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Vermont hurricane guide

Vermont Emergency Management (VEM), part of the Vermont Department of Public Safety, works with towns and state agencies on preparedness, response, and recovery. Vermont is inland, so the main danger from a hurricane or tropical storm is heavy rain and flooding from the storm's remnants, including flash floods in river valleys and on small streams, along with wind and power outages. Sign up for VT-Alert, know whether your property is in a flood-prone area, and never walk or drive through floodwater.

Checked on October 9, 2026

Every phone number and web address on this page was checked against official sources on that date. Details can change, especially during a storm. Always follow instructions from Vermont Emergency Management. In a life threatening emergency, call 911.

What to know in Vermont

  • Tropical Storm Irene (August 28 and 29, 2011) delivered 3 to more than 7 inches of rain across Vermont and caused extensive flooding, with new streamflow records at nine stream gages.

Emergency and information numbers

Service Number Notes
Emergency 911 Police, fire, and ambulance. Call only when someone's life or property is in danger.
Vermont 211 211 Free help finding services, including disaster resources and shelter information. You can also text your ZIP code to 898211. It is not an emergency line.
Vermont Emergency Management headquarters 800-347-0488 Office line at 45 State Drive, Waterbury. Not for emergencies. Also 802-244-8721.
Report a power outage (Green Mountain Power) 888-835-4672 Green Mountain Power customers. If you see a downed line, stay far away and call 911 first, then the utility.
Report a power outage (Vermont Electric Cooperative) 802-635-2331 Vermont Electric Cooperative members.
Report a power outage (Washington Electric Cooperative) 802-223-5245 Washington Electric Cooperative members. Toll free 800-932-5245. Do not touch fallen power wires.

Official alerts and information

  • VT-Alert: The state's free emergency alert system, run by Vermont Emergency Management with Everbridge. It sends severe weather advisories, evacuation information, boil water advisories, and road interruptions by text, email, phone, or the Everbridge app. If you registered before December 1, 2025, you must create a new account to make changes. Website.

Statewide resources

  • Vermont Emergency Management (VEM): The state emergency management agency, part of the Department of Public Safety. Has preparedness guidance for families, businesses, and towns. Website.
  • Community preparedness (VEM): Guides on floods, power outages, building a preparedness kit, and emergency plan templates, with translated materials. Website.
  • Flood safety (VEM): Explains flood watches and warnings and what to do before and during a flood. Never walk or drive through floodwater. Website.
  • Flood Ready Vermont: State site on community flood risk, river corridors, and flood preparedness. Website.
  • Vermont 211: Dial 211, text your ZIP code to 898211, or search the online directory for shelters, food, housing, and flood recovery resources. Website.
  • New England 511: Traffic and travel information for New England, with Vermont as a selectable region. Website.

Evacuation centers

Open only when announced

Evacuation centers open only when officials announce them, and not every center opens for every storm. Check the official list of open centers before you leave home. Bring your own bedding, food, water, and medicines.

Shelters open only when officials announce them. Vermont Emergency Management lists current shelters it has been told about, but not all are listed. Call your town or dial 211 to ask about a local shelter, and follow VT-Alert. If officials tell you to evacuate, leave right away.

Official list of open evacuation centers

Radio, TV and weather

Keep a battery or hand crank radio. When power and cell service fail, radio is often the only way to hear official updates.

Official forecasts

  • National Weather Service Burlington: Forecasts, watches, and warnings from the Weather Forecast Office in South Burlington, Vermont. Enter your town or ZIP code on weather.gov to see which office serves you. Phone: 802-862-2475. Website.
  • National Weather Service Albany: Forecasts, watches, and warnings from the Albany, New York office. Enter your town or ZIP code on weather.gov to see which office serves you. Phone: 518-626-7570. Website.
  • National Hurricane Center: Official hurricane forecasts, watches, and warnings. Website.

Power, water and debris

  • Green Mountain Power: Outage Center. Report an outage at 888-835-4672 or online, or use the free app or text alerts. Treat every downed line as live and call 911 first. Website.
  • Vermont Electric Cooperative: Outage Center with a statewide outage map. Report an outage online or call 802-635-2331. Website.
  • Washington Electric Cooperative: Report an outage at 802-223-5245 or toll free 800-932-5245. Do not touch fallen wires, and do not cut trees off power lines. Website.

Sources

Checked on October 9, 2026. If a number or address here is wrong, please tell us at Keith@KMyers.me.