 In a joint statement, Vermont electric utilities announced that they planned to have extra staff on hand.The National Weather Service stated that it anticipated of rain on the Champlain Valley and western Vermont and in the Green Mountains and eastern Vermont, with the risk of flooding near streams and rivers and an anticipated sustained wind speeds of and gusts of up to , causing significant tree damage and damage to power lines.In Maine, Governor Paul LePage declared a state of emergency on August 26, in preparation for the expected arrival of Hurricane Irene on August 28.