Milton, Vermont - May 5, 2011
Lake Champlain reached another record high Thursday, and there are fears the only roads on and off the Champlain Islands may have to shut down.
The steadily rising water led Gov. Peter Shumlin to declare a state of emergency Thursday.
The high water is now covering Route 2 in Milton near the causeway that connects to the Champlain Islands. Crews are working to keep the road passable and it remains open at this point, but if the water continues to rise, the state might be forced to close it down.
Route 78 between Alburgh and Swanton is also in jeopardy and if both roads close it would cut off all in-state access to Grand Isle County and effectively shut down the northern ferry crossing to New York.
Nearly 600 homes have been impacted by this historic flooding. The state continues to tally the damage to public infrastructure in hopes the federal government will deliver disaster aid.
"As you know, the state is not in a great fiscal state, so we are not sitting on a lot of money we can expend. So we want to work with the federal government to get as much aid as we can," said Gov. Peter Shumlin, D-Vermont.
By declaring a state of emergency the governor can mobilize the National Guard to help with flood relief efforts.
"The declaration by the governor is a precautionary measure," Vt. Public Safety Commissioner Keith Flynn said. "It allows us access to Medivac resources and also special vehicles if we have to evacuate people from the islands."
"This is all uncharted territory," Vt. Transportation Secretary Brian Searles said. "But if we got what the weather forecast is likely for the next few days-- which is essentially dry weather-- we can better tell for the lake to come down. But right now we have no idea."
Thursday evening VTrans was laying down barriers. They hoped to get them down by nightfall so people don't drive off the road. VTrans said they will then fill the road in between them with gravel, which will raise the roadway above the water level. But the construction is causing a lot of backups.
"It's gonna basically turn an hour and a half commute into about a two and a half to three hour commute," said Steve Davis of Peru, N.Y.
"You make the commute every day from here to Jericho-- wherever you're headed. You kind of get used to it... now flooding. You get used to stopping for awhile. You kind of become patient with it," said Justin Wilson of Plattsburgh, N.Y.
State officials say in this case it is OK to drive through the water-covered roadway because they have inspected it and are constantly monitoring it.
Click here for road closures from VTrans.
Gina Bullard - WCAX News
