For the most part, Vermont is a safe and peaceful place. However, disasters can strike when we least expect it and these horrifying events actually took place. Some of these events you may remember, some you may not have heard of before, but all are tragic and we should be thankful for our lives every day. Here are some totally unforgettable Vermont natural disasters – which ones do you recall?

1. Tropical Storm Irene
Flickr/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Northeast Region
Tropical Storm Irene ripped through Vermont on Sunday, August 28, 2011, and we are still seeing the effects years later. Houses were washed away, businesses demolished, irreplaceable personal items… all gone. Flooding destroyed roads, farms were decimated, and the environment was severely impacted.
2. Frozen to the roof.
Flickr/Olivier
On January 29, 1907, a farmer in Berlin named George Salina was working on his roof on a winter afternoon when a wind knocked his ladder down. No one saw him up there and he wasn’t found until 11 p.m. when temperatures plummeted to -20 degrees. The headline on the Boston Journal article read: FARMER IS TURNED INTO A HUMAN SHINGLE.
3. Flying Circus.
Flickr/David Stillman
In Rutland in 1922, 30,000 people gathered to watch a flying circus. Fun turned to tragedy when one plane crashed, and three people were killed in front of the crowd. A few hours later, a 4th person met their untimely fate when an aeronaut jumped out of a balloon and his parachute failed to open. Oof.
4. The Hartford Railroad Disaster.
Flickr/Nathan Gilliatt
The Hartford Railroad Disaster, which happened in 1887, was one of the most tragic events of them all. It was a frigid -15 degrees on February 5th, and the train went off the tracks - killing 37 and injuring 50.
5. Poisoned.
Flickr/Ken Cox
Twenty-seven children were poisoned and nine died from accidental poisoning in Newark after drinking from a brook. This happened in June 1879, and while the original thought was that the water was contaminated by a dead horse carcass and several deceased sheep in the stream, the actual cause was determined to be a result of potato tops poisoned by Paris green, which were subsequently thrown into the brook.

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6. Great Flood of 1927.
Flickr/Don...The UpNorth Memories Guy... Harrison
One of Vermont's most devastating events was the 1927 flood which destroyed 1285 bridges, miles and miles of roads and railways, along with countless homes and buildings. 84 people died in the flood. It became known forever as the great Vermont Flood.
7. Huntington Gorge.
Flickr/HystericalMark
Huntington Gorge is one of the most beautiful spots in Vermont, and it’s also one of the most deadly. Dozens of people have died at this rocky spot that still has people daring to swim in it despite the (many) warnings.
8. Blasted.
Flickr/Nathan Rupert
16-year-old Perley Smith had his head blown off by a cannon in Middlebury, despite standing 70 feet away from the blast. Several others were maimed in the accident as well. It was easily one of the worst incidents in Vermont's history involving minors.
9. Plane crash on Camel's Hump.
Flickr/Charles Wohlers
Four planes have crashed into Camel’s Hump, but the worst one by far took place on October 16th, 1944. Nine of the 10 people on board died and the remaining survivor was found close to death by five boys who were pulled from the local school to assist with the search.
10. A hole in the head.
Jack and Beverly Wilgus/Wikimedia
One of Vermont’s local celebrities is Phineas Gage, a man who had an iron rod shot through his skull and lived to tell the tale. Read more about Phineas Gage and this sordid tale in our other articles about exactly this.

Who says dark things don’t happen here? Unfortunately, they definitely do – though thankfully, they’re uncommon. Let’s lift our spirits now and look at these beautiful photos of Vermont.

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Vermont Natural Disasters

Tori Jane | June 25, 2022

What were some historic natural disasters in Vermont? 

Vermont is a pretty safe place to be, overall, but unfortunately, even safe places end up with the occasional natural disaster. There haven’t been a lot of natural disasters in Vermont, but the ones that have happened have been pretty bad, to say the least. Some of the worst historic natural disasters in the state include the great North American ice storm of 2007, the great Vermont flood of 1927, and severe nor’easters in 2011 and 1969 (in which there were TWO that year). So, sure, natural catastrophes in Vermont are uncommon – but they DO happen, so it’s safe to always have a plan.  

What natural disasters tend to occur in Vermont?  

Of the occasional natural disasters that do occur in Vermont, what are those disasters most likely to be? Vermont is a northeastern state and the risk of blizzards certainly exists every year, as does the threat of something like an ice storm. Other natural disasters in Vermont have been floods (notably the Great Flood of 1927), the occasional tornado (since 1950, there have been 47 tornadoes in Vermont), wildfires, and nasty winter storms. Occasionally, Vermont sees large hail and high winds.  

What are the worst storms in Vermont's history? 

Vermont’s seen quite a few doozies over the decades, such as the horrific blizzard of 1888, which took numerous Vermont denizens by surprise during an unlikely time of year (March). From January 2-3, 2010, an astonishing 33.1 inches of snow fell on an unprepared Vermont, too. Other notably severe weather events in Vermont include the Great Flood of 1927 and a couple of occasional F2-EF2 tornadoes that have swept through the state. Much like almost anywhere else, Vermont is not untouchable by natural disasters – like we said above, make sure to always have a plan!  

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