Heavy rains are impacting many parts of the state with flooded roadways and homes
Heavy rains are impacting many parts of the state with flooded roadways and homes, and dealing with the emergency meant deploying Lyndonville Fire Department’s Swiftwater Rescue Team. It’s not a local response for the team, said Assistant Chief Pat McLaughlin; they’re needed in Ludlow, where significant flooding has necessitated multiple rescues. McLaughlin, also a Swiftwater Rescue member at the Lyndonville station, said he and other members are on stand-by in Lyndonville. About ten members of the department are trained in swiftwater rescue. As of the afternoon, the Lyndonville-based team had not been needed locally. Gov. Phil Scott declared a state of emergency in response to the prolonged heavy rainfall. Some flooding was reported in Barton and roads there, and some basements were impacted. By late afternoon on Monday, Route 58 from Orleans Village toward Brownington was down to one lane due to flooding. Route 5 from Rt. 58 toward Irasburg was down to one lane. Rt. 5 from the Industrial Park to Rt. 58 reopened late in the day after being closed to flooding for much of Monday.