Burlington, Vermont - May 2, 2011
Lake Champlain is the highest it's been in decades and with nowhere to go, the water level continues to rise, washing out many waterfront businesses.
Wicked weather has left many parts of state under water. Paddle boarders on Lake Champlain got an up-close look at the damage. As Andrew Shaw and his buddies paddled around what used to be Kings Pier, the Lake Monsters suited up to salvage what they could form their flooded headquarters.
"It usually gets up to about 20 feet out in front of the door, never gets inside. Now it's a couple hundred feet beyond the building," said Nate Cloutier, the Lake Monsters General Manager.
Cloutier estimates the damage to be in the thousands. But box by box, they rescued what dry merchandise was left. The team plans to set-up temporary shop at the ballpark.
Governor Peter Shumlin was on hand to survey the rising water. He announced that many parts of Vermont have been declared disaster areas. Preliminary flooding damage is estimated at 3 million dollars and officials expect that number to rise. "We're in the middle of a crisis, we're not through the crisis," Gov. Shumlin said.
Lakes, unlike rivers, take longer to recede, and with more rainy weather headed our way, emergency management says flooding is going to get worse before it gets better.
"We have suffered no significant loss of life. Property can be replaced, lives can't. We want to remember to take all the precautions necessary when dealing with high water," said Michael O'Neil, Director of Vermont Emergency Management.
Officials say six counties in Vermont now qualify for federal emergency assistance and that FEMA is on the ground assessing the damage and emergency management officials are working to get state and federal aid to those areas as quickly as possible.
"We're working very hard in tough circumstances. Our hearts go out to the many Vermonters who have been so severely impacted by this flood, and we're going to keep working together as a team to make the very best of a bad situation," Gov. Shumlin said.
Burlington businesses are trying their best to ride out the storm. The Lake Monsters say they won't let a little water stand between them and opening day.
Jennifer Reading - WCAX News
