In a First, Montpelier's Dam Threatens to Overflow

In a sign of just bad the flooding might get in Vermont's capital of Montpelier, police are urging residents to head to the upper floors of their homes, reports Boston.com. The reason? The nearby Wrightsville Dam, built in 1935, is almost at capacity. "This has never happened since the dam was built so there is no precedent for potential damage," said City Manager William Fraser. "There would be a large amount of water coming into Montpelier which would drastically add to the existing flood damage." An overflow would further engorge the Winooski River, which flows through the city.

Storms dumped 9 inches of rain on the state in two days, the equivalent of two months' worth, per the AP. While it stopped Tuesday morning, the rain is forecast to resume Thursday and Friday. The flooding has caused tens of millions of dollars in damage already, and more than 100 people and counting have been rescued by boat, per the Washington Post. So far, the state has not logged any fatalities, but given the numerous roads washed out, it could take days to complete searches. (Other parts of New England and New York also were reeling from the deluge of rain.)