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'Helping Our State': Vermont Guard Responds to Severe Flooding

July 19, 2023 |DOD News


The Vermont National Guard sprang into action after recent heavy rains sent flooded rivers over their banks, causing extensive damage to towns and small communities across the state.

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Rescue teams from North Carolina and Massachusetts helped Vermont's citizen-soldiers as they relocated flood victims and their pets to safer ground.

Soldiers have also been delivering needed supplies to affected towns, including bottled water for areas with boil or do not drink notices.

Soldiers unload supplies from a truck.
Soldiers unload supplies from a truck.
Unloading Supplies
Army Spc. Taylor LaRocque, left, and Staff Sgt. Emil Lemay, motor transport operators, Alpha Company, 186th Brigade Support Battalion, 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain), Vermont Army National Guard, unload items for donation in Hardwick, Vt., July 17, 2023. Soldiers helped organize and distribute donated items to towns affected by flooding across Vermont.
Download: Full Size (6.03 MB)
Photo By: Army Sgt. Denis Nunez
VIRIN: 230717-Z-WG583-1005
A soldier gives a box to a young girl.
A soldier gives a box to a young girl.
Flood Donations
Army Staff Sgt. Emil Lemay, motor transport operator, Alpha Company, 186th Brigade Support Battalion, 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain), Vermont Army National Guard, hands off a donated item in Hardwick, Vt., July 17, 2023. Soldiers helped organize and distribute donated items to towns affected by flooding across Vermont.
Download: Full Size (3.17 MB)
Photo By: Army Sgt. Denis Nunez
VIRIN: 230717-Z-WG583-1004A

"This is one of the reasons I joined the Vermont National Guard," Army Sgt. Jeffrey Coleman said of the response efforts. "I want to be one of the people helping our state when needed: That's what I do."

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People stand on a small sand bar at night as a small boat filled with people approaches.
A soldier guides a truck delivering water.
A soldier guides a tractor operator unloading water.
Soldiers unload boxes of water in line for a group of residents in front of a village store.
A soldier uses straps to secure boxes of water.
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Officials say Vermont received two months of rainfall in two days. See what that looked like for Vermont National Guard quick reaction force soldiers as they conducted a search and rescue operation in the town of Berlin: 

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Spotlight: Helping Hands Spotlight: Helping Hands: https://www.defense.gov/Spotlights/Helping-Hands/

national guard flooding humanitarian Helping Hands

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