNAL
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Tropical System
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

Major flooding occurred on the Hoosic River. The Eagle Bridge river gage in Rensselaer County New York located on the right bank 0.5 miles upstream from Case Brook, 1.2 miles downstream from Walloomsac River, and 1.2 miles southeast of Eagle Bridge exceeded its 11 foot flood stage at 1:31 pm EST August 28th, its 13 foot moderate flood stage at 3:43 pm, its 16 foot major flood stage at 6:31 pm, it crested at 19.24 feet at 12:30 am August 29th, and dropped below flood stage at 2:29 pm August 29th.
The Williamstown river gage located in Berkshire County Massachusetts on the left bank 0.3 miles downstream from Sherman Brook and 2.7 miles east of the junction of U.S. Highway 7 and State Highway 2 in Williamstown exceeded its 9 foot flood stage at 8:30 am EST on August 28th, its 11 foot moderate flood stage at 10:16 am, its 13 foot major stage at 11:43 am, crested at 13.75 feet at 2:15 pm, and fell below flood stage at 3:06 am on August 29th.
Initially started out as flash flooding then transitioned to river flooding.

Flood in WINDHAM, VERMONT
From 28-AUG-11 13:45:00 to 29-AUG-11 19:27:00 (EST-5)
Location: BELLOWS FALLS
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Tropical System
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

Record flooding occurred on the Saxtons River. The Saxtons River river gage located on Saxtons River Road, Route 121, near the intersection of Hall Bridge Road exceeded its 10 foot flood stage at 10:01 am EST on August 28th, its 12 foot moderate flood stage at 10:43 am, its 15 foot major flood stage at 11:34 am, crested at a record 19.57 feet at 1:30 pm, and fell below flood stage at 7:27 pm on August 29th.
Initially started out as flash flooding then transitioned to river flooding.

Flood in WINDHAM, VERMONT
From 28-AUG-11 13:45:00 to 29-AUG-11 01:38:00 (EST-5)
Location: ROCKINGHAM
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Tropical System
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

Record flooding occurred on the Williams River. The Rockingham river gage located near Parker Hill Road exceeded its 8 foot flood stage at 10:14 am EST on August 28th, its 12 foot moderate flood stage at 1:33 pm, its 15 foot major flood stage at 2:17 pm, crested at a record 17.94 feet at 3:45 pm, and fell below flood stage at 12:38 am on August 29th.
Initially started out as flash flooding then transitioned to river flooding.

Tropical Storm in EASTERN WINDHAM, VERMONT
From 28-AUG-11 08:15:00 to 28-AUG-11 22:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Utility Company

Numerous trees and power lines were reported down by strong winds across Windham County resulting in power outages and road closures.