No waterway infrastructure in our state or the surrounding area was designed for 8+ inches of water in such a short period of time.
Creeks, culverts, road drainage and angles for runoff - all the upstream started to build and fail first, even as the downstream events slowly built up.
Roads were cut off. Hill sides and forests were unable to divert the water.
It all had to go somewhere.
Many of the houses experiencing landslides and land instability were built where the most affordable option for fill was and continues to be the most affordable - trees (which decompose), quarry fill (from the area where just a few generations ago, this was free).
So again - generational inequity shows itself. The most affordable places to build with the most affordable methods are also the most at risk of repeat crisis events caused by human-accelerated climate change.
Now - recovery barriers are showing themselves.
People who received FEMA relief from the 2011 Hurricane Irene flooding event (100-500 year event) are not eligible for federal flood assistance from THIS year's 100-500 year event if they didn't get flood insurance before July 10th.
Many folks in the most affordable areas either could not get coverage from ANY provider, or could not afford the premiums at any level of coverage.
So - no insurance. No fed assistance. No net.
Speaking of insurance - Homeowners insurance in the US does *not* cover flooding or most other water damage, INCLUDING landslides and damage to property caused by excess water on your property. This also included sump pump failures in basements, and any of your stuff a basement regardless of whether or not it is finished.
Your home office in the basement? Not covered.
Your family rec room below ground floor? Not covered.
Storing your outdoor gear? Bikes? Not covered.
Cool cool cool - what about renters?
Renter's insurance *may* cover your home's possessions in case of a flooding event.
What it it doesn't cover is your landlord making your home a livable space again in the time you need it to remain housed and safe.
It doesn't cover your landlord getting the materials they need, and the special services which can safely rebuild after a flood in the time you need to get a roof over your head *before the snow comes.*
If #Vermont was your climate refuge, your bellwether into when we're past needing to think less about reversal and completely about survival, that bell is ringing and the time is now.
Restructure your towns.
Form civic mutual aid at every level - neighborhood, town, state, region, federal. You need all the layers.
Form pooled resources of expertise - New England needs to share civic experts, since there literally aren't enough to go around.
