Ice Jam / Flood Assessment - 1:30 PM Friday, March 11, 2011

[Eric Scharnberg]

Montpelier Ice Jam / Flood Assessment – 1:30 PM Friday, March 11, 2011

 

The City is notifying residents and property owners that:

 

1 – The immediate threat of flooding has passed. The river will continue to rise overnight but is not expected to move the ice coverage.

 

2 – City personnel will continue a high level of watch until river levels start to drop.

 

3 – Forecasts of warming and rain in about a week indicate that we may have to raise levels of concern again.

 

4 – A crane has been deployed on Lower State Street and will work on breaking up ice along those flat areas.

 

5 – There is no public supply of sandbags. Individuals need to make their own decisions based on their property. Please note that in general sandbags provide limited protection in Montpelier because of interconnected cellars, openings in party walls, floor drains, utility openings, and other places for water to enter a building.

 

Residents are asked to be aware of weather forecasts and alerts, to check for notices from the City on the Web Site, and to be prepared to evacuate if a flood should occur. REMEMBER: we do not think an ice jam will occur, but if one occurs the water can rise rapidly. Do not go through flowing water.

 

Gesualdo C Schneider

Fire Chief