Communities, residents urged to assess flood risk

WATERBURY — State officials are encouraging towns and cities with a history of ice jams and flooding to monitor nearby rivers and streams to assess flood and ice jam risk this year.

Residents who live near rivers and streams are being urged to prepare for a flood, said officials from Vermont Emergency Management (VEM).

The National Weather Service is predicting warm temperatures and rain today and tomorrow.

While there is a hope that the rain will be soaked up by snow pack and the temperatures will not be warm enough to cause major runoff, the threat of flooding will be heightened during these days and possibly into the weekend, said emergency management officials.

Montpelier is experiencing problems with the Winooski River. Two ice jams have already formed on the river and city, state, and federal officials are monitoring them to see if the jams are causing water to back up and eventually cause a flood.

Other ice jams have been noted throughout the state; an ice jam on the White River caused flooding problems in Chelsea last week. Broken ice in Grafton has piled up along a covered bridge and could flood if temperatures get warm. The Ottauquechee River in Woodstock also has broken ice that has impaired river flow.

The Civil Air Patrol conducted a fly over of state rivers yesterday, and observers noted that while many rivers are flowing freely, most are still frozen solid.

“There were some ice jams where small rivers and streams meet larger rivers,” said Barbara Farr, VEM’s director. “But, most rivers are still frozen solid with only a limit amount of open water here and there.”

Towns that notice ice jams or other conditions that could lead to floods are encouraged to call VEM’s 24-hour emergency number at (800) 347-0488.

Residents are also asked to be aware, and to prepare for flood conditions by planning an evacuation route, stocking up on food and water, and purchasing batteries to run flashlights and radios. They are also urged to monitor local news for flood warnings and updates.

Sanders receives national health care award

WASHINTGTON — A national organization representing community health centers is calling Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-VT, one of its health champions for 2007.

The National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) presented Sanders this week with its “Distinguished Community Health Champion” award for his leadership on issues that impact the 16 million people who rely on health centers for their health care.

This award is given to select members of Congress who have “done outstanding work on behalf of low-income, uninsured and medically underserved Americans, and who have spearheaded efforts on Capitol Hill to improve health care access for all,” official said in a statement..

“Senator Sanders has always worked hard for America’s health centers and, more importantly, understands their mission,” said Tom Van Coverden, NACHC’s president and chief executive officer. “We especially appreciate his leadership and unflagging support for increasing health center funding so that we can reach more communities in need. Thanks to his support, the federal health centers program funding has been increased by an historic $207 million. This increase will help us expand access to 1.5 million more people in need.”

The national award presentation to Sanders comes as health centers from across the country convene for the 32nd annual NACHC Policy and Issues Forum in Washington.

“Senator Sanders has been an important voice on behalf of health centers in our state and indeed across the country," said Hunt Blair, director of Vermont public policy for the Bi-State Primary Care Association. "He understands that health centers are part of the solution to America’s increasingly fragmented health care system, because they provide communities with a health care home. With 56 million people in the United States struggling without access to health care, there are not enough health centers in America for the people who need them. Senator Sanders is working hard to make a difference in their lives.”

Health centers serve nearly 16 million low-income children and adults in more than 5,000 communities nationwide. In Vermont 35,000 people are served by such centers.

Posted March 21, 2007

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