JOHNSON, Vt. (WCAX) – The July 2023 flood — and ongoing threats of future flooding from the Lamoille and Gihon Rivers — have brought permanent changes to Johnson’s downtown.
“July 11, 2023. completely reset everything in the Village of Johnson,” said Johnson Village Manager Eric Bailey, who says he remains in shock a year after floodwaters filled Route 15 with boats instead of cars. “There are there are still victims of this whole thing. There are places that will never come back.”
The Sterling Market, a victim of several previous floods, never reopened. “We definitely miss our market a lot and are not eating as healthy here in town,” said Johna Keefe. She says what used to be a two-minute walk for groceries is now a 20-minute drive. Instead, she says she finds herself shopping at the gas station for essentials.
And it’s not just businesses struggling. Tosh Gilmore says her home on the banks of the Lamoille River took in feet of water and was condemned. She says she has been couch surfing ever since. “Screwed and trying to get housing,” she said.
Johnson was already prone to flooding but town officials say after last year’s devastation they made changes. “There are plans that are being worked on that will make a difference,” Bailey said. He says that includes putting flood gauges upstream instead of in the village. “Right now, we’re the farthest upstream flood gauge at the village. That’s great for Cambridge. It didn’t tell us anything other than, yeah, you’re right. We flooded.”
To help create floodplains, the village is also looking to move buildings like the wastewater treatment plant, which was overwhelmed by the deluge. “And that’s finally being addressed. And we’re looking at doing things differently to get different results,” Bailey said.
As the village’s road to recovery continues, Bailey says there is one theme. “Johnson is a very resilient community,” he said.
Resilient and ready for floods to come. Until some of the new preparedness measures are up and running yet, officials remind residents to stay vigilant for the rising rivers.