Mass. task force helps flood victims in Vermont as President Biden approves emergency declaration

BEVERLY, Mass. — President Joe Biden approved an emergency declaration in Vermont overnight because of catastrophic flooding over the past few days.

The declaration frees up money and resources for those affected communities. Vermont is also getting help Tuesday morning from an elite group of search-and-rescue teams from the Bay State.

About 45 FEMA workers gathered at the headquarters of Massachusetts Task Force One in Beverly, packed up $5 million worth of equipment, and headed for White River Junction to help our neighbors to the north. Rescue teams even started preparing as the rain started falling Sunday.

The FEMA team headquartered in Beverly was called to help with the catastrophic flooding in Vermont as heavy rain washed out roads and forced evacuations.

The towns of Londonderry and Weston were reported to be inaccessible. Rescuers are heading there to do welfare checks. With this mission so close to home, the FEMA workers out of Beverly were able to respond within hours.

“It’s a little atypical in the fact that it’s so close that we’re actually going directly to work,” said Mark Foster, the Task Force Manager. “Usually there’s a convoy and we wait there for work.”

“This is an all-hands-on-deck response,” said Vermont Governor Phil Scott. “We’ve not seen rains fall like this since Irene and in some places, it will surpass even that.”

Back in 2011 when Irene it, Vermont got 11 inches of rain in 24 hours. Six people were killed, homes were washed off their foundations, and more than 200 bridges and hundreds of miles of roadways were damaged.

As of this morning, there have been no reports of injuries but swift water rescue teams conducted more than 50 rescues. There are also several roads closed, including some along the Green Mountains.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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