Vermont governor confirms one person died in flooding
Vermont governor Phil Scott, speaking at a press briefing on Friday, said the state had confirmed its first fatality related to the devastating floods earlier this week.
Stephen Davoll, 63, of Barre City, Vermont, died on Wednesday as a result of a drowning accident in his flooded home, according to state authorities.
Scott expressed his condolences to the Davoll family and the community in Barre for the “heartbreaking” loss. Local authorities will be actively focusing on recovery work on an individual level within the next 48 hours, he said.
It’s incredibly important to get flooded homes, businesses and public buildings as dry as possible to prevent other outcomes like mould. We’re working on resources to help with that.
He added that the US secretary of transportation, Pete Buttigieg, was due to visit Vermont on Monday to survey infrastructure impacted by the flooding and to discuss how to rebuild and recover.
Scott confirmed that his request to President Biden for a federal major disaster declaration had been approved, adding:
I’m very grateful for the speed of Fema in the White House. It will open up significant federal resources for communities, individuals, businesses […] In anticipation of these funds, we are working to develop a concrete list of resources to help impacted Vermonters and making sure it’s as easy as possible for Vermonters to access those.
Key events
In northern India, record monsoon rains have killed more than 100 people, left homes collapsed, roads caved in, gridlocked traffic and forced the closure of schools and colleges, according to an AP report.
At least 88 people were killed, 42 of them in the past five days, and more than 100 were injured in the worst hit-mountainous Himachal Pradesh state, a state government statement said. Cars, buses, bridges and houses were swept away by swirling flood waters.
Nearly 300 people, mostly tourists, were rescued by helicopter after being stranded in the Chandertal area in Himachal Pradesh state since Saturday, the government said.
Nearly 170 houses have collapsed and another 600 were partially damaged by heavy rains and landslides, the state emergency operation center said.
In the Uttar Pradesh state, 12 people have died of rain-related incidents since Wednesday, according to a state government spokesperson.
One person died in New Delhi, while residential areas close to the Jamuna River were flooded, submerging roads, cars and homes, leading to the evacuation of thousands of people from low-lying areas.
Four were killed in the Indian-controlled section of Kashmir, officials said.
Authorities have moved nearly 30,000 people to relief camps and also converted some schools into relief camps in the badly hit areas, according to a statement by the office of New Delhi’s top elected official, Arvind Kejriwal.
India’s weather agency has forecast more heavy rains in northern parts in the coming days.
The National Weather Service warned of an enhanced risk of severe thunderstorms across central and eastern Kansas, western Missouri, and northeastern Oklahoma this afternoon into the evening.
A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued across Nebraska and Kansas.
7/14/23: There is an Enhanced Risk (level 3/5) of severe thunderstorms across central/eastern KS, western MO, and northeastern OK this afternoon into the evening. Primary concerns are severe winds (some 75+ mph) and large hail (some 2+ inches in diameter). https://t.co/cpnLqiKL4u pic.twitter.com/jGnDR6BvLP
— NWS Storm Prediction Center (@NWSSPC) July 14, 2023
Air quality alerts return to US midwest due to wildfires in Canada
Wildfires burning in Canada have brought a new round of smoke to the US, with air quality alerts issued for communities in the US upper midwest.
An air quality alert for the entire state of Minnesota took effect at 8am on Friday and is slated to remain in place through at least 3pm Saturday.
Smoke from wildfires in Alberta and British Columbia will move across the state and get pushed to the ground by a cold air front, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency said a statement on Thursday. It added:
This will result in poor air quality. Air quality will gradually improve on Saturday with gradual clearing across Minnesota from north to south. This alert may need to be locally extended depending on how fast the smoke dissipates.
Statewide forecast: July 13 – Green (Good) statewide. July 14 – Orange (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups) statewide. Several hours of Red (Unhealthy for All) will be possible in central MN. An air quality alert is in effect From 8am Friday to 3pm Saturday. pic.twitter.com/9xUKUATx8i
— MN Air Quality Index (@mpca_aqi) July 13, 2023
New York authorities have issued precautionary measures to take when using generators during emergencies.
Those include keeping children away from generators at all times, operating outdoors in a clean, dry area, and properly grounding generators at all times.
Authorities also warned residents to not overload generators with too many appliances and use properly sized extension cords in good condition.
Generators are helpful tools to have during an emergency, but they must be used safely:
✅Never use them in a wet area.
✅Always use them outside & at least 20ft from your property.
✅Keep the exhaust pointed away from your home.
▶️More tips: https://t.co/LLH2RxCD3c pic.twitter.com/6tiQx22tqE— NYS Div. of Homeland Security & Emergency Services (@NYSDHSES) July 14, 2023
In the US, what is being termed as a one in 1,000 years flooding event has occurred, with a state of emergency called in New York and Vermont.
From Sunday to Tuesday, vast quantities of rain fell across the two states. More than 30 locations in Vermont recorded more than 150mm (5.9 inches) of rain, with Plymouth and Mt Holly recording 230mm and 220mm respectively. At least four bridges are reported to have collapsed in the Plymouth area, leaving some families stranded in their homes. Meanwhile, storms in the state of New York brought more than 175mm of rain in a four-hour period at West Point on Sunday afternoon.
Such large amounts of rainfall led to fluvial flooding as rivers such as the Hudson in New York and the Winooski in Vermont breached their banks. A 43-year-old woman died in the Hudson Valley as flood waters swept her and her dog away.
The Winooski River crested above 6.4 metre (21ft) on Tuesday morning – 1.8 metres above what is usually considered the flooding stage. It was the river’s second highest crest since the great floods in November 1927. The Winooski passes through the stater capital, Montpelier, and as a result of extensive flooding, officials were forced to close the city centre, with many streets underwater. The nearby Wrightsville Dam was a big concern, with the risk of overflowing and spilling into the North Branch River. But the dam stabilised at its maximum capacity, avoiding a potentially catastrophic outcome.
Levels fell below the major flood stage later on Wednesday, allowing water to recede back towards their respective rivers, revealing many roads, residences and businesses that had been damaged or washed away.
In Europe, a heatwave is under way and is expected to continue into next week, with temperatures 5C above the climate average, although they could peak up to 10-15C above in some areas. The heat has already killed a construction worker in the city of Lodi in northern Italy.
Vermont governor Phil Scott said his formal request to President Joe Biden for a major disaster declaration has been approved.
The major disaster declaration unlocks federal disaster funds to assist individuals and communities recover from the devastating floods earlier this week.
On Tuesday, Biden issued an emergency declaration for Vermont, enabling federal disaster relief to reach the state.
This earlier declaration authorized Fema and the Department of Homeland Security to coordinate disaster relief efforts in affected areas across the state, including evacuation and sheltering support.
This latest declaration frees up federal funding to help communities in the recovery phase. Scott, during a briefing on Thursday, told reporters:
The disaster declaration provides federal support for recovery. It’s separate from, and in addition to, the federal emergency declaration the president already signed when he was overseas to help with the initial emergency phase.
Vermont governor confirms one person died in flooding
Vermont governor Phil Scott, speaking at a press briefing on Friday, said the state had confirmed its first fatality related to the devastating floods earlier this week.
Stephen Davoll, 63, of Barre City, Vermont, died on Wednesday as a result of a drowning accident in his flooded home, according to state authorities.
Scott expressed his condolences to the Davoll family and the community in Barre for the “heartbreaking” loss. Local authorities will be actively focusing on recovery work on an individual level within the next 48 hours, he said.
It’s incredibly important to get flooded homes, businesses and public buildings as dry as possible to prevent other outcomes like mould. We’re working on resources to help with that.
He added that the US secretary of transportation, Pete Buttigieg, was due to visit Vermont on Monday to survey infrastructure impacted by the flooding and to discuss how to rebuild and recover.
Scott confirmed that his request to President Biden for a federal major disaster declaration had been approved, adding:
I’m very grateful for the speed of Fema in the White House. It will open up significant federal resources for communities, individuals, businesses […] In anticipation of these funds, we are working to develop a concrete list of resources to help impacted Vermonters and making sure it’s as easy as possible for Vermonters to access those.
Biden approves Vermont disaster declaration
Joe Biden has approved a request from Vermont governor, Phil Scott, for a major disaster declaration following the devastating floods that hit the state earlier this week.
Biden has “declared that a major disaster exists in the state of Vermont and ordered federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by severe storms and flooding”, the White House said in a statement.
The declaration makes federal funding available to affected individuals in the counties of Chittenden, Lamoille, Rutland, Washington, Windham, and Windsor.
Scott announced during a briefing on Thursday that he had formally submitted a request for a major disaster declaration to help unlock more federal money to help communities hit hardest by the flood damage to recover. He said:
Vermonters have faced incredible loss as a result of this historic and catastrophic flooding event. While we’re still focused primarily on the immediate response, as we transition to the recovery phase, federal assistance will be critical to support families, businesses and infrastructure. With support from Washington, and the inspiring resiliency of Vermonters, we will be able to rebuild and recover.
The declaration request, now approved, asked for funding under the federal Public Assistance and Individual Assistance programs.
The Public Assistance disaster declaration allows communities in declared counties to receive at least 75% reimbursement for storm response and recovery.
The Individual Assistance program assists those impacted by the floods to seek reimbursement for necessary expenses and serious needs that cannot be met through insurance or other forms of assistance.
‘Drained and exhausted’: Guardian readers on extreme heat and floods
Maya Yang
We spoke to several Guardian readers across the country who shared their experiences of this summer’s severe heat and floods.
Here’s what they had to say:
Keith Daniels, 40, library specialist, Houston, Texas:
“The power usually goes off, then you can’t sleep because it’s too hot. When you go outside it’s even worse.”
Bill Nevins, 75, writer, Black Lake Mountain area, New Mexico:
“Temperatures in Albuquerque right now are over a hundred degrees fahrenheit and holding and rising. The weather pattern usually brings monsoons at this time of year but apparently that isn’t immediately happening so the cooling down isn’t happening.”
Sukey Briggs, 75, southern Sierra Nevada foothills, California:
“Here we’re living with the constant threat of wildfires. We have wildfires almost every year and now we have arsonists. It can be terrifying.”
For more reader responses, click here:
A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued across Nebraska and Kansas.
“Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to roofs, siding, and trees,” the National Weather Service said.
Maximum hail size is expected to be an inch while maximum wind gust is set to reach 60 mph.
The National Weather Service in Phoenix has issued a list of precautionary measures to take amid the extreme heat sweeping across the state.
In addition to drinking plenty of fluids, the NWS urged residents to wear sunscreen and reapply frequently, wear light, loose-fitting clothes and take frequent breaks.
Please limit outdoor activities due to the extreme heat! If you have to be outside for any period of time remember to follow these heat safety tips:
👉Drink plenty of fluids
👉Wear sunscreen and reapply frequently
👉Wear light, loose-fitting clothes
👉Take frequent breaks#azwx pic.twitter.com/AkPQwaLfsd— NWS Phoenix (@NWSPhoenix) July 14, 2023
Death Valley is still attracting visitors, as forecasters say the national park may break heat records amid California’s heatwave.
AP reports that tourists are still visiting Death Valley and challenging themselves to stay in the dry, intense heat.
Death Valley could reach temperatures of 131F today, which would be the hottest temperature ever recorded on earth.
Daniel Jusehus, an active runner visiting from Germany, visited the national park earlier this week and challenged himself to run in the record heat, AP reports.
“I was really noticing, you know, I didn’t feel so hot, but my body was working really hard to cool myself,” said Jusehus to AP.
California heat puts firefighters on high alert for wildfires
The heat in California is putting firefighters on high alert for wildfires.
Officials have warned that California is already navigating an intense wildfire season due to dry, hot conditions, Associated Press reported.
Several wildfires have already erupted this week, said Wade Crowfoot, secretary of the Natural Resources Agency, during a media briefing, AP reported.
Here is more on potential wildfires from CBS Mornings:
Extreme heat continues to impact swaths of the country, from California to Florida.
Forecasters have pointed out that California’s actual temperature is similar to Florida’s heat index – what the temperature feels like.
California’s actual temperature is above 100F in much of the state: 102F in Sacramento and Bakersfield; 104F in Fresno; and 110F in Redding.
Meanwhile, the heat index in many Florida cities is above 100F, peaking at 105F in Naples.
The similarities are due to a lack of moisture in California, causing dry heat.
From meteorologist Alex Wallace:
1/We’re ending the week with a dry heat vs. moist heat battle!
Thanks to the moisture difference, Central CA actual high temps will be similar to FL Heat Index (feels like) temps!#QOTD @ColleenWeather (welcome back!) want to know…👇 pic.twitter.com/n7zKgbsxKQ
— Alex Wallace (@TWCAlexWallace) July 14, 2023
Heatwave intensifies and spreads
Good morning and welcome to the Guardian’s coverage of extreme weather.
The dangerous heatwave that has affected hundreds of millions in the US is set to intensify, especially in the western US.
More than 100 million people are under heat warnings, as the heat dome spreads to California and other areas, CNN reports. California is forecasted to have its first heatwave of the year, as Texas, Florida and Arizona are still navigating extreme temperatures. California’s Death Valley could reach the hottest recorded temperature ever on Earth, NBC Bay Area reports, breaking previous records.
Parts of Mississippi are experiencing flooding after intense rain. At least six people were rescued after flooding hit central Mississippi, impacting roads, homes, and businesses. Louisville Mayor Will Hill declared a state of emergency on Thursday and urged people not to drive during the storm.
Cleanup efforts are still underway in Vermont after historic flooding. At least one Vermont man died after drowning in his home, Associated Press reported.
