How'd everybody do with the hurricane?

[Flat47]

The news is reporting that Vermont is dealing with a lot of flooding and related damage. Hope everybody is ok. Here in northern Maine we had some wind but nothing major. Gusts to 45 mph and about 3 inches of rain last I checked. Not too bad at all.



I originally had this titled as "How everybody do with Irene?" but thought I might get banned from the forum.

[Randy Brutkoski]

The worst flooding i have ever seen. We are pretty much stranded. Roads are closed every where.

[Acer]

Light breeze and drizzle coastal Ma.

Waaaaayyyyy over-hyped. again

D

[Randy Brutkoski]

The otter creek that runs through Rutland is very high with flood stage being 8.0 feet. It is now at 15.2 feet. We have major problems.

[Greenwich Maple Man]

Lots of rain little windy now. Sounds like Bennington and alot of Vermont got hammered. Know real terrible damage to my knowledge in this area yet. Praying for the poor people who lost there homes.

[Flat Lander Sugaring]

leave the wife alone! VT got hit hard just pics and videos I am seeing on Fb are unreal. Theres a couple wooden covered bridges just swept away by the river, i have never been over them or seen them but it breaks my heart that the history of those bridges has ended and they can never be replaced. so far so good for me a few hyper extended moments but turned out favorable for me. neighbor across from just had his meter pulled and fire pumps turned off, barely keeping up with flow of water coming in. they always said we were in a hundred year flood plain, they missed it by a year but dam close. P town flooded in 1911. ok the 6 beers catching up tired but amped up on adrenalin, gun still loaded for looters

[Grade "A"]

Light breeze and drizzle coastal Ma.

Waaaaayyyyy over-hyped. again

D

Well, I guess that depends on were you are. Most of the bridges and culvers were overflowing here by 2:00 yesterday. After they were full the water just took out the roads. This is the third time this year starksboro has had it's 100 year flood and lost roads, but it could always be worse. 802 (and many others) are going to need a helicopter to leave home.

[maple flats]

Locally we did OK. We had max wind gusts 30 mph and 1.53" rain. Some locallized flooding but nothing major. I hope everyone did as well with Irene.
This past week I had dug a 300' long drain trench for my RO addition. At the height of the afternoon rain I drove to the sugarhouse to check the drainage. The trench was perfectly sloped even though only at 6"/100' drop. I was please because even though the laser said it was good, the trench sure looked like it sloped the wrong way before the rain. As soon as it dries enough, I will lay the tile and backfill.

[802maple]

Good afternoon America. We are back live, this is not the best of 802maple, but just a normal broadcast day after yesterday. We got the station rewired and we now have electricity and are back and running. Thanks to Mike C. and company.

The road crew and private contractors are putting the bridges and culverts back together so that I can get coffee in the morning, life is good. This is our 4th, hundred year flood in the last 13 years, god life is going by fast. I could do all the deer hunting I wanted as nobody could get to me anyway, all there is was were 4 wheelers running around on the roads, "no subarus" life was good.

[red maples]

Maybe overhyped for us but I am very thankful that we don't have the destruction that NY state and Vermont have 140 yr old covered bridges some rivers and streams crested at 18 feet over flood stage houses barns garages swept into the water in some spots !!! just devestating. I have to say here closer to the coast just a few trees down and scattered power outages. I lost no maples very happy about that. a few dead trees I used for side ties came down on the mainline but I just moved them off. and 1 big oak up rooted way back on the other side of the brook. Tree is hanging on the wires and putting a heck of a stress on the poles but still have power!!! but since we have power we are not priority!!!

[adk1]

Well I am depressed! Just took a quick walk in the sugarbush. Lost 4 nice maples, knocked over by large hemlock and pines. Its a mess. WIll ahve to have backwards before I can go forwards now..Need to clean them up cause they are blocking where my laterals will be going. I am really bummed. I only ahve so many maples to begin with, losing for of my medium sized maples really hurts! I havent checked out where my largest maples are yet. When am I gonna have time to do this!!!!!!! Almost thinking I should hold off another year now to take the time to thin out more that I never got to this year. I am bummed to say the least.:(

[red maples]

Nature happens not much you can do....you will tap this year!!! you can cut and stack the trees in the woods in a day or 2. you have all winter. geez I do nothing in the woods right now anyway 'cause I don't wanna mess with deer patterns. after hunting season I I go back to work in the woods until maple sseason.

[adk1]

Tough to do in the winter on my slope, especially since I was planning on running all of my lats while it was not frozen out!

[PARKER MAPLE]

Stranded and just got power back within the last hour. The worst part of it all is Im bored out of my mind, finally online and catching up on some trader. Cant travel more then 3miles in either dirrection. Between the brides and rivers we are stuck.

Rookie
send beer lol

[TRAILGUY]

lost a maple a large oak and many smaller trees just got power back

[maple flats]

Stranded and just got power back within the last hour. The worst part of it all is Im bored out of my mind, finally online and catching up on some trader. Cant travel more then 3miles in either dirrection. Between the brides and rivers we are stuck.

Rookie
send beer lol

Rookie, if you are stuck between the "brides" you MUST have your hands full. Enjoy life!

[cpmaple]

Got my power back at 630pm lost it at 1200pm yesterday. took a walk today out back and found several trees down. 4 maples, 5 white birch and 2 hickory hate to lose any but a good start on nexts year wood for the house half cut and split already today thanks to my 13 yr old son helping out. I hope all are safe out there tonight and thoughts and prays are with everyone. cpmaple

[Flat Lander Sugaring]

still pumping water out of basement, just wont stop coming in

[SevenCreeksSap]

Maybe overhyped for us but I am very thankful that we don't have the destruction that NY state and Vermont have 140 yr old covered bridges some rivers and streams crested at 18 feet over flood stage houses barns garages swept into the water in some spots !!! just devestating. I have to say here closer to the coast just a few trees down and scattered power outages. I lost no maples very happy about that. a few dead trees I used for side ties came down on the mainline but I just moved them off. and 1 big oak up rooted way back on the other side of the brook. Tree is hanging on the wires and putting a heck of a stress on the poles but still have power!!! but since we have power we are not priority!!!

Thats an amazing amount of water. and if I can be a little bold here, let me comment on the exclamation points in the last sentence. I do utility vegetation maintenance for a living and hope everyone understands the purpose. As you are experiencing, trees are the major cause of outages on electric systems. Caused by winds or washouts or a combination of both during an event like this.
I can guarantee your utility sees you as a priority customer, but they do have to prioritize to get the most people back on the fastest. If you have power now consider yourself blessed. Im sure a lot of you know this but heres how the system is set up.
Power feeds from the plant through the transmission lines to a substation. if a trans line goes down thats the priority first. remember the balckout about 8-9 yrs ago. transmission line sagged into a tree in Ohio, put out 50 million people.
From the substation it feeds out and usually goes through the three phase wires to larger areas,through towns, businesses, ect. lots of voltage in these and they serve a lot. they are usually fixed locally first because it serves to put the most people on. thats the priority. its a numbers game for them.
The voltage is reduced in a single phase wire. Still high voltage. if you are on a back road with one wire at the top, thats single phase. These are the next priority.
If you are back your own lane with a single phase, you will likely be out of power the longest. This is not a personal issue with the utility, its a numbers. game. I own a generator, and this is why.
The wires from pole to house are the service wires and most utilities I've been on storm with do NOT clear trees from service drops. this is not personal, they just dont have the resources to clear and pay for it all. some dont even trim these on the maintenance cycle. yours might. They will usually arrange to have it disconnected if you want to remove the trees or hire a tree guy. They also dont usually clean up wood or chip limbs from storm work. theres just too much.
Please remember, these tree and electric guys come from everywhere to put you back on, and the numbers are massive. Think of the amount of wire and trees down in this storm, and where I'm at this isnt really bad for a hurricane. Its long days and very hard, dangerous work. I know I choose to do this so not whining, but hope everyone can try to see the other side. Most people I meet are very decent, but there are the ones who believe they are the only ones in the world being inconvenienced by the storm. That is not a shot at anyone but this post brought a lot to mind.
There are some things to think about. Number 1, dont plant your tallgrowing Maples or any other tall growing tree under a power line. it will eventually have to be "butchered" ( my favorite word I hear from customers), and you will not be happy. right tree, right place. Number 2. the utility cannot remove every tree from under a line that could possibly fall on it, and you dont want them to. your 100 ft maple may be only 50 ft from the wires. Trans lines are different because of the blackout. Our beloved politicians got involved and big trans lines now must be pretty clear underneath. Dont plant your maples there. Number 3 - you may think they are butchering your tree, but are actually trimming it to utility and ISA specs. talk to your utility forester without yelling and he will explain. they need clearance to avoid the main cause of outages. Number 4 and most important- All of these voltages (actually the amps)can possibly kill you. Dont cut the trees yourself if theyre on or near the wires.
Please be patient, and you'll get through this. Good luck.
I appreciate if youve read this far. I've learned a lot on this site and hope you understand a little more about the subject. This is the longest post I've ever made on any site.

[driske]

Thanks for the informative and straight forward post on line maintenance.
Best wishes to all affected by this far reaching and devastating hurricane.

[40to1]

Trees got a trim yesterday. Nothing major.
But my sympathies to everyone hit hard in western Mass, Vermont, and upstate NY.
Been reading about and watching footage of the destruction. What a shame.
My thoughts and prayers to everyone as they rebuild....

[Dill]

Haven't been out to the sugar bush yet. Had a big ash snap by the garden, got a big enough to hole to walk through cut out but she will stay there until after haying is done. We lost power until monday at 9.
But looking at the facebook pics of VT, hope everyone is alright. Anyone heard from Maplecrest? I bet he's alright up on the hill but the rest of his town seems to be underwater.

[adk1]

I cant imagine what the top of my property looks like. The sugarbush is pretty protected by the wind...I imagine that I will find dozens of trees down

[red maples]

yes I think it was woodstock took a pretty good hit from the storm as well. alstead flooded pretty good I think I read somewhere.

Called unitil this morning they said that they already came out and removed the limb. must have been the tree fairies came in the middle of the night. I said well its still there. she put in another work order. They came out right away took them a little bit man that thing was really wrapped and twisted around the wire.

[GeneralStark]

Fortunately no major damage here. A couple trees down on some mainline, but nothing substantial. Seems like flooding has been the big issue here in VT and I am sure that many on the trader have been directly impacted. Several towns are completely isolated with no way in or out. I suspect that many folks won't have power or internet for weeks.

Some photos of the damage can be found here: http://www.vpr.net/community/gallery/157/

[Flat Lander Sugaring]

this just flew over my head down Lake Champlain VT side think its a C130
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e234/poultneyfiredog18/cid_IMG00865.jpg

[maplecrest]

just finished day 2 of tree removal from mainlines and some lats. all crop trees. only been thru 1/2 my woods so far. got alot of trees to go back to to remove the drops. lost count of lost taps. in the 100,s so far. not all from this storm, been a windy summer!

[red maples]

Fortunately no major damage here. A couple trees down on some mainline, but nothing substantial. Seems like flooding has been the big issue here in VT and I am sure that many on the trader have been directly impacted. Several towns are completely isolated with no way in or out. I suspect that many folks won't have power or internet for weeks.

Some photos of the damage can be found here: http://www.vpr.net/community/gallery/157/

Wow what water can do just sitting here looking jaw on the floor!!! WOW again

[red maples]

just finished day 2 of tree removal from mainlines and some lats. all crop trees. only been thru 1/2 my woods so far. got alot of trees to go back to to remove the drops. lost count of lost taps. in the 100,s so far. not all from this storm, been a windy summer!

Glad to hear you are doing OK though thats the important thing!!!

[Flat Lander Sugaring]

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/08/30/irenes-wake-leaves-millions-without-power/?test=latestnews

[red maples]

Here is a you tube link stupid army guys!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6b54bZepoA

[steve J]

Well I got up to my place last night and my log cabin survived sugar woods did not. I am small just 200 taps but most of my sugar woods is a series of blow downs with one tree laying on the next. I will be hard pressed to get this cleaned up and re piped for spring. Got a lot of leaners to. From what I can see the entire ridge and mtn area has been affected in similar fashion.

[adk1]

wow, and I was feeling bad for myslef! Sounds like you ahve it much worse than me and anyone else that has posted so far.

[Flat Lander Sugaring]

Here is a you tube link stupid army guys!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6b54bZepoA

LMAOROFL, its like the blind leading the blind when you have a leader that doesnt know what he is doing you cant know much more

[adk1]

Its called. Just leaving the only local pub that wasent under water.

[Grade "A"]

wow, and I was feeling bad for myslef! Sounds like you ahve it much worse than me and anyone else that has posted so far.

The ones that realy have it the worst can't post on here because thier computer is in thier house that floated down the river. But don't get me wrong, to lose anything you have worked for sucks.

On a lighter side I have never seen so many helicopters in the air before. There were Blackhawks and Chinooks doing hot laps all day. It's just another reason to be proud of the National Guard or any other emergency responce team for that matter.

My prays go out to those who were less fortunate then I.

[Flat Lander Sugaring]

The ones that realy have it the worst can't post on here because thier computer is in thier house that floated down the river. But don't get me wrong, to lose anything you have worked for sucks.

On a lighter side I have never seen so many helicopters in the air before. There were Blackhawks and Chinooks doing hot laps all day. It's just another reason to be proud of the National Guard or any other emergency responce team for that matter.

My prays go out to those who were less fortunate then I.

I have a friend that lives in Hancock he said flew into rochester a couple times with the chinooks

[802maple]

The ones that realy have it the worst can't post on here because thier computer is in thier house that floated down the river. But don't get me wrong, to lose anything you have worked for sucks.

On a lighter side I have never seen so many helicopters in the air before. There were Blackhawks and Chinooks doing hot laps all day. It's just another reason to be proud of the National Guard or any other emergency responce team for that matter.

My prays go out to those who were less fortunate then I.

I have to agree, I feel bad for sugarmakers that lost their trees, but to hear about the many homes that were swept away in this flood, I can only count my blessings. We were very lucky to not have lost our lives as some did. My prayers go out to all in involved.

[GeneralStark]

I spent most of the day biking from Warren, VT to Rochester VT and back and helping folks out along the way. Believe it or not a bike is the best way to get around many towns right now. You four wheeler types may not agree but those require gas which is in short supply in many places. Anyway the damage is incredible. We spoke to one 82 year old guy in Granville who said he has never seen anything like this and he has lived there his whole life.

Rochester was the hardest hot with several homes ruined or completely destroyed. Even their cemetery was damaged with several tombs affected. We helped one couple shovel mud out of their basement as their foundation was completely undermined by a small stream that wasn't so small on sunday night. Their neighbor's house was completely destroyed.

The state of people's sugar woods is the least of their concerns as many towns are getting short on basic supplies like water, which seems insane to me as there are springs everywhere. I guess the state doesn't want folks drinking from springs though.

I was very impressed by people's attitudes about the situation. There is a lot of positive energy and folks are really helping each other out. Hopefully Katia will steer clear of New England as another tropical storm is not what we need at this point.

[Farmboy]

We were lucky only lost 2 Maples and power for a few hours.

[ctjim]

well we got it pretty good here in eastern ct high winds and rain not as bad as you guys to my west and north. just getting back to normal after losing power for about 5 days, couldn't even make it to my familys farm 15 mins away to grab a generator, loads of trees down blocking roads. thankfully we salvaged the freezer contents by hauling the entire freezer to my brothers, thankfully he is only in the next town. hope everyone in vt and ny made it through safe.

[Flat Lander Sugaring]

http://youtu.be/sm04PO-Gfao
video is very heart breaking

[collinsmapleman2012]

been at the state fair all week and heard constant horror stories. the towns of middleburgh and schoharie were some of the hardest hit. in middleburgh there were people just shoveling mud out of their shops and a payloader picking debris up and putting it in a dumpster. also, entire 400 cow dairies were swallowed by creeks and rivers.

[Kirk]

Our sugarhouse is on a small tributary to the East Branch of the Ausable. Every flowing water body in our town turned into raging monsters. We were very lucky - only a foot of water and silt in the sugarhouse. Others were destroyed. Our firehouse was cut in half, homes completely washed away, others filled with mud. Countless homes had foundations cave in. Roads and bridges gone. The governor was in town last week and after viewing the wreckage, waived all environmental permits required to rebuild. Everyone in town is chipping in where they can and people are starting to put things back together. In a time of need, our neighbors, town officials, and highway workers have shined.

[Flat47]

I spent most of the day biking from Warren, VT to Rochester VT and back and...

If I remember right, Waitsfield/Warren had some bad flooding a couple years ago when the Mad River flooded. How'd they make out? I love the old "downtown" Waitsfield right off Rt 100 at the Waitsfield/Warren covered bridge.

[802maple]

If I remember right, Waitsfield/Warren had some bad flooding a couple years ago when the Mad River flooded. How'd they make out? I love the old "downtown" Waitsfield right off Rt 100 at the Waitsfield/Warren covered bridge.

Here is a link of the Rte.2, rte 100 including Waitsfield-Warren and rte 4 corridors.

http://www.mansfieldheliflight.com/flood/

[Hal]

Sugarplace and building took it really well. A couple trees that were on the firewood list for this winter broke off, fortunately not the one that leans toward the sugarhouse, with the mainline hung on it. One lane of the town road from the farm to the sugarhouse is in my calf pasture. The end of the driveway into the sugarhouse went with it. Local contractor with a bulldozer restored it all, sort of. Interesting little archeological note, right below the sugarhouse, in the town road, there is a spring that comes to the surface every year and creates a mudhole. At that spot the road was gouged out about six feet down, and you could see several old attempts to drain it. There were two spiral wound galvanized downpipes at two and four feet down, and way in the bottom a "spruce drain", two poles with a plank nailed over them. The ditch beside the road has filled in over the years, so that even the highest of those pipes would need a sump pump to be effective.

On a much more distressing note, my hay equipment was down next to RTE 100 below town. Two tractors sat in six feet of water and will require serious attention before they run again. I pulled one of my hay wagons off a power pole, and drove a quarter of a mile into the neighbor's corn field downstream to get another one. There is no apparent damage, besides muddy water in the wheel hubs. Clean and repack wheel bearings with new seals will take care of that. The rakes and tedder will need about the same treatment, as well as pumping grease into all the bearings until clean grease comes out Baler and mower likewise, plus drain flush and refill gearboxes, wash roller chains and soak in oil before re-installing. Everything will need a good pressure washing as well.

[BryanEx]

Was Vermont the hardest hit of the New England States and was it flash-flood that did so much damage or just pure volume of water?

[802maple]

Just the pure volume of water coming from large water sheds, some areas had 10 plus inches of rain. I am not sure about New York but it does sound like we got the most damage of the New England states.

[3rdgen.maple]

802 I do believe you would be correct. I cant imagine what everyone is going through. Sorry for all. What truly truly baffles me is I hear more about the damage on the trader than anywheres else. Its like it barely happend if you turn on the tv or read the newspapers. Its almost like the news and polititians are in denial that americans are in need of help.

[802maple]

That is because the media doesn't want to hear from people that help out themselves and their neighbors. There isn't a story for them there, they want to hear from the victims of these storms. Here in the small towns of the northeast, we don't allow ourselves to be victims.
Simple as that, is how I feel.

[3rdgen.maple]

Your probably right 802. We have had some flood disasters in my town and like you say its the people in these small towns that pull together and make it happen. I guess my point is I am sick and tired of reading and listening to all the bad sh!t on the news. Another gangster shot another gangster crap, murders, suffering etc. It would be great to see an uplifting news channel for a change that put incentive into american hearts and show there is good in this country from hard times and how small town folks pull together and make things happen. Maybe just maybe it would influence others to put down their **** nickle bags of dope and their illegal handguns and get off their welfare unemployed azzes and do some good. Sorry for the tangent. Now back to the original scheduled program.

[BryanEx]

Just the pure volume of water coming from large water sheds, some areas had 10 plus inches of rain. I am not sure about New York but it does sound like we got the most damage of the New England states.
I have to say it's hard to get my head around that kind of destruction in Vermont. I guess I'm used to hearing about weather disasters in the Carolinas, the deep South, the Mid-West, etc but to think that those photos were taken less than a day's drive away from where I live just leaves me in disbelief.

[802maple]

The thing is, a smaller amount of water up here can do a great amount of damage. Our rivers and brooks drop steep degrees of elevation in a short distance and the water just runs so much faster then it does down south, so it causes a lot more damage.

[GeneralStark]

That is because the media doesn't want to hear from people that help out themselves and their neighbors. There isn't a story for them there, they want to hear from the victims of these storms. Here in the small towns of the northeast, we don't allow ourselves to be victims.
Simple as that, is how I feel.

I couldn't agree more. From what I have seen in the Mad River and White River Valleys, people are really coming together to help each other in this incredible time of need. I haven't met anyone who thinks of themself as a victim. Perhaps of this freak natural event, but folks here just take responsibility and move on and make the best of a bad situation.

It will take years to recover from this, and some places may never fully recover. The landscape has changed and so will our needs and priorities. I think it will be interesting to see how the political landscape of VT changes as communities rise to the challenge of this catastrophe in perhaps more comprehensive and better handled ways than the state and federal govts. Perhaps we will realize that we don't really need big govt. after all.

Here is just one example of people coping:
http://www.facebook.com/MRVpostIrene

[allgreenmaple]

That is because the media doesn't want to hear from people that help out themselves and their neighbors. There isn't a story for them there, they want to hear from the victims of these storms. Here in the small towns of the northeast, we don't allow ourselves to be victims.
Simple as that, is how I feel. This is likely one of the most All American statements I have heard anywhere on the web, period. If more Americans would act like this instead of letting themselves be victims, they would be just like these people here in Vermont. On a side note, the day of the storm, Sunday, we were actually leaving the coast of Maine Sunday morning at 8, & came thru White River Junction around 12-12;30 or so. We came down thru rte 4 into Rutland at around 1-1;30. I have to believe they were likely closing rte 4 not far behind me, the river running along rte 4 was raging unreal, very close to the top of the road, full size trees being washed along the road as I drove by, I narrowly dodged a bullet there, for sure. Some of the pictures of devastation have left me speechless. In my area, many homes were flooded, local Mcdonalds has not reopened yet, & one of the dealerships in our area likely lost 100 vehicles. Truly historic damage here in the Northeast.

[BryanEx]

Our rivers and brooks drop steep degrees of elevation in a short distance and the water just runs so much faster then it does down south, so it causes a lot more damage.
I imagine it also doesn't help that any of the photos I've seen have rivers on solid rock beds either. No chance of it digging deeper as it gets wider to account for the volume. Given the HUGE amount of snow last year do the Adirondacks not sometimes struggle with spring run off in the same (but much lesser) way? 10 inches of rain is a heck of a lot and I'm just trying to understand as best I can not being there. Experiencing a natural disaster is just like seeing the Grand Canyon. You can look at photos or watch videos but unless you've stood on the edge in person you will never understand. I'm just trying to understand as best I can.

[Mark]

On the Vermont tour we went to the Sugar Brook Maple Company, it was right on a stream. Does anyone know how they did?

[SevenCreeksSap]

I think it will be interesting to see how the political landscape of VT changes as communities rise to the challenge of this catastrophe in perhaps more comprehensive and better handled ways than the state and federal govts. Perhaps we will realize that we don't really need big govt. after all. - GeneralStark

Now THAT is one of the most All American quotes I've heard in a long time. Looking at the "Libtard" post a while back and seeing the gov. there saying the damage wasnt that bad should say something. I'm sure if this happened in your largest city with the most government dependent people and they would be there with the cameras. seems likehen things happen to the country folk they dont care, and thats one of the main reasons I dont live in a city. Frankly, I'd rather have the help of a good neighbor if needed than some beaurocrat anyway. We should not only not need big govt, but we should all try to get to the thinking that we dont want and absolutely refuse big govt.

Country folk can survive. Best to you all as you rebuild.

[Bruce L]

We watched the video today on youtube of damge in Vermont,hard to fathom that kind of destruction so close(4-5 hours away),Friends were up from New Jersey yesterday,their house got a little water in the basement,but the house at the end of the block was washed away,still no power,no way to cook food etc.
What comes to mind for me in all of this,(not wishing to sound ignorant or anything),but where does all of the money come from?Your President just renegotiated the debt,now there is how many millions of dollars in damage from the storm? True neighbours all pitch in and help one another,but where does the money come from for rebuilding roads,homes etc?

[802maple]

On the Vermont tour we went to the Sugar Brook Maple Company, it was right on a stream. Does anyone know how they did?

SBMC did very well, that brook doesn't have a large water shed as it starts about a half mile from there. It went in the old sugarhouse but not the one that is presently used.

Mark, I was the one that welcomed the buses when you got off. I wish i had realized you were there, I would of talked to you. Did you by chance ride on the bus on Friday that I was the tour guide. I know that was an open question but it seems like I remember someone on my bus from Michigan.

[Mark]

I don't know what you look like so I am not sure who's bus I was on. Bruce Bascom was on the bus that day but not the first day.

Are you still a syrup buyer?

Glad to hear their sugarhouse is OK.

[Grade "A"]

I imagine it also doesn't help that any of the photos I've seen have rivers on solid rock beds either. No chance of it digging deeper as it gets wider to account for the volume. Given the HUGE amount of snow last year do the Adirondacks not sometimes struggle with spring run off in the same (but much lesser) way? 10 inches of rain is a heck of a lot and I'm just trying to understand as best I can not being there. Experiencing a natural disaster is just like seeing the Grand Canyon. You can look at photos or watch videos but unless you've stood on the edge in person you will never understand. I'm just trying to understand as best I can.

Most of the time there is not much flooding do to snow melt because the released of water is slower (unless you live on the lake). Most of the 10+ inches of rain came in less than 12 hours and it was all going to the same place. I saw little streams that you could stop the flow with a 5 gallon bucket turn into a beast that was taking out roads, trees and what ever else got in the way. Then it flows into another river that is flooded as well and just piles on.

[802maple]

Mark I sent you a P.M.

[3rdgen.maple]

I imagine it also doesn't help that any of the photos I've seen have rivers on solid rock beds either. No chance of it digging deeper as it gets wider to account for the volume. Given the HUGE amount of snow last year do the Adirondacks not sometimes struggle with spring run off in the same (but much lesser) way? 10 inches of rain is a heck of a lot and I'm just trying to understand as best I can not being there. Experiencing a natural disaster is just like seeing the Grand Canyon. You can look at photos or watch videos but unless you've stood on the edge in person you will never understand. I'm just trying to understand as best I can.

Bryan living on the Salmon River I am on the one of the adirondack/tug hill watersheds pathway to the lake. You have to consider that the amount of water in snow is not comparible to inches of rain. Meaning if I remeber the stats right 12 inches of snow is equivilant to 1 inch of rain. Also melting snow takes course over a length of time not in a short period. The controllers of the dams along these river systems and reservoirs take the amount of snow fall into consideration and prepare for the spring thaw well before hand. The reserviors are normally at a minimal level just before spring melt. Now last fall after a very wet spring and summer we got hit with a significant amount of rain over a period of a few days. The salmon river runs on average in the fall about 500 cubic feet per second and that is about half way to the level of the banks. Well after all that rain it peaked at something like 27,000 cubic feet per second. It was unreal and the damage is minimal compared to Vermont. No homes were a complete loss. We did loose one bridge to damage and some break walls that protected the local sewage plants. It was peak salmon fishing and you would not believe what some people were doing to make the best of a bad situation, people fishing for salmon in parking lots or roads, people sitting on their front porch like it was a dock and catching salmon out of their yard. And then there were idiots trying to fish the main river on the side of steep cliffs. Luckily most of the river flows through a ravine so to speak. After seeing that river like that once again I can see where water can destroy a town in minutes. Truly amazes force of nature to watch big and I mean big oak trees roots and all float by like it was a twig.

[BryanEx]

802maple & 3rdgen... thanks so much for the help in understanding what happened. Much appreciated.

- Bryan

[adk1]

Just walked up to the far side of my sugarbush. alot of trees down there. Luckily mostly pine and hemlock. but what a mess. I basically ahve all of my sapwood for next year down already I guess if I were to look at it that way!