Washington County home to Montpelier the smallest state capital in the United States faces flash flooding from the Winooski River and serious winter storm risk. Hurricane Irene in 2011 caused catastrophic flooding across Vermont including Montpelier where the state capital building was surrounded by floodwater. The county is within the 50-mile ingestion zone of Vermont Yankee now decommissioning. Montpelier again flooded catastrophically in July 2023.
// Preparedness Recommendations
- Evacuation routes inland should be identified in advance.
- Store at least 72 hours of food and water.
- Elevate critical belongings above flood level.
- Have backup power ready in case of grid failure.
// Recommended Supplies
Essential gear for power outages, severe weather, and emergency situations in your area.
- Emergency Food Supplies
- Water Filtration & Storage
- Backup Generator
- Solar Backup Power
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// Risk Intelligence
| Threat Score | 5 / 10 Moderate Risk |
| Primary Hazard | Flash Flooding / Winter Storm |
| Secondary Hazard | Tornado |
| FEMA Flood Zone | Moderate |
| Federally Declared Disasters | 6 |
| Last Major Event | Hurricane Irene 2011 |
| Event Frequency | Annual |
// Emergency Operations
| Emergency Mgmt Phone | (802) 229-9306 |
| Emergency Shelters | 6 designated facilities |
| Evacuation Routes | I-89 US-2 VT-12 VT-14 |
// County Profile
| County | Washington County VT |
| State | Vermont (VT) |
| Population | 59 |
| Area | 689 sq miles |
| FEMA Region | Moderate |
// Major Cities
// Cities in This County
// Other Vermont Counties
Orange County VT
Flash Flooding / Winter Storm
5/10
Low
Rutland County VT
Flash Flooding / Winter Storm
5/10
Moderate
Addison County VT
Flash Flooding / Winter Storm
5/10
Low
Bennington County VT
Flash Flooding / Winter Storm
5/10
Low
Chittenden County VT
Flash Flooding / Winter Storm
5/10
Low
Lamoille County VT
Flash Flooding / Winter Storm
5/10
Low