Update 7:50am Thursday, 12-Dec-2024

Flood Watch has been cancelled and river levels have begun to lower. 

Wishing everyone a safe holiday season.

Update 10:56pm, Wednesday, 11-Dec-2024

Lamoille River water level predictions in Johnson have been downgraded again, now well below flood stage, with the predicted peak at 8.3 feet (for reference, Minor flooding occurs at 13 feet).

Update 3:56pm, Wednesday, 11-Dec-2024

The National Weather Service has downgraded expected rainfall into Thursday, but a flood warning remains in effect: https://www.weather.gov/btv/headline1

With temperatures continuing to rise above freezing, expected rainfall and melting snow could lead to small creek and river flooding.

Water levels will rise overnight and are expected to peak Thursday morning.

You can follow river levels at this site: https://water.noaa.gov/gauges/jonv1

*** It’s important to note: this is only one measurement of the Lamoille River and does not include the Gihon River or streams and tributaries.

If flooding seems imminent, real-time updates will be posted to Town of Johnson Facebook page and the website TownOfJohnson.com

Please be diligent and safe. Remember turn around, don’t drown when approaching flooded roadways!

Update 11:42am, Tuesday, 10-Dec-2024

Johnson Emergency Management update, from a VT flood coordinator:

“A widespread 2-3 inches of rain with localized amounts up to 4-5 inches is possible through New England starting the night of 10 December through early morning 12 December. Warm temperatures will melt snowpack and possibly increase river flows to flood stages and cause flash flooding. Additionally, there are concerns of shifting river ice in the north adding to flooding. Cold air on the backside of the system will slow runoff on 12 December and end overland flooding, however river responses could last through the end of the week.

Last December, 2.5-3 inches of rain caused significant flooding in Moretown and Waterbury. This year, the rain might be heavier in central to southern Vermont. One mitigating variable is river levels in Vermont are lower than last year at this time.”

Update 9am, Tuesday, 10-Dec-2024

The local Emergency Management Team is monitoring information and conditions.

The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Watch for Lamoille County, including Johnson, today and tomorrow. This is forecast to be minor, if flooding occurs, but it’s better to be prepared and safe. https://inws.ncep.noaa.gov/a/a.php?i=107022357

You can follow river levels at this site (see more tools below):
https://water.noaa.gov/gauges/jonv1
*** It’s important to note: this is only one measurement of the Lamoille River and does not include the Gihon River or streams and tributaries.

If flooding seems imminent, real-time updates will be posted to Town of Johnson Facebook page and the website TownOfJohnson.com

Please be diligent and safe.

• River water level prediction (see Unique Local Info graphs for more models): https://water.noaa.gov/gauges/jonv1
• Weather Prediction Center (NOAA): https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/#page=ovw    *** It’s important to note that this is JUST A TOOL, and is not always accurate for planning. (As we learned last year.)
• Now is the time to prepare for any future flooding; remove debris from culverts and drainage areas, sign up for Vermont Alert (www.vtalert.gov), and follow other advice at https://vem.vermont.gov/preparedness/floods

Please be safe. DO NOT cross water-covered roadways. Stay far from downed powerlines.

*** If you need support now, or as remanence from last year ***   Lamoille Area Recovery Network (LEARN) is available to assist individuals and families impacted by flooding and other natural disasters and support resilience building in light of almost certain future disasters. https://uwlamoille.org/learn/

Update 9am, Wednesday, 7-Aug-2024

The local Emergency Management Team is monitoring information and conditions. Right now we’re being told we’re expecting 2″ of rain, but there are many unknowns with Hurricane remnants. And as we know, it’s better to be prepared. Here are a few sources of information the Town uses (in addition to other local, state, and national contacts):

• River water level prediction (see Unique Local Info graphs for more models): https://water.noaa.gov/gauges/jonv1
• Additional hurricane tracking information available here: https://www.noaa.gov/debby
• Weather Prediction Center (NOAA): https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/#page=ovw    *** It’s important to note that this is JUST A TOOL, and is not always accurate for planning. (As we learned last year.)

Fingers crossed we only get a couple inches of rain and the same is true upstream!

A message from Vermont Emergency Management:
“…in a worst-case scenario, the remnants could bring significant rain to Vermont on Friday into Saturday. Now is the time to prepare for any future flooding; remove debris from culverts and drainage areas, sign up for Vermont Alert (www.vtalert.gov), and follow other advice at https://vem.vermont.gov/preparedness/floods “

Please be safe. DO NOT cross water-covered roadways. Stay far from downed powerlines.

A year is simply not enough time to recover from the physical, emotional, and mental aspects that last years flood brought. Please be kind to one another and help each other. We can get through this together.

*** If you need support now, or as remanence from last year ***   Lamoille Area Recovery Network (LEARN) is available to assist individuals and families impacted by flooding and other natural disasters and support resilience building in light of almost certain future disasters. https://uwlamoille.org/learn/

10:40am, Friday,12-July-2024

If you have a private well and you believe it was flooded, please test before using.

Free test kits will be available to order on the VT Dept of Health store at Noon today.

https://www.healthvermont.gov/environment/drinking-water/after-flood-private-drinking-water-guidance#TestDrinkingWater

7:30am, Friday,12-July-2024

Johnson’s Emergency ended last night, as the waters receded. Today Town and Village staff and crew will continue with clean up, assessments and other needed work to ensure our community has the services and support needed. Volunteer Emergency Management will return to their personal lives and responsibilities.

If you need Municipal support, please reach out to the Town Office where staff can help assist, or they can reach our to the Emergency Team if needed.

If you have property damage, please report it by calling 211 or (preferably) reporting it at vermont211.org/

Johnson was lucky this time around, and our Vermont neighbors weren’t all as fortunate. If you have the capacity, please consider showing up for our neighbors (whatever that looks like for you), in the same way they showed up for us last summer.

A reminder, we also have local services available to support your Living needs, Health, Wellbeing, and other supports:

Lamoille Area Recovery Network (LeARN) is available to support flood survivors with recovery resources. Email: [email protected] Phone: 802-730-9513. uwlamoille.org/learn

FindHelp is an online database of searchable resources in Lamoille County. Website: https://www.findhelp.org/

For Mental Health Support: Call LCMH Crisis Line 802-888-5026 (option 1) OR text 741741

Want to help your neighbors impacted by the floods? 

• Sign up here to volunteer: https://forms.gle/UySG65EkPYmmfr2Y7
• Donate here for UW Disaster Recovery Fund: https://uwlamoille.org/how-to-help/flooding-relief-fund.html
• More information on helping?  Write to [email protected]

Need help cleaning up? 

• Use this short form to let us know what help you need: https://forms.gle/fUpHaoxyxKnh62fQ6
• Or, write [email protected] or text 802-730-9513.  One of our household advocates will be in touch!

*** Stay safe, give a helping hand, and ask for help if you can use it. ***

5:40am, Friday,12-July-2024

Road Updates

• OPEN: Rte 15 in Johnson/Cambridge town line area (Willow Crossing)
• OPEN: Rte 15 between the Fire Department and Jolley’s
• OPEN: Hogback Rd 
• OPEN River Rd East
• OPEN: Lendway Lane

9:30pm, Thursday,11-July-2024.

• No changes to report at this time. The water continues to recede on its own time. Now we wait.

  We’ll be back online bright and early tomorrow. Stay safe.

7pm, Thursday,11-July-2024

Road Updates

• Rte 15 in Johnson/Cambridge town line area (Willow Crossing) is closed with a culvert problem due to flooding. This is likely to remained closed for a while.
• Rte 15 between the Fire Department and Jolley’s is open, but traffic control is in place due to Willow Crossing closure.
• Hogback Rd remains closed due to flooding.
• River Rd East remains closed due to damage from flooding. This is expected to reopen on Friday.
• Lendway Lane remains closed due to damage from flooding. This is expected to reopen Friday.

2pm, Thursday,11-July-2024

Water levels seems to be flat over a 45 minute timeframe (15 minute intervals). So, it seems we have crested. We don’t have a strong dataset to support how long it will take for the waters to recede, so at this time we will keep monitoring.

Folks, The pizza oven will be making pizzas this evening beginning at 6pm. We encourage folks to take advantage. Hopefully this is one small way to ease anxiety as waters begin to recede.

There are no changes in road conditions since the last post.

Today we have surpassed last December in water levels at the JONV1 Lamoille River gauge in Johnson, 17.82′ as of 1:00PM, making today’s event 4th highest water level on record. (Source: https://water.noaa.gov/gauges/jonv1)

Historic Crests
27.00 ft on Nov-04-1927
21.01 ft on Jul-11-2023
19.98 ft on Aug-06-1995
** 17.82 ft on Jul-11-2024 as of 1:00PM **
17.58 ft on Dec-19-2023 (P)
17.33 ft on Jul-01-1973

Continue to be safe, and help your neighbors. We will send updates and the road and water situations change.

11:51am, Thursday,11-July-2024

The Lamoille River continues to rise, the river gauge at Dog’s Head was measuring at 17.21′ and is predicated to crest at 17.9 around 2pm. These are only forecasts.

** Road updates **

Rte 15 in Johnson/Cambridge town line area (Willow Crossing) is closed due to flooding.
Rte 15 between the Fire Station and Jolley’s is closed due to flooding.
Hogback Rd is closed due to flooding.
River Rd East is closed due to flooding.
Lendway Lane is closed due to flooding.

*** Open*** Upper French Hill, near Waterman Rd. HOWEVER, there is a section of French Hill down to one lane.

9:12am, Thursday,11-July-2024

We are getting upstream reports on the Lamoille River. Hardwick and Morrisville are reporting crested waters. It does take a few hours for the impact in Johnson. We will update again when we see cresting Lamoille river levels locally. We are currently in Moderate flood levels being reported at the Dog’s Head river gauge, very close to Major stage. https://water.noaa.gov/gauges/jonv1

8:57am, Thursday,11-July-2024

If you are in need of support and resources:

• Lamoille Area Recovery Network (LeARN) is available to support flood survivors with recovery resources. Email: [email protected] Phone: 802-730-9513.
  https://uwlamoille.org/get-help/
• FindHelp is an online database of searchable resources in Lamoille County. Website: https://www.findhelp.org/
• For Mental Health Support: Call LCMH Crisis Line 802-888-5026 (option 1) OR text 741741

Local resource updates:

9:39am, Thursday,11-July-2024

** Road updates **

8am, Thursday,11-July-2024

Lamoille River is rising faster than expected, we are hearing from sources upstream. Be prepared for additional rapid rising of the rivers. Duration is unknown, predictions are that rising will subside mid-afternoon, but these are only predictions.

Stay safe.

6am, Thursday,11-July-2024

The Lamoille river does continue to rise according to sources upstream, and the Gihon has breached its banks. We are actively watching and will continue to update the website and Facebook as the situation evolves.

Flash Flooding of water on Route 15 has cleared up. There continues to be a possibility of Flash Flooding

Stay safe.

6am, Thursday,11-July-2024

The Lamoille river does continue to rise according to sources upstream, and the Gihon has breached its banks. We are actively watching and will continue to update the website and Facebook as the situation evolves.

Flash Flooding of water on Route 15 has cleared up. This is no longer of concern.

Stay safe.

1am, Thursday,11-July-2024

While there is still some road interruptions, the latest update from Vermont Emergency Management and the National Weather Service is that Johnson is not in the latest Flash Flood Warning area.

While the rivers continue to rise, and there may be minor flooding of roadways and basements (low lying areas), we appear to be in the clear for this event. Weather predictions continue to show Beryl moving out of the state overnight.

We will update road conditions in the morning, unless something significant changes overnight.

Stay safe.

Update 11:10pm, Wednesday, 10-Jul-2024

Road updates

Closed upper French Hill, near Waterman Rd. Unsafe to pass, please find an alternative route. (Down Waterman Rd from Upper French is safe)

Sinclair Rd has water partially covering the road. Road is still open, but please use precaution.

[UPDATE 6AM, 11-July] these Flash Flooding issues over Route 15 are no longer of concern:

There is water running over Route 15 at the following locations:

• Gulf Hill, near Collins Hill Rd (east of the village)

•  Treasure Road, between Prospect Hill side of Collins Hill Rd and Maple Hill Rd

• There MAY BE water over Route 15 West of the Village, but we have not been able to confirm yet. Will update ASAP

Update 4:30pm, Wednesday, 10-Jul-2024

An update from the National Weather Service briefing to Emergency Management teams:

There is a likelihood of isolated flash flooding. Road washouts are possible.
If we see 2.5″ – 3″ of rain in the next 24 hours, then there is a possibility of minor river flooding.
If we receive 4″ inches or more, then moderate flooding is possible. This is unlikely.

A message from the American Red Cross:
We have shelters on standby in Johnson and Barre with prepositioned supplies and personnel should we open a shelter(s) or evacuation centers. The sites are not open while on standby and will only be opened in close coordination with state and local emergency management based on the needs of communities during and after the storm.

I have included the links of our Flood Preparedness Checklist and Information for you to share with your constituents. https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/flood.html

https://www.redcross.org/content/dam/redcross/get-help/pdfs/flood/EN_Flood-Preparedness-Checklist.pdf

Update 9am, Wednesday, 10-Jul-2024

A Flood Watch is in effect from 11AM Wednesday to 12 PM Thursday for northern New York and much of Vermont.

Lamoille County is High Risk in Excessive Rainfall Outlook for Wednesday and Thursday, this means:

• Widespread heavy rain will fall today and tonight associated with the remnants of Beryl.
• Heavy rainfall rates combined with antecedent saturated soils and high stream flows will enhance the flooding threat in some areas.
• For most of the area, there is a 40-70% probability of excessive rainfall leading to rapid onset flooding within 25 miles of a given location.

This is one water-level prediction tool the National Weather Service uses for prediction of flooding the Lamoille River (Gihon does not have a gauge):

https://water.noaa.gov/gauges/JONV1

*** It’s important to note that this is JUST A TOOL, and is not always accurate for planning. (As we learned last year.)

Please be safe. DO NOT cross water-covered roadways. Stay far from downed powerlines.

A year is simply not enough time to recover from the physical, emotional, and mental aspects that last years flood brought. Please be kind to one another and help each other. We can get through this together.

*** If you need support now, or as remanence from last year ***   Lamoille Area Recovery Network (LEARN) is available to assist individuals and families impacted by flooding and other natural disasters and support resilience building in light of almost certain future disasters. https://uwlamoille.org/learn/