Governor Peter Shumlin declared a state of emergency, and state officials implemented their emergency operations plan Sunday as Vermont braced for Hurricane Sandy. The emergency declaration will allow the Governor to mobilize the National Guard and request federal disaster funds, if necessary.
Sandy will bring two to four inches of rain, heaviest in southern Vermont, but emergency management officials continue to stress it won’t be a flood event like Tropical Storm Irene.Instead, Shumlin says it will bring widespread high winds, reaching 60-80 miles an hour to some parts of the state.
"There are two regions of the state that you’re going to see intense winds," he explained at a Sunday briefing. "The first is the Northeast Kingdom. We expect to see high winds, powerful winds from St. Johnsbury up to the Canadian border. The other area where we expect high winds is down the spine of the Green Mountains and we’re particularly concerned about the Rutland region."
Shumlin says as winds pick up on Monday some schools should consider closing early if conditions warrant.
The state plans to fully staff its Emergency Operations Center in Waterbury beginning at noon Monday.
EARLIER: Weather Service Says Sandy Will Be Strong, But No Irene For Vt.
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