Vermont Storm Exposes the Strengths, and Limits, of New Flood Defenses

Flood damage in Barre, Vt., on Wednesday.Credit...Hilary Swift for The New York Times The state began new flood protection efforts after being battered by Tropical Storm Irene in 2011. Many appeared to be effective, but experts say more will be needed as storms become more extreme. Vermont Storm Exposes the Strengths, and Limits, of New Flood Defenses Vermont, a state known for peaceful green mountains, grazing cows and tidy covered bridges, is not often seen as a place where mudslides threaten highways, rivers churn with debris and murky, propane-fouled floodwaters...