Scenes from Irene | Aug. 28-29, 2011
September 5, 2026 | Photos by Gordon MillerFor those who were here in August 2011, Tropical Storm Irene and the damage it wrought are seared in memory. Those who have arrived since no doubt have heard the accounts and witness today the legacy that continues to unfold following subsequent floods and the way flood resiliency permeates many aspects of future planning in the community.
In late summer temperatures, mud quickly turns to dust. Cleanup in a flooded downtown Waterbury home after Irene. Photo by Gordon Miller
Today, Waterbury has a Natural Disaster Preparedness Committee with a list of those willing to step up to help in future emergencies (it’s looking for a new coordinator). The long-term recovery organization CReW has evolved to focus on resilience, planning, and assistance to those with property in flood-prone areas in Waterbury and all of the adjacent towns. Some homeowners continue to work through their reconstruction, while others have opted to sell their homes and start over through a federal program. Study is underway for a potential massive floodplain expansion project along the Winooski River with the goal of protecting Waterbury’s downtown in future floods. Hundreds of state employees still work in Waterbury, many at the rebuilt office complex whose older sections are fortified to withstand future high water. On Stowe Street, a giant phoenix mural is a reminder of the disaster and how Waterbury has carried on since.
From 2011 and through the years and floods since, Vermonters have developed a seeming muscle memory of what to do when a big storm approaches and rivers and streams rise. Following each muddy cleanup event, the goal is to keep building back smarter and stronger to adapt to what Mother Nature might deliver next time.
Below is a gallery from photographer Gordon Miller’s Tropical Storm Irene archive, many of which were published by the Waterbury Record newspaper at the time. They span from the day of Aug. 28, the morning after, and then days and weeks afterward into the response and recovery.
Click an image to expand and see captions. Best viewed on a tablet or computer.
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~ Lisa Scagliotti, editor
