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The Rockingham Free Public Library (FRPL) on Westminster Street in Bellows Falls, Vermont suffered major flood damage on Sunday night after a pipe burst in the older sections of the building. The flood was not discovered until the following day. Fortunately, the library has flood insurance, but the total cost of the damage is still unknown.

Residents of California are going to need more than just their raincoats and goulashes as rains hit the states, with heavier precipitation expected to fall on Southern California later on Tuesday evening and into Wednesday. An MSNBC report states the National Weather Service (NOAA) predicts that up to 8 inches of rain could fall in some parts of the state, with as much as 10 inches of snow in the mountains. As a result, NOAA has issued flood warnings, flashflood warnings and winter weather advisories across the state. Already, more than 13 feet of snow has fallen in the mountain ranges, as well as over 12 inches of rain.

Although blessed with a white holiday weekend, residents in the Northeast may have more of a winter wonderland than they can handle. People throughout the affected states were urged to stay indoors as a normally 30-minute drive took a minimum of two hours. The winter weather caused airports to close for over 9 hours and trains to breakdown or suspend their services. The blizzard-like conditions spanned from the Carolinas up to Maine.

From catastrophic earthquakes, wildfires, biblical-like flooding, the hottest recorded summer temperatures to the snowiest winters, extreme weather and natural disasters are often one of the top stories on the evening news. However, one of the most common trends seen is unpreparedness on the affected public’s behalf.

FEMA states that winter flooding is particularly dangerous in the states of Arizona, California and Nevada because of the recent wildfires and the rainy season that follows. Although flooding can happen during any time of the year, homeowners should know their risk in relation to severe weather, including flooding, that can occur during cold weather months.