August 2, 23

NEWS / Vital Records undamaged after flooding at Montpelier, Vermont City Hall

Montpelier City Hall experienced some severe flooding, which resulted in damages to many of its historic documents. The good news, however, is that important personal vital records such as birth and death certificates were undamaged. “There’s varying types of damage and varying types of documents, some worse than others. Some escaped damage entirely,” Montpelier City Clerk John Odum was quoted by WCAX3 News as saying, “We’re probably going to move whole departments up from the basement to make sure this doesn’t happen again.” Among the damaged documents were planning, public works, and historic records such as grand lists. Some of the records had been digitized and can therefore be accessed, but others would need to be restored. The City of Montpelier hired an independent contractor to vacuum, freeze-dry, and clean the damaged records to make them accessible to the public once again. Vermont Historical Records Program Director Rachel Onuf recommended upgrading dehumidifiers, keeping windows closed, using a fan to ensure constant airflow, all in the effort of ensuring conditions for mold growth do not arise. You can apply for certified copies of vital records on our website.