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Campus Alert Archive
Norwich

Dog River Floods Norwich University's Northfield Home: Plumley Armory Opens as Community Shelter in Vermont's Second Century Flood in 12 Years

VTfloodingadvisorymedium confidence

The July 2023 Vermont floods -- the state's worst flooding since Tropical Storm Irene in 2011 -- sent the Dog River surging through Northfield, Vermont on July 10-11, 2023, threatening the campus of Norwich University, the nation's oldest private military college. Norwich University's Plumley Armory was opened as one of two emergency flood shelters in Northfield alongside Northfield Middle High School, as Governor Phil Scott declared a state of emergency for all 14 Vermont counties and the storm caused two deaths and more than $1 billion in damage statewide.

Alerts
3
Response
Killed
Injured
Institution
Norwich University
Private Masters · VT
~3,400 studentsNorwich University Emergency Notification System
Confirmed Timeline

Alert Sequence

3 messages in sequence

Some alert texts below are approximate reconstructions from news coverage, not confirmed verbatim transcripts. Reconstructed texts are shown in italic with a dashed border. Verified verbatim texts have a solid border and are marked accordingly.

INITIAL ALERTSMS
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Norwich University Emergency Alert: Severe flooding is occurring in Northfield and throughout Vermont. The Dog River has reached flood stage near campus. Northfield is under a flash flood warning. The Plumley Armory is open as an emergency shelter for community members. Avoid flooded roadways and low-lying areas near the Dog River. All Norwich community members should monitor conditions and follow direction from Vermont Emergency Management and Northfield emergency officials. Check norwich.edu for campus updates.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

The Town of Northfield confirmed Plumley Armory at Norwich University was opened as an emergency flood shelter alongside Northfield Middle High School on July 10-11, 2023
Norwich University uses the RAVE Mobile Safety Emergency Notification System, confirmed by the university's emergency information page at norwich.edu/emergency
Governor Phil Scott declared a state of disaster for all 14 Vermont counties on July 11, 2023, per Vermont Public and Copernicus Emergency Management Service
UPDATEEmail
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Norwich University Community Update on Vermont Flooding: Governor Phil Scott has declared a state of disaster for all 14 Vermont counties as historic flooding impacts communities across the state. Norwich University has opened the Plumley Armory as a community emergency shelter. Campus operations are disrupted by road closures in the Northfield area. Students and employees should not travel unless essential. The Dog River watershed received over 5 inches of rain in the storm. Norwich stands ready to support the Northfield community through this emergency and the recovery that follows. We will provide updates as conditions change.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

The Dog River watershed received more than 5 inches of rain in the July 2023 storms, per Lake Champlain Sea Grant reporting on resilience in Northfield
Norwich University's alumni newsletter from August 2023 documented the university's role in flood response and relief efforts in Northfield
Northfield experienced severe flooding that destroyed homes and businesses, with Dog River Park's flood control features tested for the first time in earnest
FOLLOW-UPEmail
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Norwich University Flood Recovery Update: As Vermont begins recovery from the July 2023 historic flood, Norwich University is proud to have served as a community shelter and recovery resource for Northfield and the surrounding region. Our campus facilities are fully operational and we are preparing for the fall semester. Students and alumni who were affected by the flooding are encouraged to connect with alumni and student affairs for assistance. Norwich remains committed to building a more resilient Vermont. The Resilient Vermont Network at Norwich University is available as a resource for community recovery.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

Norwich University's August 2023 alumni e-newsletter specifically documented the university's flood response and relief activities in Northfield
The Resilient Vermont Network is an established program at Norwich University's Center for Global Resilience and Security, making the university's post-flood resilience role part of its academic mission
By the time of the August newsletter, Norwich was preparing for fall semester while Northfield and other Vermont communities continued long-term flood recovery
Context

Background

Norwich University, the nation's oldest private military college, sits on a hill in Northfield, Vermont, alongside the Dog River -- which flows directly through the center of town. The July 2023 Vermont floods struck on July 10-11 when several days of torrential rainfall caused rivers across the state to surge to record or near-record levels. The Dog River watershed received more than 5 inches of rain, and Northfield experienced flooding that destroyed homes and businesses. The Plumley Armory at Norwich University was designated one of two emergency shelters for the community, alongside Northfield Middle High School. Governor Phil Scott declared a state of disaster for all 14 Vermont counties on July 11; the storm killed two people and caused over $1 billion in statewide damage. Norwich's campus, positioned on higher ground above the worst of the flooding, could serve as a shelter resource while remaining largely intact. The university's August 2023 alumni newsletter documented the campus's role in the response. The case also highlights Norwich's Resilient Vermont Network, a program dedicated to building community resilience -- whose institutional expertise was activated in real-time during the very event the program was designed to address.
Analysis

Key Findings

Norwich University's Plumley Armory was officially designated as one of only two emergency flood shelters for the town of Northfield, Vermont during the July 2023 historic floods
The university's elevated campus position above the Dog River allowed it to serve as a shelter while the valley below flooded, illustrating how campus topography determines disaster response capacity
Norwich's Resilient Vermont Network -- an academic program studying community resilience -- was activated in real-time response to the exact type of disaster it was designed to study
The July 2023 Vermont floods were the state's worst since Tropical Storm Irene (2011), killing two people and causing over $1 billion in damage across all 14 Vermont counties
Provenance

Sources

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Tags
floodingvermontdog-riverprivate-mastersmilitary-collegecommunity-shelternorthfield2023-vermont-floodsstate-of-emergencyhistoric-flood
Added June 2026Updated June 2026Via ingestion