– Vermont is grappling with the aftermath of recent flooding, which some consider to be the worst natural disaster in the state in the last century.
– The severe aftermath from the storm has accelerated calls for improvements in Vermont’s flood resilience measures.
– Local businesses and the state’s economy are profoundly affected with costs estimated to be millions of dollars.
Vermont’s Century-Level Flood Crisis
Worst Natural Disaster in 100 Years
Vermont, known for its picturesque sceneries, has recently been battling a not-so-charming aspect of Mother Nature: devastating floods. July’s storms have left the state grappling with what has been described by some observers as its worst natural disaster over the past century. The upshot? The state currently stands at the crossroads of rebuilding and reconsidering its approach to future storms.
The Economic Blow
Goods churned out by the local economy – from Vermont’s famous maple syrup to its burgeoning tech sector – have all felt the sting of the storm’s aftermath. Businesses, facing both physical and economical damage, estimate that the cost of storm damages will run into the millions. Such a massive financial blow is bound to reverberate across the state’s economy, with potential long-term, multi-sector effects.
Demand for Enhanced Flood Resilience
The catastrophic floods have inevitably triggered calls for bolstering Vermont’s flood resilience measures. A casual conversation around coffee shops or a more formal debate in the state’s legislative halls, the topic on every green-mountainers’ lips is the state’s need to upgrade its flood defences and disaster management capabilities. Many believe that addressing this issue is essential to keep Vermont’s charm alive, even in the face of meteorological adversities.
The Breezy Take
Vermont’s recent flood disaster has certainly unleashed a tide of challenges, not just on the ecological front but economically and politically too. It is abundantly clear that Vermont needs to strengthen its flood resilience actions significantly. If the Green Mountain State aims to continue the production of all its beloved outputs – from maple syrup to computer software – it must weather the storm of climate change by not just rebuilding its shattered businesses, but preparing itself for the tempests ahead. There’s nothing quite like a disaster of this scale to make it rain improvements.
Original article: https://apnews.com/video/montpelier-floods-natural-disasters-vermont-waterways-114dc9adc79242cf983d90bf1ee9fb52