Relentless rain floods roads in Northeast, leads to evacuations, rescues

A damaged car lays on a collapsed roadway along Route 32 in the Hudson Valley near Cornwall, N.Y., Monday, July 10, 2023. Heavy rain has washed out roads and forced evacuations in the Northeast as more downpours were forecast throughout the day. (AP Photo/Paul Kazdan)

A damaged car lays on a collapsed roadway along Route 32 in the Hudson Valley near Cornwall, N.Y., Monday, July 10, 2023. Heavy rain has washed out roads and forced evacuations in the Northeast as more downpours were forecast throughout the day. (AP Photo/Paul Kazdan) AP – Paul Kazdan

Mud, rocks and debris from Sunday's flash flood cover a road on the campus of the United States Military Academy at West Point, Monday, July 10, 2023 in West Point, N.Y. Heavy rain has washed out roads and forced evacuations in the Northeast as more downpours were forecast throughout the day, Monday. (Courtesy of the USMA via AP)

Mud, rocks and debris from Sunday's flash flood cover a road on the campus of the United States Military Academy at West Point, Monday, July 10, 2023 in West Point, N.Y. Heavy rain has washed out roads and forced evacuations in the Northeast as more downpours were forecast throughout the day, Monday. (Courtesy of the USMA via AP) HOGP

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, center, alongside an entourage of emergency workers and officials, speaks to members of the media on Main Street damaged the previous day by floodwaters, Monday, July 10, 2023, in Highland Falls, N.Y. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, center, alongside an entourage of emergency workers and officials, speaks to members of the media on Main Street damaged the previous day by floodwaters, Monday, July 10, 2023, in Highland Falls, N.Y. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) John Minchillo

Governor Kathy Hochul, alongside an entourage of emergency workers and officials, speaks to members of the media on the floodwater-damaged Main Street, Monday, July 10, 2023, in Highland Falls, N.Y. Heavy rain has washed out roads and forced evacuations in the Northeast as more downpours were forecast throughout the day. One person in New York's Hudson Valley has drowned as she was trying to leave her home. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Governor Kathy Hochul, alongside an entourage of emergency workers and officials, speaks to members of the media on the floodwater-damaged Main Street, Monday, July 10, 2023, in Highland Falls, N.Y. Heavy rain has washed out roads and forced evacuations in the Northeast as more downpours were forecast throughout the day. One person in New York's Hudson Valley has drowned as she was trying to leave her home. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) John Minchillo

Governor Kathy Hochul, center, alongside an entourage of emergency workers and officials, speaks to members of the media on a floodwater-damaged Main Street, Monday, July 10, 2023, in Highland Falls, N.Y. Heavy rain has washed out roads and forced evacuations in the Northeast as more downpours were forecast throughout the day. One person in New York's Hudson Valley has drowned as she was trying to leave her home. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Governor Kathy Hochul, center, alongside an entourage of emergency workers and officials, speaks to members of the media on a floodwater-damaged Main Street, Monday, July 10, 2023, in Highland Falls, N.Y. Heavy rain has washed out roads and forced evacuations in the Northeast as more downpours were forecast throughout the day. One person in New York's Hudson Valley has drowned as she was trying to leave her home. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) John Minchillo

Governor Kathy Hochul, fourth from right, and an entourage of emergency workers, resident, and journalists pass along Main Street damaged the previous day by floodwaters, Monday, July 10, 2023, in Highland Falls, N.Y. Heavy rain has washed out roads and forced evacuations in the Northeast as more downpours were forecast throughout the day. One person in New York's Hudson Valley has drowned as she was trying to leave her home. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Governor Kathy Hochul, fourth from right, and an entourage of emergency workers, resident, and journalists pass along Main Street damaged the previous day by floodwaters, Monday, July 10, 2023, in Highland Falls, N.Y. Heavy rain has washed out roads and forced evacuations in the Northeast as more downpours were forecast throughout the day. One person in New York's Hudson Valley has drowned as she was trying to leave her home. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) John Minchillo

Pedestrians pass a local river whose heavy current flooded nearby Main Street, Monday, July 10, 2023, in Highland Falls, N.Y. Heavy rain has washed out roads and forced evacuations in the Northeast as more downpours were forecast throughout the day. One person in New York's Hudson Valley has drowned as she was trying to leave her home. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Pedestrians pass a local river whose heavy current flooded nearby Main Street, Monday, July 10, 2023, in Highland Falls, N.Y. Heavy rain has washed out roads and forced evacuations in the Northeast as more downpours were forecast throughout the day. One person in New York's Hudson Valley has drowned as she was trying to leave her home. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) John Minchillo

Governor Kathy Hochul and an entourage of emergency workers and journalists pass along Main Street, Monday, July 10, 2023, in Highland Falls, N.Y. Heavy rain has washed out roads and forced evacuations in the Northeast as more downpours were forecast throughout the day. One person in New York's Hudson Valley has drowned as she was trying to leave her home. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Governor Kathy Hochul and an entourage of emergency workers and journalists pass along Main Street, Monday, July 10, 2023, in Highland Falls, N.Y. Heavy rain has washed out roads and forced evacuations in the Northeast as more downpours were forecast throughout the day. One person in New York's Hudson Valley has drowned as she was trying to leave her home. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) John Minchillo

New York State Governor Kathy Hochul, center, arrives alongside Orange County Executive Steven Newhaus, left, on Main Street, Monday, July 10, 2023, in Highland Falls, N.Y. Heavy rain has washed out roads and forced evacuations in the Northeast as more downpours were forecast throughout the day. One person in New York's Hudson Valley has drowned as she was trying to leave her home. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

New York State Governor Kathy Hochul, center, arrives alongside Orange County Executive Steven Newhaus, left, on Main Street, Monday, July 10, 2023, in Highland Falls, N.Y. Heavy rain has washed out roads and forced evacuations in the Northeast as more downpours were forecast throughout the day. One person in New York's Hudson Valley has drowned as she was trying to leave her home. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) John Minchillo

In this photo provided by the Metropolitan Transit Authority, water flows over the Metro North train tracks along the Hudson River during a flash flood, Sunday, July 9, 2023, near Manitou, N.Y. Heavy rain has washed out roads and forced evacuations in the Northeast as more downpours were forecast throughout the day, Monday. (Courtesy of the MTA via AP)

In this photo provided by the Metropolitan Transit Authority, water flows over the Metro North train tracks along the Hudson River during a flash flood, Sunday, July 9, 2023, near Manitou, N.Y. Heavy rain has washed out roads and forced evacuations in the Northeast as more downpours were forecast throughout the day, Monday. (Courtesy of the MTA via AP) HOGP

In this photo provided by the Metropolitan Transit Authority, MTA workers assess flood damage to train tracks after a flash flood, Monday, July 10, 2023, near Manitou, N.Y. Heavy rain has washed out roads and forced evacuations in the Northeast as more downpours were forecast throughout the day, Monday. (Courtesy of the MTA via AP)

In this photo provided by the Metropolitan Transit Authority, MTA workers assess flood damage to train tracks after a flash flood, Monday, July 10, 2023, near Manitou, N.Y. Heavy rain has washed out roads and forced evacuations in the Northeast as more downpours were forecast throughout the day, Monday. (Courtesy of the MTA via AP) HOGP

Police tape crosses Main Street after floodwaters damaged the roadway and adjacent buildings the previous day, Monday, July 10, 2023, in Highland Falls, N.Y. Heavy rain has washed out roads and forced evacuations in the Northeast as more downpours were forecast throughout the day. One person in New York's Hudson Valley has drowned as she was trying to leave her home. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Police tape crosses Main Street after floodwaters damaged the roadway and adjacent buildings the previous day, Monday, July 10, 2023, in Highland Falls, N.Y. Heavy rain has washed out roads and forced evacuations in the Northeast as more downpours were forecast throughout the day. One person in New York's Hudson Valley has drowned as she was trying to leave her home. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) John Minchillo

Pedestrians pass along Main Street damaged by flooding the previous day, Monday, July 10, 2023, in Highland Falls, N.Y. Heavy rain has washed out roads and forced evacuations in the Northeast as more downpours were forecast throughout the day. One person in New York's Hudson Valley has drowned as she was trying to leave her home. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Pedestrians pass along Main Street damaged by flooding the previous day, Monday, July 10, 2023, in Highland Falls, N.Y. Heavy rain has washed out roads and forced evacuations in the Northeast as more downpours were forecast throughout the day. One person in New York's Hudson Valley has drowned as she was trying to leave her home. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) John Minchillo

Volunteers help clear Main Street of debris after floodwaters subsided, Monday, July 10, 2023, in Highland Falls, N.Y. Heavy rain has washed out roads and forced evacuations in the Northeast as more downpours were forecast throughout the day. One person in New York's Hudson Valley has drowned as she was trying to leave her home. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Volunteers help clear Main Street of debris after floodwaters subsided, Monday, July 10, 2023, in Highland Falls, N.Y. Heavy rain has washed out roads and forced evacuations in the Northeast as more downpours were forecast throughout the day. One person in New York's Hudson Valley has drowned as she was trying to leave her home. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) John Minchillo

Kathy Eason, a worker at the Center for Highland Falls, stands on the storefront's stoop where she had been trapped by floodwaters the previous day, Monday, July 10, 2023, in Highland Falls, N.Y. Heavy rain has washed out roads and forced evacuations in the Northeast as more downpours were forecast throughout the day. One person in New York's Hudson Valley has drowned as she was trying to leave her home. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Kathy Eason, a worker at the Center for Highland Falls, stands on the storefront's stoop where she had been trapped by floodwaters the previous day, Monday, July 10, 2023, in Highland Falls, N.Y. Heavy rain has washed out roads and forced evacuations in the Northeast as more downpours were forecast throughout the day. One person in New York's Hudson Valley has drowned as she was trying to leave her home. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) John Minchillo

Residents, journalists, and emergency service workers walk around a flooded Main Street, Monday, July 10, 2023, in Highland Falls, N.Y. Heavy rain has washed out roads and forced evacuations in the Northeast as more downpours were forecast throughout the day. One person in New York's Hudson Valley has drowned as she was trying to leave her home. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Residents, journalists, and emergency service workers walk around a flooded Main Street, Monday, July 10, 2023, in Highland Falls, N.Y. Heavy rain has washed out roads and forced evacuations in the Northeast as more downpours were forecast throughout the day. One person in New York's Hudson Valley has drowned as she was trying to leave her home. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) John Minchillo

Heavy rain caused part of Route 30 in Jamaica, VT., to washout on Monday, July 10, 2023. (Kristopher Radder/The Brattleboro Reformer via AP)

Heavy rain caused part of Route 30 in Jamaica, VT., to washout on Monday, July 10, 2023. (Kristopher Radder/The Brattleboro Reformer via AP) Kristopher Radder Brattleboro Reformer

Vehicles drive through the water flowing over Route 9 in Brattleboro, Vt., on Monday, July 10, 2023. (Kristopher Radder/The Brattleboro Reformer via AP)

Vehicles drive through the water flowing over Route 9 in Brattleboro, Vt., on Monday, July 10, 2023. (Kristopher Radder/The Brattleboro Reformer via AP) Kristopher Radder Brattleboro Reformer

Lisa Mackey and Ann Florsch, from Ulster County, N.Y., watch the heavy water flow in the West River in Jamaica, Vt., on Monday, July 10, 2023. (Kristopher Radder/The Brattleboro Reformer via AP)

Lisa Mackey and Ann Florsch, from Ulster County, N.Y., watch the heavy water flow in the West River in Jamaica, Vt., on Monday, July 10, 2023. (Kristopher Radder/The Brattleboro Reformer via AP) Brattleboro Reformer – Kristopher Radder

By LISA RATHKE and JOHN MINCHILLO

Associated Press

Published: 07-10-2023 8:59 PM

ANDOVER, Vt. — Rescue teams raced into Vermont on Monday after heavy rain drenched parts of the Northeast, washing out roads, forcing evacuations and halting some airline travel. One person was killed in New York as she was trying to leave her home.

Mike Cannon of Vermont Urban Search and Rescue said crews from North Carolina, Michigan and Connecticut were among those helping to get to towns that have been unreachable since torrents of rain belted the state overnight. The towns of Londonderry and Weston were inaccessible, Cannon said, and rescuers were heading there to do welfare checks. Water levels at several dams were being closely monitored.

There have been no reports of injuries or deaths related to the flooding in Vermont, according to state emergency officials. Roads were closed across the state, including many along the spine of the Green Mountains.

Some people canoed their way to the Cavendish Baptist Church in Vermont, which had turned into a shelter. About 30 people waited it out, some of them making cookies for firefighters who were working to evacuate and rescue others.

“People are doing OK. It’s just stressful,” shelter volunteer Amanda Gross said.

Vermont Rep. Kelly Pajala said she and about half dozen others had to evacuate early Monday from a four-unit apartment building on the West River in Londonderry.

“The river was at our doorstep,” said Pajala. “We threw some dry clothes and our cats into the car and drove to higher ground.”

The slow-moving storm reached New England in the morning after hitting parts of New York and Connecticut on Sunday. Additional downpours in the region raised the potential for flash flooding; rainfall in certain parts of Vermont had exceeded 7 inches, the National Weather Service in Burlington said.

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One of the worst-hit places was New York’s Hudson Valley, where a woman identified by police as Pamela Nugent, 43, died as she tried to escape her flooded home in the hamlet of Fort Montgomery.

The force of the flash flooding dislodged boulders, which rammed into the woman’s house and damaged part of its wall, Orange County Executive Steven Neuhaus told The Associated Press. Two other people escaped.

“She was trying to get through (the flooding) with her dog,” Neuhaus said, “and she was overwhelmed by tidal wave-type waves.”

Vermont Gov. Phil Scott tweeted that swift water rescue teams had conducted more than 10 rescues on Monday. “We have not seen rainfall like this since Irene, and in some places, it will surpass even that,” Scott told an earlier news briefing.

Scott was referring to Tropical Storm Irene in August 2011, when Vermont got 11 inches of rain in 24 hours. Irene killed six in the state, washed homes off their foundations and damaged or destroyed more than 200 bridges and 500 miles of highway.

Among the buildings flooded Monday was the Weston Playhouse in Weston, which had been performing “Buddy — The Buddy Holly Story” to sold-out audiences.

The Weston Theater Company’s executive artistic director Susanna Gellert said the call was made at around 4 a.m. to evacuate 11 people associated with the production to higher ground and another 15 in nearby Ludlow. The three-floor playhouse, which had been damaged during Irene, was also flooded, with the dressing room and props room under water. “As a theater, we were just starting to get back from the COVID shutdown,” Gellert said. “To have this happen right now is painfully heartbreaking.”

Cara Philbin, 37, of Ludlow, was awakened by a neighbor early Monday and told to clear out of her second-floor apartment because the parking lot was already flooded.

“He told me me, ‘You need to get out of here ... your car is going to float away, and I suggest you do not stay,’” said Philbin. The neighbor took her car keys and moved her car to a higher spot, while she called her parents and then drove to their home to ride out the storm, she said.

Ross Andrews and his wife were driving back home to Calais, Vermont, on Monday when he saw trucks parked at a 230-year-old dam with crews trying to keep it from failing. There were trees down everywhere. “The interstate was closed right at our exit. Our road was closed right at our driveway. We managed to thread our way back just in the nick of time,” he said.