(Host) Roofs on about a dozen buildings around Vermont have collapsed this winter under the weight of ice and snow.
As VPR’s Ross Sneyd reports, emergency officials worry that more buildings could be damaged before this spring’s snowmelt.
(Sneyd) Snowfall so far this winter ranges from 200 inches on Mount Mansfield to 115 inches in Burlington.
Add to that a lot of rain, which soaked into the snow and then froze.
So it’s no wonder that roofs are straining under the weight of it all.
Mark Tarmy says he’s been vigilant about cleaning the roofs at Jack Tarmy Lumber Company in Brattleboro, where he’s president.
But that wasn’t enough last week. Torrential rain soaked into just six inches of snow and it crushed the roof of a warehouse, taking the walls with it.
(Tarmy) "Thank God it happened around 4 in the morning. Because when this thing went, if a person were in the building, or deep in the building, they wouldn’t have had a chance. They really wouldn’t have.”
(Sneyd) Tarmy’s company makes high-end flooring and the warehouse was full. When the building collapsed, the inventory was soaked. Most of it was salvaged, but it’s still being dried.
Tarmy’s experience has been repeated in Guilford, Springfield, Barre and other communities. The state Fire Safety Division counts at least ten roof collapses, but assumes there have been many more – especially in old barns and agricultural buildings that aren’t used every day.
There’s been some melting, but assistant state fire marshal Mike Greenia says the danger is far from over.
(Greenia) "This winter has definitely been much different than other winters we’ve seen with the tremendous amount of snow that we’ve had. But the springtime, we can also see tremendous heavy, wet snow-type events. The biggest thing is to watch that and be aware of that. Watch the weather forecasts.”
(Sneyd) Greenia says property owners need to pay attention to warning signs of an imminent collapse.
Some of those clues might be a leak where there’s never been one before. Ceiling tiles might move or sprinkler pipes might show signs of damage. And he says if there are loud cracking or popping noises, it’s time to get out and call for help.
For VPR News, I’m Ross Sneyd.