Satellite photos of Irene flooding in Vermont from Digital Globe

Thanks to a href="http://www.digitalglobe.com">Digital Globe for these photos of the Killington flooding.

Pico base area, Vermont-August 29, 2011: This is a satellite image of damage at the Pico Ski base area near Killington in Vermont. The bright red vegetation is healthy and the grey areas are where earth has given way in a mud slide around the resort and parking lots. (credit: DigitalGlobe) (Thanks to Tom Horrocks for pointing out that this is Pico, not Killington)

Hurricane Irene Damage, Killington , Vermont-August 29, 2011: This is a satellite image of severe damage in Vermont in the town of Killington along US Hwy 4 and Road 100. Of note is the washout/slide in the upper right between the houses which covers the road. In the center, the pavement that has been washed away by high creek waters. The center of the image has several businesses surrounded by mud and water. (credit: DigitalGlobe)

Two aerial photos of Killington, Rochester

 
In this aerial photo people gather alongside workers making repairs Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2011 on Route 100 in Killington, Vt., washed out by flood waters from Tropical Storm Irene on Sunday. Vermont Emergency Management officials say they'll use helicopters to airlift food, water and supplies to flood-stricken towns that have been cut off by road and bridge washouts stemming from flooding due to remnants of Hurricane Irene. (AP Photo)

 

 
Homes damaged by Tropical Storm Irene are shown in Rochester, Vt., in this aerial photo taken Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2011. Vermont Emergency Management officials say they'll use helicopters to airlift food, water and supplies to flood-stricken towns that have been cut off by road and bridge washouts stemming from Hurricane Irene flooding. (AP Photo)

News and notes from Killington, Mendon & Pittsfield

Hurricane Irene Assistance Efforts & Updates

Current as of 3 PM, August 30, 2011

 

The Towns of Killington, Mendon and Pittsfield are leading a coordinated effort with the Air National Guard, communities of surrounding towns, and state, local, and federal government and power companies to develop a hurricane assistance and information sharing plan.

Please pay attention to the following updates, or call 422-3473 with questions. 

Pittsfield photos from Vyto

Three photos by Rutland Herald photographer Vyto Starinskas who rode a mountain bike into Pittsfield once the road from Killington disappeared.

 

 
This house was torn in half by the floodwaters as the swollen river exceeded its banks.

 

 

This house was floated to this spot where it was dumped.

 

 

A house is burned after it was swept near a bridge and was causing a problem due to its location near a bridge in Pittsfield.

Restoring Rutland group setting up for donations to go to Killington-Mendon-Pittsfield-Bridgewater

News about how to help Killington - Mendon - Pittsfield. Now accepting donations at the storefront at 34 Strongs Ave. next to the Palms, where they will be collected for delivery up the mountain by VT Emergency Mgmnt.

Need: Food, Toiletry stuff, diapers, dry goods, water, boots, shovels, buckets, and cleanup equipment.

Check the Restoring Rutland Facebook page for more details, and for updates. They will also be organizing cleanup crews for damaged parts of Rutland.

Photos of the flood at its worst in Killington, east side Route 4 and Route 100 south

All photos submitted by Nicole Kesselring, Killington resident and vice president of Enman Engineering in Rutland.

 
Back Behind Restaurant
 
Irving Gas Station By Mosher Excavating

 
 
 
Route 4, Kokopelli Inn

Rumor about missing Mendon people is untrue, police say

State Police said Tuesday that a rumor about missing persons in the Mendon area is untrue.
Police Lt. Charles Cacciatore said he believes a rumor of missing persons began spreading after two people walked from Route 4 to the bridge on Lake Drive during the storm on Sunday. They left their car near Sugar and Spice restaurant on Route 4 and the vehicle remained there Monday.
Cacciatore said police were able to contact the owner of the vehicle who said he and his companion sought shelter with a friend and were unable to return to the car on Monday.

Update from Killington Mountain School

Update from Killington Mountain School:

Dear KMS Community, Irene slammed Vermont with mind-numbing force on Sunday, and Killington is among the areas still cut off from the state highway system.  Pedestrian traffic to Rutland is possible, but vehicles are not currently allowed through.  Route 100 is washed out at numerous points between Killington and Stockbridge and at numerous points further north.  It is also washed out between Killington and Ludlow.  Route 4 between Killington and Woodstock is treacherous at best and passage has been restricted to emergency vehicles.  The Ramshead, Snowshed, and KBL base facilities at Killington received significant storm impact. This may seem like a dire report, but the reality for many of us is far brighter.  KMS did not sustain any wind or water damage during Irene and power returned mid-day Monday after dropping out at 10 p.m. Sunday night.  We consider ourselves lucky to have running water when many in town do not.  With working Internet and cable connections, we are able to stay connected with the outside world. Through those connections, and through travel within the bubble that contains Killington, we know that we are lucky.  Many families have suffered serious losses; I spoke with a women in Stockbridge who had watched her neighbors' house wash off its foundation and go downstream.  Josef Podnecky, a former KMS chef, lost portions of his roof and some of his tools as the floodwaters surrounded his house; he may have also lost crops due to contamination from the floodwaters.  News reports indicate that the death toll in Vermont has reached three, with another person missing and feared dead.

Killington Base Lodge crumbles

KILLINGTON — It was like a scene out of a movie.
The sound of a rescue helicopter buzzed overhead as Killington residents nearly panicked, asking each other how and if they were going to traverse over a huge gap in Route 4, a long stretch of road washed away above Sugar & Spice restaurant in Mendon by floods this state hasn’t seen the likes of in 100 years.
Residents stranded by the impassable road wondered if they would ever return home.
But home wasn’t much better.
Half of the Killington base lodge, including the Superstar Pub, plunged into a river below, once just a babbling brook alongside the ski trails.
A white farmhouse from the early 1800s across from the town’s historic church on Route 4 near River Road was lifted and washed down the road, a road that was completely washed away itself.
Phone service, telephones and power was out all over the mountain and nearly every road was impassable, according to Killington Town Manager Kathleen Ramsay.The Sherburne Pass above Pico Mountain Resort was preserved.
But Goodro Lumber, just below River Road on Route 4, was under water.
The whole town was landlocked, with no way in and no way out, Ramsay said.
When asked early Monday what would happen in case of an emergency, Ramsay said, “I don’t know.”
Later, Pico served as a landing pad for medical helicopters in case of an emergency. The resort announced Monday that Pico closed for the summer season.
“It’s devastation like I’ve never seen before,” said Billy Bauer, manager of the Summit Lodge on the town’s access road and resident since 1977. “There is this term I use ... it’s Stephen-King-ish. I was speechless. What concerns me most is insurance companies.”
But Bauer said he had 20 guests overnight Sunday and they fired up a gas grill.
“The energy is hopeful ... we were together and we had a great time. We were making the best of it until we got the power back on,” he said.
Scott Bigelow, first constable in Killington, wasn’t so optimistic. He was stuck in Rutland in his car before the gaping hole on Route 4 after a shift with Regional Ambulance Service.
The good news is that Route 4 headed up to Killington is at the top of the state’s priority list of repairs, according to Vermont Emergency Management, Ramsay said.
Backhoes and other excavating equipment were seen heading up the road Monday afternoon.
Power was restored in most of the town Monday morning.
There were no injuries of residents or rescuers as of Monday afternoon, according to Ramsay.

Cristina Kumka